THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE $" B.L. HOWITZER. 
501 
When we come to consider the question of (b) the facility for tactical 
employment of howitzer batteries we are constrained to admit, that, as 
for fire effect a priori reasons pointed to the Siege Artillery, so now for 
tactical employment the same reasons indicate the Field Artillery as 
being the best fitted for the work. But it is not sufficient to dismiss 
the matter thus, and conclude that the Siege Artillery would not be 
able to handle these howitzers efficiently in the field, until we have 
ascertained the principles that should govern the tactical employment 
of Howitzer Batteries. 
To do this we must find answers to these questions: — 
(1) .—For what purposes should these howitzers be used. 
(2) .—At what period of an engagement should they be em¬ 
ployed. 
The role which the howitzer should play has already been indicated 
on page 499, and these views are supported by similar ones, put forward 
in a lecture* before the Aldershot Military Society by Lieut.-Colonel 
Elmslie, R.A., who is the only officer who has commanded a Howitzer 
Battery on service, and whose opinions must therefore carry weight. 
In this paper Lieut.-Colonel Elmslie not only points ont the useful work 
that howitzers can do in destroying fortified points of tactical impor¬ 
tance, in rendering them untenable, and in searching out troops en¬ 
trenched behind deep cover, but he also draws attention to the fact that 
the howitzer “ is not well fitted to engage an enemy’s artilery of the 
quick-firing type except possibly from behind cover,” a condition that 
he coilsiders “ at best can only be quite a disadvantageous position, 
militating against the development of the full power of the battery 
owing to difficulty, and uncertainty of observation and consequent slow¬ 
ness of fire.” 
The inability of the howitzer to hold its own against Field Artillery 
fire is due : —- . 
To the slower rate of fire which is necessary in the absence of any 
Q.F. arrangements and on account of the weight of ammunition which 
has to be carried. 
To the fact that the danger zone of Shrapnel is considerably greater 
than and of a different description to that of Lyddite Common shell, 
and consequently much greater accuracy of fire is required from the 
howitzer ; this means other things equal that in a given time a Howitzer 
Battery could not obtain as many effective hits as a Field Battery and 
would, therefore run a great risk of being placed hors de combat. 
Since then Howitzer Batteries should be employed for the specific 
purposes for which they are intended, and should not as a rule be 
brought into action against Field Artillery.; we get some indication 
of when in a battle they will be likely to be required. 
As all engagements begin with the Artillery duel and Howiter Bat- 
* Lecture on “ The Possible Effects on Tactics of recent improvements in weapons ” by Lieut 
Colonel F. B. Elmslie, R.A., delivered before the Aldershot Military Society on fith February, *8oj. 
