Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-04-07

maluBCdyB, perhaps IHe IudluetdS, VI
the armies of the world.
Information recently has been forth
coming in Washington concerning the
development of the artillery arm OF
the service, and it is certain If pre-
paredness measures are enacted into
law that the increase in the artillery
will be much greater proportionately
than the increase in any other branch
of the service.
THE engagement quickly resolved
itself into an artillery duel" The
words quoted appear in scores of dis
patches from the scenes of the con-
fiict in Europe. 1t is an artillery
war largely. The word battery" is
read by Americans probably five times
where the other words. regiment or
battalion. are read once.
There are batteries of horse artil-
lery, batteries of light field artillery,
mountain batteries. siege batteries,
and sea coast batteries, although the
last named may be eliminated from
discussion because thus far. save for
some operations in the far East, and
short engagement on the Belgian
coast, they have cut little figure in
the fighting.
The great arm of the artillery serv-
ice is the light battery, for in 1t lies
the chief artillery strength OF the
armies. The field guns Of the Ameri-
can army as formed into batteries and
as equipped for conflict are virtually
on the same basis as the light artil-
lery of the other armies Of the world.
When the field details Of the Ameri-
can artillery are known, the compost
tion OF batteries, the allotment OF am
munition. the complement of can
noneers, caissons and other adjuncts,
it is possible to get definite informa-
tion of the conditions in the armies
now fighting in Europe.
In virtually all the armies of the
world there are four guns to q bat
terry, change from the days of the
fieldpiece, when there
were six and occasionally eight guns
to each battery. The breechloader,
with its method of taking up the re-
coil and with the ease of its manipula-
tion. burns up ammunition at the rate
of twenty-five shots minute. This
is something to be thought on. 1t
means that shell with its dread
charge of lyddite or other high explo-
sives leaves the muzzle of each piece
every two and half seconds or there
abouts.
They are firing today from the field
artillery twenty-five shots in the time
that 1t took to fire one in the old days,
but the havoc today is not twenty-five
times as great, because soldiers have
been taught and forced to take to
cover.
A United States standard light bat
terry OF field artillery. and it will stand
as q type, at war strength has a total
of five commissioned officers and III
enlisted men. There are 60 drivers
and 65 cannoneers, four gunner cor
porals and l3 caissons. one store wag-
on and timber and four field wagons.
a total of 112 draft wagons. As saddle
horses and 16 mules, making 172 ami
mails.
The ammunition is the thing There
are In the caisson body 20 rounds and
in the timber chest SO rounds. while in
the emergency tubes" on each gun
there are four rounds. So that in each
gun section there are log rounds OF
fixed" or made ammunition in the
sc rounds in the gun timber
tubes on the gun carriage. In each Of
the four caisson sections there are 2I2
Thus with field battery of light ar
hllery there are 1,432 rounds on the fir
ing line and on wheels close by under
cover. That figures out 35S shots to a
rife. With the ammunition train there
are, or should be, four wagons each
with LOG rounds, and at the advance
supply depot 1856 rounds, or 464 shots
a rife. raising the ammunition supply
on the firing line, in the combat train
close at hand, in the ammunition train
on the road and at the advanced sup
ply depot. to s2s rounds a gun.
No one knows definitely as yet Just
what the military preparedness bill as
It finally passes congress will provide
for the artillery arm of the service. As
things seem today, there is an appear
ance Of an increased strength in the
ranks of the antipreparedness men,
bers. II appearances are not deceitful
1t seems likely therefore that a COM
promise finally effected between the
house and senate members will make
for decrease rather than an increase
In the appropriations for the supply Of
men, weapons and ammunition.
Booklet on Park System.
The department of the Interior.
Franklin X. Lane. secretary, has Just
Issued booklet entitled "Glimpses
Of our National Parks" In a let
ter which has been issued with
the publication and written by Stephen
T. Mather, assistant to the secretary