The Washington herald., 1917-12-10
British Gunners Hail
Order to Fire with Joy
Business of Raining Shells on Boches Trans
acted with Clock-like Regularity by
"Tommies" in France.

The British gunner is naturally at
his happiest When his guns are in ac-
ton, and the measure of his happi-
ness is in direct proportion to the
number Of rounds that he is allowed
to fire. Consequently, orders to fire
are always to be welcome; but of
them all there Is one that produces
more enthusiasm than all the rest.
This Is the one that directs a battery
to open fire on a particular target, at
a certain time, ana to keep It up at
maximum rate for SO many minutes.
The battery feels that the number of
rounds 1t contrives to get of in the
time Is q direct test of its efficiency;
It being well understood, Of course,
that hasty and Ill laid rounds result
ing in wild shooting would condemn it
forever. 1t often happens that a par
ticular strong point Is to be reduced,
and several batteries are ordered to
open fire at the same moment and
lombard It for a specified time. In
such cases the spirit OF competition
reaches its highest level.
The whole business is one that de-
mands speed and skill in its execu-
tion. Perhaps at $40 a battery may
receive orders to open fire at 10 and
continue for ten minutes. When the
order comes, the guns are laid on
some totally different part of the line,
they may have to be dragged out of
their positions and placed temporarily
In others a few yards away. The
range must be worked out and caIcu-
lations made; ammunition must be
grouped round each gun SO that no
time is wasted during the shooting:
every detail that may cause a delay
OF few seconds must be foreseen
and provided for.
Work at Top Speed.
The matter is briefly explained
to the men; every soul in the bat
terry, including cooks, sentries, tel
ephonists, set to work with feverish
energy, each crew striving with the
rest to be ready first. Ropes appear
from their hiding places as il by
magic. they are attached to the
guns and manned by the detach-
ment without word being spoken.
Every man knows exactly what to
do. A sharp 'Heave!" from the
number one, and the heavy piece
comes slowly forward. Men with
handspikes slew the trail round.
and in few minutes the gun is
pointing in the required direction.
1t is loaded and elevated, and the
number one gives a last look round
to see that everything Is in order.
he Is the N. c. o. in charge of the
detachment, and is responsible for
the service OF his gun.
Number One gun ready, sir" he
reports, and the Number One of the
remaining guns follow his example
at short intervals. The battery is
ready for action.
Meantime the officer III charge of
the shoot has made his calcula tions
and synchronized his watch with
those OF the other batteries who are
participating. He takes his stand in
the centre of the auns, watch in one
hand. megaphone in the other. The
men stand motionless in their places. :.
the Number One with their eyes fixed
upon the officer. A strange hush
seems to have fallen over this part
of the lines; few hostile shells are
bursting some way OFF, but there is
no sound Of gunfire in reply. The
minutes drag past with leaden slow
ness. Suddenly the officer raises his
megaphone.
"One minute to go!" he shouts.
The march OF time Is reduced to a
crawl The whole Battery passes the
next few seconds in a tense expec-
fancy that seems of endless duration.
Then q sharp order.
Hook lanyards"'
The Number Two snatch their lam
yards from their resting place over
their shoulders and hook them to the
loops of the firing tubes; then,
stretching them to their full extent,
they resume their immobllity. Slowly
the finger of the stopwatch creeps
around. Ten seconds, five
"Fire!" q.
The guns go OF in one tremen-
dous roar, the detachments SPRING
ing in to them almost before they
have come to rest after their re-
coil. From now each detachment
works fiercely against the rest, in
a grim silence that shows their de-
Every few seconds
one Of the guns crashes out; in the
intervals can be heard the report
Of q neighboring battery intent up
on the same business. A fog of
dust and Of thin acrid yapour drifts
slowly across the scene. The de-
tachments look like devils toiling
in some fiery, smoking inferno.
Many yards away the noise seems
but the men them
selves scarcely hear their own gun,
20 ABSORBED are they In their par-