Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-09-21
WAR CLEARLY PROVED
ARTILLERY VALUE
Allies Vastly Superior in Gun
Technique to the Germans
British Expert Explains.

MAJOR & J. G. Street, X G \,
author Of With the Gums. has written
for the British Prcrs Bureau the follow
ing article on Counter Battery Work
saws q London cable dispatch.
1t is frequently reported m the British
communicates. especially during periods
when no infantr, operations are IN
progress. that the artillery was active
on a certain sector of the from, Some-
times the phrase artillery duel -
employed, which - rather more Illuin-
mating. but Il IS often difficult. even
for those who actually witness such ac-
t,vltv. 10 realize its object or its results
Tins war has proved. 10 greater ex
tent than ever before the value OF
artillery support to infantry whether
IN attack or defense II Is safe 70 SAY
that no attack can hope to succeed
without the assistance di an artillery
harragc, and, conversely, that no posi-
t,on can Toe held II the hostile artillery
i allowed complete freedom to lombard
it II is consequently, the object Of
both the attach and the defense to
harass and Il possible destroy he bat
terics opposed 10 it at oil times, cspc-
clallv during periods when conditions
render infantry operations impossible
The fewer the available guns opposed
10 any army, the greater thc chances
OF that arnvs ) success when the battle
comes to bc joined
So We have he modern counterpart Of
lie artillery duel Both sides are
constantly on the watch for the batter
Ie- opposed to them and rs soon US they
are discovered steps are taken 10 deal
with them They can either be syste-
matlcallv destroyed. or they can be ne,l-
trallzed The first process explains It
self. the battery Is bombarded with
large number Of heavy SHELLS until Its
actual material is rendered useless. But
a gun IS very small target al range
uf i've or SIX miles, and nothing short
nf a direct hit upon II Is likely 10 put
II pcrinanentIX out OF action. Il Is
usually well concealed and protected IN
an cmplacement, and, owing 70 ITS rela-
lively small size, 1t + practically Impos-
sibe for an observer, whether on the
ground or in the air, 10 see whether
a shell has actually hIt II or not
Consequently. a VERY great expendl-
ture OF ammunition IS required com
pletelv to destroy n battery. and even
If several hundred rounds are employed
II is unlikely that all the guns will be
put out Of action During the lombard
ment the detachments can be with
drawn from the guns, and as the bonn
bardment must necessarily be deliberate.
In order TO secure accurate observa-
ton. the men have usually plenty OF
time to get out of the way
But once the position OF Il hostile
battery Is accurately fixed upon the
map. it is not necessary to destroy II
in order 10 put II out Of a ton. at least
temporarily, At any moment II can be
neutralized; that is to say, that a few
rounds OF high explosive, shrapnel or
gas she'll as may be most convenient,
NAV be fired into the vicinity of the
guns BY this means 1t can be made
/ impossible for the detaehments to work
the guns without Incurrng serious loss,
or = they continue to serve the guns,
thc,- rate Of fire will be very con
siderablv reduced. and the battery will
eventually be rendered Ineffective through
loss Of personnel
sooner or later Il battery Whose posi-
ton Is known 10 the enemy will ht
forced to change its position process
that involves loss of time and efficiency,
OF. If 1t persist IN 7 naming where II Is,
il viii ~uiirr losses i'll its detachments
aud vii consequently deteriorate III
fight power Consequently, the bel
means ot combating the enemv,s artil-
lerv i, TO discover the position Of his
batteries and subsequently 10 harass
them as much as possible.