New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-21

looks ridiculously small is pushed into
the gun, which has been fitted 10 fire II.
The breeches are closed and down comes
the firing pin. Instead of the roar and
recoil of the field piece in action. there
Is a sharp crack, and an instant later the
whine OF a rife bullet is heard
Corrections are made shot by shot un-
til the target, which is on the ground 800
yards away. Is hit, by figures that woul1
do the same thing for the living object
5000 yards away.
Further along the road a little aban-
doned farmhouse, that long ago seemed
to have decided, with It's owner, that life
around Tobyhanna wasn't worth living
is used for a schoolroom. They give II
the dignifed title OF Sherman House.
Here Is a class, under Captain Donnelly.
an iron-gray-haired regular whose uni
form shows poorly in contrast with the
snappy looking militiamen grouped
around his big maps. You lose what
sorrow you may have for Captain Don
nellys uniform when you hear him in
structng.
Now, then" he says. pointing out a
spot on the map to a militia officer sup
pose the enemy were reported over on
this hill and you were coming along
the road here with your battery, what
would you do?"
order my battery up at once and take
a position on this HILL" the militia officer
replies.
"All of your battery" questions Cap
tain Donnelly
Eyes. sir at a gallop."
HIN You'd lose your battery says
Donnelly, kindly enough, but with en-
phasis.
you see" he explains, enthusiasm
hasn't anything TO do with this. rs
mathematics and experience. First, you
should order your battery to proceed at
slow trot. That saves horses and
keeps infantrymen from getting discour-
aged There is nothing more dispiritins
than for an infantryman TO see battery
halted off a road somewhere, waiting for
something 10 turn UP. After your bat
terry is started you proceed at a gallcp'
taking with you scouts and chiefs CT
section
A Regulars Tips.
when YOU have ridden a piece along
the road pick out good spot to place
your combat train, somewhere near to
where your battery will be, so that you
may get ammunition up quickly. Also
pick out conspicuous aiming points, sey-
eral Of them. for the one you select may
be hidden when your battery goes be-
I 4 lat
orders as you select positions.
LAS for bringing your entire battery up
at once, how do you know that there is
not an ambush waiting that might wipe
out your battery before you could get
the guns unlimbered. Furthermore. keep
your ammunition up to half supply al
ways Never let it run below. A field
gun without ammunition is the most
helpless thing IN the world-its junk.
Now, then, what would you do coming
talong this road if the enemy were re-
ported in sight and"
So it goes, all day long with Captain
Donnelly. one class after another lining
up for instruction.
What they learn with Captain DON
nelly on paper is worked out with the
batteries. A long, dusty road runs Oy the
Sherman House. Down the road comes a
scout; he wheels and rides at a gallop
back up the road 20 report the enemy.
Presently comes the captain at GAL
lop. picking out his aiming point, so as
10 have something Axed for his gunners
20 begin swinging on to find the
enemy. Behind him .he high, broken
dust cloud bespeaks artillery on the road.
Scouts ride back with orders disposing
of the combat train. Soon comes the
battery at trot and wheels into a big
field taking up position facing the
hills. Here is spectacular hustle and
clank, the thudding Of horse and shouts
Of artillerymen as the gun trails are
dropped and the cannoneers squat at the
sights for orders.
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