The Dominion THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1916. THE DAY OF THE BIG GUN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2876, 14 September 1916, Page 4

The Dominion THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1916. THE DAY OF THE BIG GUN

The overwhelming power of the artillery attacks of the AngloFrench Armies on tho Somme front has been one of tho most striking •features of this tremendous struggle. The enemy's margin of superiority in this department has been completely swept away. Tho irresistiblo might of some of thc/recojtt fffi'mbardments to which the German defences have, been subjected has mado it clear that the Allies arc now masters of tho situation in guns as well as in men. German military critics arc staggered by the tremendous havoc which is being wrought by our artillery. The increasing and efficiency of our guns is a vital matter, not only for the power it gives us to break down the enemy's 'defonces, but because of the fact that it reduces tho costliness of our advances as far as human life is concerned. Economy in British guns means extravagance ia British lives. Wo have paid a great price to learn this IcssQa. How well wo have learned it is proved by the wail of fury yith which the Germans declarethat our now artillery tactics are not warfare, but butchery! One critic complains that after the German trenches are battered by bombardment the British infantry advances to' work "which is a suitable mission for butchers." This is a real compliment to our guns and gunners. The Germans also tell us that it is "tho maddest gun-fire the world has ever, experienced." Our artillerymen cover evory inch of : the enemy's lines with shells beI fore the troops are called upon to make their dash. In some cases our men have beon ablo to walk right intcv tho onemy's trenches practically without hindrance owing to tho deadly nature of our artillery fire. One eye-witness asserts that he saw shells dropping on a given spot quicker than ho could chatter his teeth, and many similar testimonies have been given to tho intensity of tho .poundings by means of which the Germans are slaughtered or driven from their trenches. : The Berliner Tageblatt bitterly bemoans tho fighting power of tho "brutal monoy" with which the Allies are purchasing their shells. Germany has to rely upon her own resources as r6gards tho manufacture of munitions, whereas the Allies arc in the fortunate position of being able to supplement their own huge supplies by tho output of the workshops of the United States. This fact will undoubtedly prove one of tho decisive factors of the war. It makes our suroness of victory doubly sure. Artillery is playing an increasingly important part in tho struggle, and if the two sides wore equal in man power, tho ono which could command tho biggest quantity of tho most powerful guns and shells must win in the end. But the Allies now have a double superiority—more men and more munitions.

Some months ago it was reported that the wart-order busings of tho United States was rapidly dwindling away, owing to the ability of the Allies to supply their own needs. But recently a new outburst of activity took place. According to the latest American papers to hand, large order's have Deen again placed in America, the renewed demand being evidently due to a chango in artillery methods at the front. Definite orders received by different American firms are mentioned, the total running into many millions of pounds stor-. ling. They arc all for big gun' shells, in the early stages of tho war tho American factories were asked to supply small shells, mostly containing shrapnel. Later on tho demand was mainly for 3-inch shells, containing high ■ explosives. The latest contracts arc for much larger shells—6-in., 8-iiK, and larger. These are tho shells by means of which the British and French Armies are smashing down the massively protected trenches of tho enemy. The Gormans admit that never before have guns boon brought together in such masses. The expenditure of ammunition is, of course, so enormoußj that the Allies aro making use of every available source of supply in tho world. But the Central rowers arc unable to augment their stocks by importations from other countries, even if

they could find all tho "brutal money" to pay the price. The British blockade bars the way. Tho gun supremacy of the Allies will, therefore, become more and more pronounced. A French officer, writing to a friend, recently stated that tho guns are so close together, and the Bring is so incessant, that tho ground seems to be in a constant tremor, and tho blood frequently bursts from the ears of the artillerymen from the force of the concussions. In a recent article on Bold artillery, the Scientific American asserts that "it is not going too far to say that the growth in power and numbers of field artillery, and its dominating influonco on the field of battle is tho most striking development of the /European war." Tho article goes on to state that the smashing and levelling effect of the big howitzers has been well illustrated in the assault on Verdun and in the present great offensive of the Allies at tho River Somme. Thus it has come about that there has been a great increaso in tho types of now guns, and it is now certain that the big howitzers of from 9.5-inch to 12-inch calibro have come to stay. Me. Lloyd Geokge has recently urged tho imperative necessity of providing our armies with the most ample Bupply of these powerful weapons, in order "to enablo British soldiers to get a fairly clear road to victory." British factories arc now making in a singlo month considerably moro heavy guns than tho whole British Army possessed at tho beginning of tho war._ "All tho same," says tho War Minister, "we want more— considerably more." They destroy entanglements and trenches, and although they do not always destroy tho deep 30 and 40 feet dug-outs, they choke them, pulverise tho entrances and exits, smother them up, and enable our troops to advanco with infinitely less danger and risk than attended their efforts a year ago. Heavy guns and heavy shells arc the machinery that saves the lives of our men, as well as making the way to victory.