The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-09-07
SIDELIGHTS ON THE
GREAT EUROPEAN WAR

The Scientific American OF Sep
TENDER Is devoted entirely to the
discussion OF the European war ana
the various scientific and important
questions that arise from it. The fol-
lowing interesting and timely exposi-
ton OF the important points is taken
from the American:
A Battle Of Big GUNS.
In actual battle the guns OF a bat
terry are lined up and one loaded
caisson Is placed next to each gun.
The entire battery Is behind cover.
and generally cannot see the targets.
The IRE Is directed by each gunner
aiming on a designated aiming point
with an instrument set at a given de-
necton. so that the gun will actually
point at the target. This DETECTION
Is calculated by a triangulation
method by the batter commander,
who Is located some distance away
from the battery either on elevated
ground. on a ladder or in a tree. The
German system OF obtaining the de-
hection Is TO measure the angles care
fully by means OF instruments, there
by attempting to make the first shots
effective; while the tendency of the
French system is to estimate the first
denection. fire quickly and by observ-
Ing the shot make necessary correc-
tons for succeeding shots. The
ranges are obtained by self-contained
base range finders. which are accu-
rate within 200 yards for 5000 or
5000 yard ranges.
Within the last few years the sub
jet OF equipping the field artillery
with larger caliber siege guns and
howitzers has been given extended
studies.
The objects OF howitzers Is mainly
to fire a heavier projectile with a
lower velocity at a much higher ele-
walton and longer range. Assume. for
instance. the enemy's infantry en-
uenched behind entertainments. With
a high velocity the trajectory OF the
proJectile for a given range is very
nat, so that the troops would be able
TO sit behind the cover and have all
proJectiles either strike the embank-
ment or pass over their heads. For
this emergency a battery of howitzers
is called into action. BY reducing the
charge the projectile may be started
al higher elevation, which causes the
projectile to fall to the ground in a
much more nearly vertical path. and
enables II to be dropped back OF the
embankment. AS a concrete example.
assume the enemy's infantry behind
earthen cover at 5000 yards. The
slope OF fall Of the French projectile
at that range would be about de-
grees, or / on s: this gives a consid-
cradle space behind a wall that would
be practically immune from the ar.
tillery fire.
BY calling a 47-inch howitzer bat
terry Tor this work. the artillery com
mander may fire a 6O-pound proiectile
with 900 feet per second muzzle We
locity. which would give him at I. 900
yards a slope OF fall OF / on 4.3. or
he may remove some powder from
the charge and FIRE the projectile at
go feet per second muzzie velocity
which would give him a slope OF fall
AZ 5000 yards of l on Is, with which
II would be practically impossible for
the enemy TO remain behind the cover
Another object OF these heavy can.
non Is, that battery can be put in
position TO sweep a large field. and
with its long ranges prevent the enc
my's lighter artillery from coming
within effective reach.
The velocity OF these howitzers Is