THE GERMAN METHOD OF BRINGING GUNS INTO ACTION. 
119 
and limbers are exposed is very shorfc—too short in fact for the enemy 
to get the range and length of faze. This was not the case at Sedan, 
where a number of guns, equal to those of one of our brigade divisions, 
were with their teams and limbers destroyed before a shot could be 
fired, and though, roughly speaking, they prolonged the line of Ducrot’s 
guns to the left, in reality the position they took up, was some distance 
from the former, nor were they by any means in the same exact line. 
Directly they appeared the German Guard Artillery turned their fire, 
two or three batteries at a time, on the first, second and third French 
batteries in succession and merely judging distance and without any 
ranging, demolished them utterly. I do not think it is necessary to 
go further for an example to prove that it is suicidal to unlimber guns 
in a firing position in sight and within 2500 yards of the enemy’s 
artillery which is already in position, when cover is obtainable. 
In conclusion, I quote a few sentences from remarks of a German 
General, an eminent authority, upon the lecture ‘ Artillery from an 
infantry officer’s point of view,’ given by Captain Pilcher, Northumber¬ 
land Fusiliers, at the R.A. Institution, Woolwich, on the 12th March 
last. These remarks were published in the “ Proceedings ” of the 
R.A.I. for January 1897. They appear, however, to be so apposite in 
this instance that I venture to reproduce them in this paper. 
“I have just stated that direct fire was the rule, but every care 
should be taken to avoid exposing the horses of a battery when coming 
into position and only the muzzles of the guns should shew above the 
crest.” 
se Again, I have often seen 76 guns in position without more than 
the muzzle of a single gun being exposed.” 
“ Before 1806 some few German officers, more advanced in thought 
than the rest, advised making use of ground and cover, but the 
majority, instigated by the same spirit with which some of the officers, 
taking part in the discussion, seem to be imbued, answered “ What, 
shall the army of Frederick be made a school for cowardice! No, 
never.” They refused to practise the use of the ground, and the 
result was Jena and Anerstadt. To say that to make use of ground 
in any way destroys f der Geist der Waffe’ (the spirit of the arm) is 
nonsense. 1 have already said that, f Wirkunggeht vor Deckung’ 
(effect must be considered before cover), but this is 1896 not 1870, 
and the effect of infantry fire must be multiplied by four or by six in 
comparison with what it was in 1870, and what is the good of artillery 
coming up close, if by doing so the effect of its fire is not greater. 
The effect of artillery fire is equally great at 600 or 1200 yards, but if 
under infantry fire, their losses at the former distance would be 
enormously greater ; another point to consider is that if you come too 
close you cannot feed your guns, for your ammunition carriers will be 
all shot.” 
That great authority, General von Goeben, says “Artillery is a fine 
instrument, which must not be put into the first line except under 
most exceptional circumstances.” 
There are two ways of teaching men, you can teach them to be 
