Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-28
RICHMOND HOW|TzERS
DOING SPLENDID WORK
HCccntIy Back From Instructive
Tour Duty on Target Range,
Lasting Six Weeks.
AGAIN AT CAMP WILSON, TEXAs
Men Take Part i'm Night Problem, in
Difficult Country, and Return in
Small Hours OF Morning Without
Accident Of Any Kind.
I >;rec,ar 10 Tho Times Dispatch I

iS'pe"ial {" The Times Dispat"h.i
CAN'T WILSON. TEN. January -
Tho Provisional Regiment Of Virginia
Field Artillery returned to this camp
from Leon Springs p"rcmhcr IL. after
n most successful md Instructive tour
duty on tho target range. lasting six
wcrks
Tho Rirhmond HowitZnrs. officially
known az BATTERY -" Virginia Field
ARTILLERY. National Guard. kept ny their
reputation as hard workers and non
kickcrs. Some of the work was very
interesting; for instance. in night
problem tho guns were unIinhcrod.
placed in position and timber chests
taken away whom II was ~ dark il
was impossible 10 500 tho horscS' cars.
and thu. with tho horses Scrambiing
over rockr bitches and hil1sidcs Gov
cred with a scrutiny growth Of timber.
The men returned {" camp in tho small
hours OF the morning without nm acct
dent OF any Kind. which speaks we'll
for tho efficiency OF tho drivers.
This tour OF duty was most iu:truc-
tive To tn" officers aud enlisted per
"onn"l handling tho horses over tho
toughest Kind az country developed
good drivers. while firing practice. using
tho fifteen. pound sorvi"" Shrarnei and
yards to $500 yards. put tho gun sounds
IN tine shape
For the officers thor" were recon
noissance. selection. occupation OF posi-
ton and solving tho problems
Pictures published m connection with
tic article serve To illustrate The WORK
Of a battery of thrc"-inCh guns.
Picture No. is tho battery COM
nanders station. Tho masked posi-
ton has been selected for the guns,
and tn" first sergeant sent back 10 tho
crccutiv" officer with instructions for
him TO bring up tho battery. ctc. Cap
tain Myers is going To try TO solve this
problem. His pictur" can easily bc
recognized. To his left. with chin
strap showing. is Colonel Manus Mo
'ioskoy. commanding the regiment.
Tho others arc tn" officers from the
various batteries. assembled TO observe
tho hrc. The battery commanders
telescope. for measuring the detection
from the aiming point TO the target.
can be plainly seen. This station ~ on
hillside, from which point the aiming
point. target and guns are visible.
Picture No. shows the guns have
occupied tho position, Timber chests
taken To place OF safety. and the
executive officer Is pointing out the
aiming point IL the assembled gunners.
in this case lone tree on the sky line
to the left rear. With n suitable de-
Election set off on tho panoramic sight.
same having been calculated at the oh
scrvation station. the guns then turned
50 that tho line Of sight is directed on
tho aiming point. the gun itself is
pointed at the target, which the gunner
cannot sec. Note the sheltcring ridge
running along in front OF the guns.
Picture No. shows the battery in
action. No. gun is caught in full
rccoil, forty-fvc inches on it's carriage
Just after the cannonccr on the right
Of the trail pulled the trigger.
Picture No. shows the front view Of
tho battery. just after the gun has come
back into battery from the position of
extreme rccoil. Note the smoke OF
the discharge blowing across tho front
of tho position.
During tho Christmas season here in
Camp wilson, drills were suspended
and the men had only TO exercise, feed
and water the 1872 head Of stock paint
the material and take inventory.
The lIowitzers have nov resumed
regular routine. mounted instruction in
the morning, drill OF tho gun squads
and instruction OF the Eunncrs in the
afternoon. while smoke bomb practice
for tho officers takes up the rest of the
day. Officers school from $50 TO $50
r. NJ. holds their attention for four
nights week
JAMES {. POLLAKp
First Lieutenant. Battery A. Virginia
Field Artillery. National Guard
"Hichmond HowitZcrs"