The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-08-29
l5-Fightimg Arms of Service

officer in command had JUS, pointed the
gun at the Irish guards IN the first
trench and had his finger on the firing
button when he was dropped by a we'll
aimed bullet from OI.cary's rifle lie
shot two other Germans who were at
tempting TO fire the machine gun,
whcreupon the remainder OF the squad
threw up their hands and surrendered.
Thus il happened that when his COM
pany Of the Irish guards reached the
second line without the loss Of a single
man they were amazed to find Oleary
ahead OF them IN complete possession
he was made a sergeant OF the field,
and later given a Victoria cross. After
other exhibitions Of bravery and militia
tive. the Is year-old soldier became
Lleu,enar, Ohrary.
There is always al element OF luck in
such unusual achievements, but all the
luck IN the world is useless unlc. the
soldier has developed his intelligence,
spirit, and Self-rclance during his
months OF training.
The Cavalry.
The cavalry is armed with saber and
pistol, as well as rifle, Since the early
months OF the present wal there has
been little opportunity to use cavalry on
the western front. For the most part
the cavalry forces Of European armies
have been fighting in the trenches as
infantry.
Under these conditions it has been
determined to r~eorganize several OF the
cavalry regiments Of II regular army
as field artillery, United States cav
airy, as such, is not to be used in
Europe at present Some good judges
believe that the cavalry will again com
into its own before the war is ended.
but on Ahis question no final opinion
can now be given.
The coast artillery, which handles the
big-caliber guns guarding our chief
harbors against naval attacks, is
branch distinct from the field artillery,
which handles the smaller gum drawn
by horses or motors and moved about
with the rest OF the army. The pres
ent field guns range in sire from. three
inch callber to ~ inches, The field
artillery Also handles howitrers, which
throw heavy she'll. high into the air
so that they will fall upon the target
at a very steep angle.
The chief kinds of artillery ammuni-
tion are shrapnel and high explosives,
The shrapnel is intended to burst in the
face Of the enemy and scatter 4 large
number of bullets. The high explosives
are used chiefly to blow up enemy
trenches
Increasing Importance Of Artillery.
The importance Of as&illery has been
very much increased during the present
war. II is the most effective OF all
weapons in preparing the way for at
tack. In advance OF an attack OH a
large scale there are often several days
Of continuous artillery duel, during
which the big guns OF both sides try to
locate and put out of action the oppos-
ing guns. In fact, III the western front
the artillery duel never entirely ceases.
The chief qualities Of a good ar,il-
leryman are intelligence and tenacity
He must know his gun so well that he
can not only play his own part but, "
necessary, can take the place OF any Of
his comrades. lie must have the cour-
age that enables him to hold any posi-
ton assigned to him until the order is
given to move.
Similar to the artillery in many re-
Spects are the machine gun troops. Ma.
chine guns shoot out a steady stream OF
bullets and have grea, value agains, an
attack from the front. They may also
he readily carried forward by attacking
troops and used with great effect
against the defenders of a position,
"A skirmish line cannot advance by
walking or running when hostile ma
chine guns have the correct range and
are ready to fire. Machine gun fire i,
not especially effective against troops
lying on the ground or crawling Wher
opposed by machine gun, without artil,
lery to destroy them infantry itself mus
silence them before i, can advance Con
cealment and patient waiting Tor crlti
Neal moments and exceptional opporuni
ties are the special characteristics o
the machine gun service in decisive &C
tons" (lnfan,ty drill regulations
paragraphs 542, 81. so
In handling machine guns, Just as !,
handling artillery, intelligence and tie
naeity are the qualities most needed
There are numberless examples in tn
present war Of courageou, self.reliane
on the part Of individual soldiers in re