The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
HEAVY KRUPP GUNS NOT USED AT L|EGE But One 17-Inch Howitzer
 at Namur THE USE OF INFANTRY In the German Army Is But a Support for Artillery and Machine Gun
 Fire-Individual Aim Subor-
 ordinated to volley Firing
THE USE OF INFANTRY
By LIE RAcouTEusE

Paris, October 24-tSpecial.,-I have been able to get some account of the great krupp 42-centimetre (7-inch) how itzer. This was not used at Liege I am informed, and perhaps the fact explains why Namur fell so much more easily than the border city. At Namur the 42. centimetre gun (only one was on hand here, so far as ascertained) was fired about every 15 minutes Sometimes much longer periods elapsed between ths discharges.
 The impact of the shell and its ter. rife force are discernible in huge column of dust and debris which arises and b to be plainly seen for dis tance of six or seven miles.
 I am informed by an observer whose word cannot be doubted that this col umn rises to the height of three or four hundred feet. spreading out al the top and disappearing slowly. It is easily distinguished from the small geysers of dust marking where the eight or nine-inch howitzers find their mark.
 Effective Artillery Fire TO show the artillery nature of the war, it Is to be noted that of 15o wounded, the Belgians brought into a single hospital after an engagement the locality of which I may not men, ton, not one was wounded by rifle ire. All were suffering from the effects of shell splinters or shrapnel and the de- lenders had been absolutely pounded out of their position by the long range field artillery.
 The advantages possessed by the German army are their heavy artillery, their great siege guns and their pre- ponderance of machine guns.
 In general actions, not slxirmishes or outpost affairs. the German infantry used as the armies of other nations em- hardly said to exist. The German foot soldier is now but support to ma chine gun and artillery fire.
 To every infantry regiment there are attached some 10 to 12 machine guns that are kept concealed in light regi- mental transport; they are without wheels, are carried by hand, and can be quickly moved from one position to another on the firing line.
 The preponderance in numbers of this important defensive, and as the Ger mans use it, offensive arm of the scr vice cannot be over-estimated. Their possession has changed German infan- try tactics. Accuracy of individual rifle fire has been subordinated to shower s of shrapnel, to sweeping streams of lead and to continued levelled volleys of musketry at given ranges.
 Trusting to clearing the way in this fashion infantry are moved forward in great masses. The carnage suffered in their advance Is thus explained. In their early fighting they did not ap- pear to mind their losses in the least: they did not take into account the hu- man element, and regarded only the IL 4A.- has begun to tell on the morale of the men.
 Loss of Officers Terrific
 The loss of officers has been terrific. At Liege where, as a German head quarters official put it. We could not hold the Junkers back" some regi- ments lost 60 per cent: there wer 2 whole companies that did not have an officer left. Vssa.f
 With the German army in France are large numbers of German boy scouts. aged from 15 to 17 years; they are all mounted on bicycles and there are t, every infantry regiment at least 10 bicycle scouts, and to every brigade motorcyclists as well. many possessins g English and American motorcycles.
 The military motor cars, almost with - out exception, are equipped with wire cutters, a framework of light steel that pL OttSlS OOtii i&iiPSt anu CA'ottoo 'fCi the heads of the occupants of the ear. thus protecting them from the wires which have often been stretched at night between the trees at about the height that would catch the occupants of motor vehicle across the throat.
 Besides the soup kitchens and army bakeries on wheels that trundle along with the army, and keep steadily at work on the march, the German ma chine possesses travelling chemist shops automobile repair wagons and others for the repairing of aeroplanes, each with a force of trained mechanics. a force of wheelwrights and carpenters is in every division. Tn little or no time they transformz a, taxicab into an ambulance capable of carrying eight men.