The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-10-06
Correspondence of The Associated

Rotterdam, Oct. An view OF
the great results achieved by the new
German guns a description OF the
modern fort may be of interest" says
the military critic Of the Nieuwe Rot
terdam S~checourant. He writes:
when it becomes necessary to for
tify a town permanently forts are
built at intervals of from 3 to 6
kilometerS apart. These forts are
combinations of e~arthworks and such
buildings and other structures as are
needed. They are surrounded by
deep moats with steep sides. on the
far side of which barbed wire en-
ta~nglements are laid out. In modern
forts all structural walls are made OF
concrete, this applying to the turrets
and barracks alike. The number OF
guns in a fort depends upon the syS-
TEN Of defense of which the fort is a
unit.
In case a fort is not supported by
flank works and is, therefore, a unit
in itself the effort is made to place as
many guns as possible, selecting both
large and small calibre pieces. In
this ann a fort may be made very
strong. Another method is not to
place so many pieces in the fort it
self but to depend upon the support
of artillery stationed in case of war
on n%eighboring points Of vantage.
1.-The first system becomes the cen
trail point of the defensive forts
which may operate with the fort as
support. According to the Belgian
General Brialmont (well known mill
tary %engineer) this method has the
advantage Of having all pieces con-
SANITY in readiness for actor. and
I surprises are guarded against. But
1t has the drawback Of becoming east
ly the target of a concentrated fire Of
the enemy's heavy artillery. In case
nc Invp1 Ia ri M N tho apotny oon nonL0
the unrest his goal or he can make
the turrets his goal OF he can make
usually becomes the practice. II one
fails to hit one thing, one hits the
other. For theoretical reasons (prov-
en- correct by the lessons Of this wary
there has long been held a prejudice
against this system of fortifica-
ton.
The second method seems de-
cidedly better. Instead 0" having a
few separate forts of great strength
which the enemy can make the OBJ
jective Of the operations, one offers
him a large numbe Of small forts
which in the first place are hard to
locate and upon which a large amount
Of ammunition must be expended. In
this case the forts are supporting
points of the infantry positions lying
between them. Artillery of small
calibre is used in this Instance for
the protection of the front mad
TANKS.
1.-The new German Notifications
near Metz and ~Strasburg are Of this
latter type. consisting Of small works
surrounded by. the usual obstacles
(such as redoubts, trenches, moat:
and barbed wire entanglements)
These forts are grouped and forn
units, each of which has it's armoree
batteries (long range guns) and alst
sunken batteries Of hig~h-tracectory
mortars. The intervening i~nfantr.
positions are supported by small
calibre field pieces.
These forts lie merely a few hun
dred meters apart and are cOnnecte,
with subterranean passages which
lead also to the barracks beyond tn
range of artillery fire (making it pos
sible to move troops into the position
without exposing them to the hostil
artillery fire. In this case the ar
rangement is such that the enem
would have to take one small wor.
after another, an operation whic.
would cost many lives.
Licge and Namur Forts.
'The speedy reduction of the fort
resses Liege and Namur does not G
necessity demonstrate that forts {
the order first named have entirel
lost their value, but it is certain thu
the 42-centimetre pieces are "ju:
the thing for them" But agains
small forts with permanent 'tuss
chenlinien" intervening militar
works) the fire from these gun.
while terrible In effect. would not s
quickly accomplish the results wan
ed. An additional factor in this
that the transportation Of these hea,
pieces is a difficult undertaken
which is also true of the necessa1
ammunition supply. To move the.
along an extended line Of small for
is a heavy task
German Guns n Surprise.
From other sources it has bee
learned that Notifications of the ty,
favored by General Brialmont wou
have served their purpose we'll hs
the Germans failed to provide Their
selves with the 42-centimetere piece
1t has been shown at Givet that Il
Austrian 35-centimetere motar ba
teries. though smaller in calibre al