427 
THE “LINING-PLANE ” OF THE GERMAN FIELD 
ARTILLERY. 
BY 
CAPTAIN W. A. MACBEAN, E.A. 
In the latest (1892) edition of the German Field Artillery Drill, in¬ 
creased importance appears to be attached to indirect fire, and for the 
first time its deliberate employment upon the battle-field finds sanction 
in the Regulations. 
The paragraphs which bear most upon the subject are as follows, 
and are contained in the chapter upon “ Battle/'’ 
274. “ Direct fire is to be preferred to indirect fire ; but the latter 
will have to be used when the ground or the tactical situation do not 
permit of direct fire.” 
So far, the wording of this paragraph is identical in the two editions 
of 1889 and 1892, but in the latter the following has been added: 
“ In some cases isolated batteries, covered from view and difficult of 
discovery by the enemy may, by the effect they produce in a specified 
direction, afford the means of gaining the superiority of fire.” 
The following is also new : 
277. “ Cover from the enemy's fire and from view 
may become a necessary preliminary condition for the superiority of 
our own fire effect.” 
In the 1892 edition mention is also made for the first time of an in¬ 
strument termed the “Richtflache,” which is here translated as “lining- 
plane.” According to the drill-book (para. 115) this instrument is to 
be employed for obtaining the line when the target cannot be seen over 
the sights, nor by standing on the gun-carriage, limber, etc., nor from 
rising ground in rear of the battery, and it has doubtless been specially 
adopted for use in such situations as are mentioned in the paragraphs 
quoted above. 
The lining-plane consists of a brass base plate, steel sighting-arm, 
and clamping screw. 
The base plate is semicircular in shape; its diameter has a fine edge 
and is planed quite true. The circumference is graduated in degrees; 
the graduation begins at 90° at both ends of the diameter and goes 
upwards on the right side (the diameter is placed to the front) to 100°, 
110°, etc., and downwards on the left to 80°, 70°, etc. 
The sighting-arm pivots on the centre of the diameter and is pro- 
8. VOL. XX. 
