Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-14
LARGE CONTINGENT
(ContinGed from Page One)

NSS's''~Oo dSS SIC|
in their intensive training under general
supervision Of Frances most expert ar
tilleryists.
There are no longer any French off,
GERS or poilus actually serving at the
guns, the crews having been American
lied throughout. AT the observation
posts and in the schools of instruction
French officers sit now only in advisory
capacity.
Through various reports received
from trained observers, attaches and
| other confidential sources during the
past three years the American artil-
lery officers of the regular army have
been enabled to keep in fairly close
touch with all the gunnery develop
ment in the world war-sufficienty
close. in any event to change many
of their older practices within the
past II months, while at the same
time keeping them abreast with the
more modern theories of the various
artillery schools. What the Ameri-
can artillery has now and never has
had before is plenty of shells. It is
easily conceived what this means to
officers and men whose batteries are
expanding within two or three weeks
10 times the number of shells former
~ allotted to them Tor an entire year.
Maze Of Technical Details
Modern artillery training is a maze
Of technical details, a labyrinth of
| mathematical problems, a reverend
ing series of intricate puzzles, in
which such elusive and subtle sub
jects as orientation, triangulation, de-
Election, drift. elevation. celebration,
meteorology. range finding, and a doz-
en- other branches of optics and geom-
etry and the general application of
the concentrated powers of destruc-
ton are involved.
In beginning the fulfillment OF its
contract with Washington the French
government has supplied the American
artillery units with the latest OUTPUT
Of the famous Seventy Elves, which
it is generally conceded is the finest
light field piece the world has ever
known. 1t corresponds to and takes
the place of the old S-inch gun in the
American army. The French have
also supplied the Americans with g.
inch hoWitzers--a gun of great power
and accuracy which corresponds to
the noted German SO, probably the
most effective weapon in the entire
German gun list
The Americans have been quick to
master the details of the French
weapons and are handling them now
as if they had been friends of MANY
years standing. Under the watchfuJ
supervision of a splendid old French
major, who speaks English as If II
were his own tongue they have TAX
en- down and re-assembled the two
types of guns with which they have
been training, so that the most min
ute details OF construction and the
particular use Of each part. no mat
ter how small, has become thoroughlv
known
Mastery Matter Of Months
The mastery of artillery as whole
however Is matter of months, rath-
er than weeks, and there still remains
much fpr even the first American ar
tlhery contingent to learn.
The work Of co-opera ton with balloons
ana alrplanes has only recently been
started. The airplane service has at
tracted many Of the brightest young Of
fcers IN the artillery who are practicing
now to qualify as observers The Ameri-
can CHEZ of artillery in France recently
save each officer of the lower grades an
opportunity to indicate his preference IN
any special branch of artillery work. It
IS striking evidence of the spirit of the
cxpedtfonary force that an overwheIm-
ing majority expressed the desire to be-
come airplaEe observers, which is the
branch of service holding undoubtedly
the greatest hazard.
The French artillery planes which are
being used for training purposes have
twin engines and great. wide-spreading
wings. giving them wonderful stability,
although when occasion requires they
slide-slip. stall spin and spiral in a fash
ion that would fill the ordinary fighting
scout with envy. The trip which the cor.
respondent made in one of these over the
artillery camp and school revealed a wide
sweeping range OF beautiful hills and val
leys. The American zones of fite stretch
for miles in parallel tracks and are filed
with splendid natural targets which for
the purposes of observation and direction
of the fire have been designated and ma D.
ped as enemy battery positions, machine
gun encplacements. dugouts and strong
points OF various sorts and descriptions.
The American ranges TEEN with most
Of the sights and sounds Of actual battle,
while ofncers and men work with an
earnestness and zeal (which could not be
surpassed on the firing line itself. Scores
OF German prisoners employed about the
camp on various construction work are
getting a. striking hrst-hand impression
OF what American participation in the
war NAV vet mean to their country.