New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-14
Presence of This Arm of
American Service Abroad
Is Revealed
Officers Glad to
Do Dangerous Work
Soldiers Well Housed ;
Ready to Practise on
Trench Mortars
By Haywood Broun

(dccredited TO the Pershing Army in Francs
for The New York Tribune aud Sy7,dtcdte)
CONTROLE AMERICAN. AMERl-
CAN EXPEDITIONARY ARMY, Sept.
13.-American artillerymen are train
ing in France. They have been here
some time, but their presence has been
e. carefully guarded secret, permission
to reveal which has just been given.
A visit TO their camp found officers
and men hard at work on new methods
of artillery ire developed II. the war.
Fortunately, French methods were m
troduced in the United States several
months before the artillery came over
and the gunners are not altogether
unfamiliar with the task before them'
However, they have much to learn III
mastering observation from aeroplaneS
and balloons for purposes OF directing
the fire.
All Junior officers were allowed 10
express preference as to Whicn
branch of the artillery work they pre-
ferred, and although observation is the
most dangerous of all, 10 per cent IN
dicated il as their choice. Selection,
therefore, became necessary, ana
favored few are learning TO look sharp
from the skies and telephone what
they observe of the fire from the oai-
looms. or, if in an aeroplane, to COM
municate with the guns by wireless
Uses of Map Are New
THE use of the map in range hnding
is also new to the Americans, although
they have studied the theory. Inc
mans at home IRE not sufficiently se'
curate to make the method feasible.
French guns are being used by the
I Americans. the famous "75s,' as weI'
nc s.inch howitzers, and at the time
Of my visit they were just preparing 10
take ND trench mortars. The soldiers
are extremely well housed IN prick
barracks. and the wild nature OF the
country about them permits the use
Of ranges up to 10000 yards. Although
Tho artillery has not been at WORK
long. it is possible that their pranch
81 tho service may be the first to see
action. and their final training Will be
at the front.
War seems less remote in the artil-
lery camp than in any other training
sec.;on of the American army, for the
roar of the guns fills the air every
morning, and they sound just as
ominous as though they were in ear
nest. Even the projectile of big gun
seems in no gres: hurry 70 reach IT'S
mark. Any one who stands directly
I bobind the gun can see black speck
leave it's mouth and soar away. Inc
missile looks exactly like basebah
driven high by player batting out
long flies.
Gun. Do Not Glitter
The guns OF this war do not glitter
vet thew are far from drab. only
when the big guns get to WORK IS r, the
warlike atmosphere regained. lney
make the very devil Of a noise, and II
is no longer considered bad form for
the officers and men to stick their
fingers in their ears when the order
to fire is given. No schoolgirl at a
war play matinee could be more caretui
to guard against the bang
The French officers are excellent
teachers. at took US couple OF days
TO realize that when our instructor
smoke of a 'rangerrand' he meant a
range error" said an American cap
tain, but since then everything has
been perfect" A..
Nv own impression was that Cen
eral p. c. Marsh and his officers, who
are drawn from both the regular and
the reserve ranks, were doing the big
and difficult work of training system
atically and rapidly. AS one officer
said: 1--WE hope to be able to merit
comparison with the French artillery
men some time-and that is high am