ACHIEVEMENTS OF FIELD ARTILLERY. 
125 
A good artillery leader should therefore have that eye for country, 
and that power of taking in the situation at a glance which distinguishes 
a capable General. So far from destroying his initiative power, it is 
possible that modern developments may more than ever demand it of 
him, and the qualities of a Senarmont may again recognise their 
opportunity on future battle-fields. It is at least certain that it is now 
more than ever of vital importance that not only should Generals 
understand thoroughly how to handle guns, but that artillery officers 
should, in addition to their technical skill, possess such an intimate 
acquaintance with the working of the three arms, and so clear an 
appreciation of their relation to one another, that they should not 
hesitate to strike into the fight on their own initiative at the opportune 
moment. In other words, the artillery officer should possess the same 
qualities as the cavalry leader, and, recognising his opportunity, 
accept his responsibility with the same readiness as the latter is ex¬ 
pected to do. 1 2 
Major von Rohne, Professor of Artillery at Berlin, has also contended 
that the first difficulty of the application of artillery in masses lies in 
the system of command. The tactical handling of a great mass of 
batteries is no easy matter, and requires much t Jactice and experience. 
Yet, the lesson which underlies the story of artillery achievements 
seems to tells us that it is only when guns have been employed col¬ 
lectively, and that the efforts of all the batteries have been welded 
together and directed by one controlling grasp, that success, brilliant 
and complete, has been attained. 3 
To speak of great masses of guns, as viewed from the continental 
standpoint, may seem unnecessary in a publication intended aim ist 
wholly for British officers, but since we have dealt principally with 
foreign achievements, we must keep in view the interests and neces¬ 
sities of forces on a scale altogether disproportionate to our own. And 
while we are organised similarly to continental armies, and may again 
be called upon to operate on a large scale side by side with them, it may 
not be amiss to drop a word or two in passing with reference to 
English artillery alone. 
In our service the battery is still regarded by the majority of officers 
as the unit, in whose leader are embraced all the functions, both of 
command and administration. The prerogative of the Major is still 
jealously guarded, and seniors, when they exercise their authoriy, are 
sometimes accused of interference. The Duke of Wellington, the 
high authority of whose name still broods over many of our military 
institutions, once said that artillery was necessarily a service of detach- 
1 It is noteworthy that Colonel Langlois demands that, in order that such an energetic spirit 
may animate every battery, an Inspector-General of Field Artillery should be appointed in 
France, who might give the same impulse to artillery in his country that General von Hindersin, 
with wh >m Prince Kraft’s letters have made us acquainted, brought about in Germany. 
2 In allusion to the deficiencies of the French artillery in 1870, Riiston saj^s “ Intelligent 
artillery officers ascribe the inferiority of the French artillery also to the prevailing division of 
command. When the war broke out every one wanted to join in the campaign. The Minister of 
W ar gratified this desire ; in order to give employment to the higher officers of artillery, he gave 
two Commandants, a first and second, not only to the artillery of every Army Corps, but also to 
that of every Division, so that it was often difficult to discover who was master and who was 
servant.” “ The War for the Rhine Frontier.” Vol. III., page 301. 
17 
