The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-09-23
SUCCESS IN
WAR DEPENDS
ON ARTILLERY
Field Pieces Are Big Factor in
Troops Equipment

Success in the battles OF the present
war depends on field artillery. The
function OF field artillery is to support
the infantry in its advance and retreat
II aims TO disable that part OF the
10 its own lines.
Battles begin. therefore with an ar
tillcry duel. Whichever side manages
10 silence the others artillery has the
advantage In fact, infantry advance
is practically impossible until the enc
my's artillery has been put out Of
business.
Since the artillery is relied on To
protect the infantry's advance and TO
destroy the enemy's field guns, it is
evident that its effectiveness depends
on range, mobility and rapidly of fire.
The gun on which the armies are de-
pending more than on any other is the
light field piece. which is Of approxi-
mately 3-inch caliber. But each coun-
try has developed its own 3-inch gun,
according To it's own ideas OF the best
advantage.
French Guns Heavier.
The French use a heavier gun. firing
a heavier projectile at higher velo-
city than the German guns. Since the
energy OF a gun varies directly as the
mass and square of velocity OF the
projectile, IL is clear that the French
projectile, is more powerful than the
German. ON the other hand the Ger
man gun, being lighter, is more easily
moved from place To place.
The maximum range for any gun il
for about 43 degrees elevation, after
which the ranges become shorter The
range at these degrees is from 5000 to
10000 yards, but since firings at such
long ranges have little effect carriages
are not made for such elevations, un-
for attacking balloons.
Battery Under Cover.
In battle the battery, comprising
usually from four to eight guns is lin
ed up, and one loaded caisson is placed
next To each gun. The entire battery
the target. The fire is directed by
each gunner aiming at a designated
point with an instrument at a given
detection, so that the gun will actually
point at the target. The detection is
estimated by triangulation by the bat
terry commander, who is at some dis
lance from the battery, on an eleva-
ton, ladder or in tree. The Ger
mans measure the angles carefully, by
means Of instruments, thus making the
first shots effective. The French, on
the other hand, guess at the range, fire
quickly, and by observing the effect of
the shot make necessary corrections |
for succeeding shots The ranges are
determined by self-contained base
range finders. which are accurate for
POO yards, for 5000 or 6,0O0-yard rang |
es.
The Use Of Rowitzers.
developments Of recent years are the |
larger caliber siege guns and the how
tiers. Howitzers fire heavier pro-
jectlle, with a lower velocity. at |
much higher elevation and longer
range
Suppose the enemy's infantry to be
behind embankments With |
a high velocity the trajectory OF The
projectile from the ordinary gun is
very fiat, so that the troops will be
able to sit behind cover while the shots
pass over their heads or strike the
Here is the opportunity
for howitzers. BY reducing the charge
The projectile is started al higher
elevation, causing the shot to fall in a
more nearly vertical direction and to
lrop behind the embankment.
Another advantage OF these heavy
cannon is that a battery OF them can
De put in position to cover a large field
md with it's long ranges prevent the
enemy's lighter artillery from coming
within effective reach.
Attacking Fortified Cities.
Still another use for field artillery.
which calls for a third type Of gun, il
n attacking fortified cities, like Liege,
Cor this purpose siege guns are used.
These guns are both heavy and cap
bile Of fairly rapid movement They
ire placed in a permanent position be-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS