Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-20

ject in the most recent number of the
Militair- Wochenblatt. The same au
thority comedies, however. that the
efficiency OF the Russian artillery haG
been greatly Increased since the Man
churian war. He also admits that IL
the German army Russian artillery haG
been moderated. and indicates tina,
now all OF its weak points are
thoroughly understood.
The Germans think so highly of the
Russian artillery ammunition that they
are at present modifying some 1,20C
field pieces at the Spandu arsenal sc
as to suit them for large store Of
captured ammunition which could mo-
be used in the present German cali
Der.
The caliber of the German field CUR
is two centimeters less than that OF
the Russian and for this reason the
captured ammunition could not be put
to use Immediately. There is stored
in the German arsenals large guam
tity Of shells for the former German
field pieces, which had a caliber about
two sentimeters greater than the Rus
sian guns which have been captured
BY widening the rifiing Of the Russian
pieces the obsolete shells may now be
used. Some TOO pieces taken by the
Austro- Hungarians are being similarly
adapted. i,
After pointing out that the Russians
have always had a leaning towards the
defensive. the writer in the Militair-
Wochenblatt gives number OF in
stances in the present war in which
this was demonstrated. The artillery
positions had been selected with the
greatest care and every possible effort
had been made to protect the pieces
and their crews. At Ivangorod It was
impossible for the Germans to find the
Russian batteries without the most
minute inspection with aircraft.
AS a rule the Russian emplacementa
were well screened with bushes, and,
where, those were hard to And. with
sod and often potato-greens. Wherever
possible the Russians would seek the
cover OF woods and trees, and often
the batteries were hidden in villages
and the surrounding gardens.
In placing their artillery, the Rus
slams usually group the guns in half
batteries Of four. This permits eff
cient fire control and gives the OBJ
-servation officer far greater value
fire of single pieces.
FYeldglasses which were taken from
observation officers and others, as well
as a mass Of other purely technical
evidence, convinced the writer that the
equipment of the Russian artillery re-
connaissance is very intelligently
divided into small sectors. each of
which contained no less than forty
eight points (places which the shell is
supposed to strtke).
During the first weeks Of the war
the Russians increased the number of
their heavy howitzers, until each army
corps had three batteries Of four pieces
each. Before that these heavy field
howitzers were detailed with the armies
"a larger unit than the army corps)
each army having from three to four
batteries.
After reciting a number OF personal
experiences which left no doubt as to
the efficiency Of the Russian artillery
field intelligence service and fire con-
troll the officer gives his views of the
value Of the Russian artillery in often
sive or mobile maneuyers.
where unknown terrains and sudden
developments require quick orientation
the Russian artillery has always failed
completely" says the writer. I'm all
such cases the batteries shot wildly
and without a system by which the
field to be taken under fire was to be
divided. One could hardly believe
that 1t was the same artillery. Even