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pieces of small calibre, then shows its full significance and largely compensates for 
the restrictions placed upon their use by the smaller supply of ammunition.” 
‘This superiority shows itself in isolated effect, because the penetrative and the 
explosive force of the projectile are both greater in the case of heavy calibres, and 
it also shows itself in cumulative effect, because in the same space of time a 
greater weight of metal can be projected upon the target, which amounts to 
saying that the same effect can be produced in less time.” 
“ This concentration of useful effect, this accumulation of destructive effects, gives 
to this attack the terrifying character of a whirlwind let loose by the elements, and 
adds to a condition of absolute depression the moral effect which is produced 
by the efficaciousness cf fire. The effect of surprise is added to this moral 
depression, without counting the fact that the enemy has little time to adopt new 
dispositions in the face of the danger which threatens him. This last advantage 
is a very important one, the value of which will be especially felt in the battles of 
large masses, when the influence of space will be felt to a greater extent.” 
Thus the opinion now expressed in the German military press is that the heavy 
artillerie @armée can and ought to be used in field warfare and that it should 
take an active part in battle. 
In itself there is nothing unreasonable in this idea. In fact it may logically 
be deduced from the generally admitted principle that it is the duty of the com- 
mander-in-chief to concentrate all the available forces of the army upon the battle- 
field, which is the highest object of war and the issue of which decides the fate 
of the country. The difficulties begin, and the objections have more force, when 
we come to the conditions of practical realization. In fact we find ourselves face 
to face with a problem which cannot have a perfectly satisfactory solution, because 
on the one hand it is laid down unanimously that the introduction of heavy 
artillery into field armies must not make them lose their facility for maneuvre ; 
whilst, on the other hand, the reasons which have led to the introduction of this 
artillery are almost entirely based upon their power, which entails increased weight. 
It is necessary therefore, in order to arrive at a suitable organization, to accept a 
compromise, and it is here that the solutions adopted in different countries differ 
among themselves. For example Russia has kept to the 15° calibre, but has sacri- 
ficed the power of the piece of its other characteristics, so as to make it, as far as 
mobility is concerned, a trne field-gun. On the other hand in Germany the 
military writers who have treated of this question, recommend that the present 
matériel should be maintained, lightened only by a suitable reduction in the 
quantity of ammunition carried. In fact they consider that the heavy artillery 
should only be employed upon points and under circumstances where i¢ alone can 
produce decisive results. 
“The object of the heavy batteries,” says the author of the article quoted above, 
“js to shake the enemy’s infantry upon the point where the commander-in-chief 
has decided to break through. If more than this is required of them they will 
fail. The talent consists in keeping the right limit.” 
According to German ideas it is absolutely necessary that the artillerie @armée 
should not be engaged in the artillery combat, in order to preserve the power of 
producing at the proper time new effects in a startling manner. 
It is evident that by limiting the task of the heavy artillery to preparing the 
breach, the necessary time will be gained to enable it to be brought into line, 
when required, without checking the movements of the other arms, and also that 
the equipment can be very much lightened, because a comparatively small supply 
of ammunition will be sufficient. It may be remarked—and it is a coincidence of 
some importance with regard to the rules for the employment of this arm—that the 
Russian opinions on the employment of the 15° mortar evidently agree with those 
which have just been expressed, At a conference recently held at Moscow it was 
