Evening star., 1918-08-25
raining the Heavy Artillery at Camp EustiS

the most accurate map data available,
the exact location-on the map, of each
of the guns of battery ana OF tne
target are calculated. Aiming points
and aiming lines. which are used ~
determined. All this Is done usually
before the guns are even brought into
position.
In computing the actual firing data
the battery commander. having gath-
with pencil and paper, q table OF loga-
rlthms and his range table and works
out exactly the amount by which
each different condition. such as
drift. atmospheric density ana VINO
will AFFECT the fall of the shot. The
condition of the powder, the exact
weight Of the projectile. the number
of times each gun has been hred ana
sometimes even the curvature OF the
earth and Its rotation during the flight
of the projectile are considered.
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These factors might seem insignifi-
cant In their effect. yet a change In
the wind has been known to cause as
much as 500 meters difference In the
fall Of a shot. and change In pow
der charge as much as 500 meters
difference.
Even with the most careful initial
calculations. the first shot fired prob
cbly will not hit tho target. 1t ts
necessary to get reports from che
airplane and balloon observers and
make corrections for Shorts" and
covers" Communication from ground
to airplane Is by signs placed on the
ground which can be readily seen
from aloft, and from airplane to
ground by wireless.
The targets at which the heavies
are aimed are Of such nature as TO
permit careful and accurate determt-
nation OF location and range. and tur.
thermore, the cost OF the ammunition
and guns Is such that almost every
known branch of science must be
utilized in determining the data Tor
the first shot SO the target may De
hit at once without waste OF ammu-
milton. =,
The life Of the fourteen-inch rail-
road gun is only $50 shots. when 1t
has to be dismounted and sent back 70
the factory and refined. while the ire
OF a three-inch piece or the French
Is. which is about the same size, -
from 5000 to 5000 shots. 1t can read.
fly be seen from the above statement
that 1t is OF the greatest importance
to keep down the wear on the rihing
OF the heavy guns, which II taxes
years to produce.
In the present methods OF firing the
big guns at targets close to infantry
trenches such as hostile machine gun
emplacements. trenches or dug-outs.
erratic firing may cause shots TO falt
among friendly troops. Though cas-
ualties may be slight. nothing is more
harmful to the infantry's morale than
to be fired on by Its own artillery.
Ono branch of the heavy artillery
deserves special mention the rail-:
road artillery. Tracks have been laid
at Eustis for several types OF this
arm. which Is Of sixteen inch caliber.
Moving railroad artillery Is very
simple. 1t is n case of toot! and YOU
are of to any part Of the front your
battery 10 ordered. Its great mobil-
ity. great range and power make Its
tactics quite different from those OF
any other form of artillery.
American artillerymen who have
been sent overseas, and the new crop.
this training center within a few
weeks. know the game. There Is no
doubt about IT, The new quotas from
the draft, after they receive their pre-
liminary training at the coast de-
fenses. will also be sent here and
fuses and the rest Of the bookish
theories. and then. In addition. they
will be taught the last word on gum
merry as 1t Is practiced on the French
front
The existence of the great Amerl-
can coastal defense system and its
specially trained body of officers and
men have provided the basis for the
supply of heavy gunners for the
Expeditionary Army. The
coast artillerymen of the Regular
Army and the National Guard were
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ranks will soon be swelled by Ma
tional Army men who are being train
ed for overseas duty at this canton-
ment.