The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-06
ARTILLERY IS COMPARED
WITH INFANTRY SERVICE
Germany as Well as the Ententes
Recognize Greater Value OF Heavy
Guns, Especially Howitzcrs.

French Front. Nov a.. (By
not been alone in recog-
nizing the greater value of artillery
as compared with infantry In the
method OF warfare In operation on all
the European fronts since the cessa-
ton of the war movement at the end
of 1914.
A glance at the strength of the Ger
man field artillery branch at the
opening OF hostilities shows that 1t
then consisted of 642 batteries. At
present 1t is composed of 2.000 bat
teries at least AS the batteries now
contain only four pieces instead of six
as at the beginning OF the war. the
calculation of the power OF the ar
tillery in the field must be based on
the number of guns rather than that
of batteries. Whereas in 1914 the
German army possessed only 3,S52
field guns. II now disposes OF 5000 II
the minimum figure of 1000 batteries
with which 1t was furnished at the
end OF 1916 is taken as the basis of
calculation.
These field artillery batteries are
divided into two kinds-those armed
with the seventy-seven eentimeter
cannon (the three-inch) and those
armed with light four-inch field How
tiers. The German three-inch cam
non has been much improved ana its
range greatly increased since 1914.
Heavy Artillery Increased.
AS to the German heavy artillery,
the increase in the number of pieces
has been even greater In proportion
than that of the field artillery. In
peace time the German empire had
organized -fes4sfents-cf-
heavy artillery. Each regiment was
composed of two battalions OF four
batteries, and each battery was armed
with four guns. thus totanng 76S
heavy guns.
AS soon as the army had been mo-
bilized in 1914 the German military
authorities established new heavy ar
ttllery formations. Soon each artil-
lery regiment of the regular army
had attached to 1t q reserve regiment.
consisting of four batteries of skilled
gunners, also a battalion of four bat
teries formed from among the Third
reservists or landstrum When the
arsenals and shell factories later had
reached "a higher level of production
Of guns and ammunition further bat
teries were formed from among the
mem OF the Ersatz reserve. Since the
.irgt years OF the y-44f large numbers
which have been called out for service
have been sent to the artillery branch.
BY the end of 1915 the number of
heavy batteries had been multiplied
more than five times. and In the
course of 1917 further additions have
been made to the total.
Gcrmany's Gun Views Changed.
or the German big guns rs per cent
are long-range cannon ana the re-
naming IS per cent Howitzers. The
most numerous of the long-range guns
are 4-inch. 1-2-inch, 6-inch and s.
inch, but they possess also batteries
of S.7-ineh, 9.7-inch, 11-inch and IS
inch long-range guns, although these
are very few In number Their How
tiers are for the most part of 6-inch
caiiber, but besides these they have
in line batteries OF li-inch, 12-inch
and l7-inch Howitzers.
Germany had not developed any
liking for mountain guns before the
war, but she has been forced to change
her views by the developments OF the
fighting, in the Vosges for instance,
and now has twenty batteries of
mountain Howitzers.
Trench artillery as well has been
development of this war, and the
German army is now well provided
In the advanced lines. It's trench mo
tors range in ealiher from inches to
10 inches. Finally the small trench
cannon OF f-2-inch. 2-inch and Ia
inch ealiber have become very numer-
Gus In all sectors OF the line
The personnel of the gunnery
branch Of the German army has be
come nearly as great as that OF the I
infantry.