Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-01-14
MINING AND COUNTERMIN.
ING FOR FORTIFICATIONS
Capturing - Fertilization h. Trenches
and Tunnels.
,trom the Scientific AmciicanD

ttrom tte Scientific Amolicai)
Tho Germans and Austrians with their
1l-inch and Pinch howitzers and their
lGi2 inch siege moItars. have found u
new and very speedy way OF reducing
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES provided that the
troops Of the enemy permit them 70
bring this heavy artillery within range
Of it, objective.
Not all the nations engaged in the
world war. however. are provided with
such heavy pieces. and If any ono of
them attempted the reduction of first
class fertilization. thcy would have 10
resort to 'hc time honorod method ~ at
tack by open approach trenches and by
tunnels. driven to!ow The worry walls Of
the fertilization itself.
In reducing strongly fortified place
the first step is to cut off communica-
ton with the outside world. 4 rapidly
moving. compa atively small force. fol-
lowed by achievements. is thrown on
tirely around the position, III" force
being beyond range of it>' artillery. or
say, about three miles from its main
line of defense. This il known as the
line of investment. 1t will no held I'm
stronger force at some portions of the
line than others, but everywhere it will
be sufficient to cut off all exit from or
ingress to the fortificaton. The zone OF
investment Is entrenched, rommunica-
ton by telegraph and telephone il es-
tablished between the different sections
Of the investing line. and communication
is also established to headquarters
When the line Of investment is com
nj OF 10 &c ,ish nI MD frn,,
one or more positions the selection OF
which is determined by the following
concomitant conditions: 1t must afford
good communication with the base; It
must offer the best Typographical cond-
lions for emplacins siege batteries, and
working UP to the fortification under
natural cover of the country; II must
offer the most favorable ground for the
construction of siege railways; and the
selected limo of approach mus, be favor
able for digging operations
when the direction and toxation NJ
the attack have been decided, sites for
the siege batteries are selected at dis
tances Of from three thousand to five
thousand yards, according to power and
range OF the siege howitzer available.
The attack on the fortress then COM
mences, and the artillery fire is main
tained until that Of the defense has been
Silenccd or at least partially smothered
The attack then attempts to gain ground
toward the fortress: outposts are ad-
vanced and an effort IL made to control
the country In front for a sufficient dis
tance to make II possible to dig the first
trench parallel to the line of investment,
II II be possible. within about 1000 yards
of tho point to be attacked. The posi-
tion chosen for this trench Is reconnoiter-
ed, and at night an attack IL pushed
forward In order to drive the enemy thus
Tar as possible from the position thus
collected for this trench. which Is known
as the first parallel In the dusk OF the
evening, party, consisting of an en-
gineer officer, non commissioned Of
ficrr and a private for each fifty yards
of the pl opposed length of parallel, move
forward, and they carry with them trac-
Ing tapes OF white cotton fifty wards
in length The officer 'ar,iss also
compass Ia Obtain IN. proner direction,