South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-06-27
INVENTOR PRAISES
GERMAN BIG GUNS
Says Success of TeutOnS is
Due to Superiority of
Artillery.

BERLIN. June q. - "Our sue
cesscs in the present war are prin-
cipally due 20 the superiority Of our
heavy artillery" said Prof Dr. Rau-
senberger. the inventor Of the giant
- centermeter gun. on his recent
visit 20 Sofa. in an interview granted
To a. correspondent
The light fiat fire deld guns have
been relegated 10 the background
and will eventually disappear en-
ureiy.' the German schOO!master
who has become famous as the con-
structor OF the most terrible mod
ern war machine continued
The field guns are of little use in
trench warfare and viii have TO be
replaced by steep fire ordnance.
Trenches. shelters and field fortif
cations Of troops i'm 90 cases out Of
every 100 can only be reached by
shells fired at a high angle. Only
in rare instances is ID possible TO
lombard them effectively with or
binary field pieces"
Asked whether il would be pos
sible 10 improve the means OF de-
Tense so as TO render even the fire
OF the heaviest attacking guns in
effective the inventor said
The artillery is capable Of UNI
limited development IL is impos-
sible TO dig the trenches and shelters
deeper. because this would hinder
the rapid retreat Of the troops in
them. IL they should be attacked
suddenly by numerically superior
forces. Even the deepest trenches
and armored shelters afford no pro-
lection against the shells Of our high
angle guns and we can reach the
enemy with our fire from distances
which were not dreamed of before
our Big Berthas' came into exist
ence.
Efrc over Channel.
we will be able 20 ire across the
English channel and 20 throw shells
three or four miles into England.
but the limit is not nearly reached.
Without any great difnculty we will
He able 10 construct guns with a
much larger range England is no
longer fnvulnerable and she knows
IT,"
the professor said.
THE general staff long ago asked
the Krupps 10 construct "A monster
gun % certain specified capabili-
ties The experiments were begun
more than 10 years ago and we fin
ally solved the problem. but the
matter of the transportation of the
enormous hOwitzers still bothered us.
only shortly after the outbreak of
the war did we succeed i'm improv-
Ing the mobility Of the great guns.
Big Berthas which could be trans
ported and placed i'm position with
out especially constructed field rail-
roads were used for the first time
I'm the bombardment Of Liege."
From his guns the inventor switch
ed to "a discussion OF fortresses
81 do not believe that fortresses
like Liege and Antwerp will be re-
built" he said The different
countries will. of course. keep their
frontiers fortified. but fortre sses
with girdles of forts have been made
useless by modern artillery The
Notifications of the future will be Of
an entirely different character"
Finally the professor took up the
munitions question.
Plenty of Munitions
The hope of our enemies that
we will ever run short of ammuni-
tion Is futile" ne said I'VE are
able To produce any required guam
uty of shells and they will always
be superior to those OF the allies.
AT the beginning of the war we
We're not so well prepared. We had
10 construct an enormous amount
of machinery and build many fac
tories before we could fully supply
the demands OF our army During
the early stages OF the war we We're
compelled 20 east most of our shells,
hut now they are all made OF press
ed steel and their quality is unsur-
passable.
The British with the rich re-
sources at their disposal have been
very successful in the production of
munitions. The production Of Rus
STA is also far larger and better than
the general public knows. The in
dustrial strength OF the Russians
must not be underestimated
q know the Putilou works and
their capability With the aid OF
England Japan and the United
States Russia will manage to get
enough ammunition for her armies.
The quality OF the American
munitions was very poor at first. but
10 is becoming much better lately.
The United States viii undoubtedly
more than double the production Of
shells during the next six months
hut We can await the further devel-
opUents of the war without anxiety
because we will always outclass our
enemies in the production OF am
munitions. as we do i'm artillery"
FOR RENT-Store room. ia y.
Allan 81. VIII remodel 10 suit tenant.
Enquire r. j. Eugledrum. cigar fac