THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE B.L. HOWITZER. 505 
It will be observed that the view taken in this paper as to the “ nor¬ 
mal position ” for howitzers in action and that held by Lieut.-Colonel 
Elmslie and quoted on page 501 of this paper are diametrically oppos¬ 
ed. This is interesting as it illustrates well the difference of ideas 
regarding the method of using howitzers held by the Field and Siege 
Artillery. 
I hope I am not mis-stating Lieut.-Colonel Elmslie’s views if I put 
them thus: — 
The normal 'position for Howitzer Batteries in action should be 
in the open , because laying and observation of fire is simple, easy and 
certain, consequently fire can be carried on rapidly and accurately and 
so the full power of the Battery can be quickly and readily developed ; 
presumably once this power is developed the Battery can hold its own. 
This I call the Field Artillery view and the essence of it is that the 
howitzer must be treated like a field gun. 
The view put forward in this paper is on the contrary that: — 
The normal position for Howitzer Batteries in action should be 
a concealed one , because howitzers are not able from the nature of the 
fire or projectiles used to defend themselves from attack ; if concealed, 
their position will not be discovered and they will, therefore, be free 
from attacks Laying and ranging can be carried on quite easily, 
though there may be a little delay in opening fire and in getting the 
range owing to the different method of laying that must be adopted 
and to the probability that the first few shots will be considerably 
wide of their mark, but as the position is not disclosed even when fire 
is opened a slight delay in doing so will not be of much importance ; 
after the first few rounds laying and ranging will be just as easy, regu¬ 
lar and rapid as in the open, but immunity from the enemy’s fire having 
been obtained by the concealed position the full power of the Battery 
can be readily developed without let or hindrance. 
This may be taken as the Siege Artillery view, and the essence of it 
is that the howitzer must not be treated as a gun. 
It is only fair to point out that in his lecture Lieut.-Colonel Elmslie 
does not lose sight of the use of concealed positions for howitzers, 
though it seems to me that he is a little unwilling to realise their true 
value. 
