THE BATTERY MAJOR'S RUSE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 202, 15 May 1918, Page 5

THE BATTERY MAJOR'S RUSE

AN ARTILLERY INCIDENT IN THE WEST

BLUFFING THE ENEMY'S

GUNNERS

(By Lieutenant K. N. Colvilo, in the Melbourne "Age.")

Tho ground was dry and ''firm, and ftiier dusk on tlio previous evening the pins ot MO Heavy Battery, R.G.A., had been brought up to their new position with comparatively little difficulty. Now, after an early morning haze, tho air was clear and tlio sun bright and warin--ITi£" .If 3'°" will add to these olimatio conditions the important fact that tho mess-bombardier, by soma, ingenious -device, had secured eggs fpr breakfast, you will not bo surprised to learn ; that tho major was fooling very oontented. "This is quito a good spot, ho declared," as he and his subalterns sat over the breakfast table. "Given some docent weather, with any luck we'll get 6omo good shoots here. Wo can reach that railway beyond P—, and there or# some nice little ravines in tho S Valley for ub to pump our gas shell into. Also, this dugout looks splinter proof, and, whafs more to tho point, almost waterproof."

"We're a bit near tho crest, don't you think, sir?" remarked "the senior subaltern. "They'll spot' our flashes, I'm afraid." 'TVell, perhaps they may," agreed the major, "but we want all tho rango wo can get, so as to reach thoso batteries beyond tho S—. And, anyway, it's very difficult to exactly locate a position on these long gradual slopes if you can only see tho flash." Then, glancing round tho tabic, ho addedt "Mac has gone to tho 0.P., I supposo. Wo must calibrato this morning." Presently the major went ovor to the little map-room, dug out of the side of an old German trei oh, and adjoining the telephone room, and calling up'Mackenzio at the 0.P., inquired if he could see E Chateau. Yes, Mao could eea it very well. Good; then they*s calibrato on it. It was probably occupied still, and they might, combino a little practical "frig'htfulness" with tho pure science of guunory. In duo courso firing commenced, and number one gun very soon got on to tho target, scoring a direct hit on the white faco of tho ill-staTrcd ohateau. It soon appeared, however, as though the chateau was not only occupied, but occupied by somebody who objected to having CO-pounder shells dropped in at his letter bos, for hardly had number two taken up the task than four shells landed plump on the ridge in front of the battery' and four fountains of birown earth and yellow fumes shot heavenwards.

The junior subaltern, who was Tory junior indoed, having in faot only arrivod ■ from England a fow dayß before, fr.l9 sitting on tho edge of the trench out-, aide the map room, passing on his Com-! minding officer's orders. He ,ro- ■' ported the arrival of the Bosch ealvo • and wondered, with Becret trepidation, i£ the Major would order ceaso fire. But the junior subaltern was young and green,, the Major old and wily'. Ho had no " liking for hostilo salvoes, but he was ready to endure a passing ill, rather than be saddled with a permanent aflliotion. He merely gave out a correction and added: "Get it off quickly, and tako cover before tho next salvo oomes."

It was dono, but only just in time. Tho junior subaltern had barely time to slip down into the trenoh when salvo number two landed about fifty yards nearer, and a rain of earth pattered down on hia steel helrnot. He glanced at tho Major, but that officer, who was listening at the tolephone, seemed particularly pleased with life.

"O.K. was itP Good. I'll put number thrco 011 now, and then number four, aiul we'll leave tho left section for tho ' present." no gavo out the necessary orders for number throe, but ordered tho detachment to wait till the next salvo had como and gone. It duly came, only fifty yards in front of tho battery, and a fizzing hot piece of metal alighted at tho , junior subaltern's foet. Tho next salvo was due to laud full in the middle of the battery. But all tho Major said-was: 'Tiro when ready," and when numbor throe was roportod fired, ho camo out into the trenoh and shouted to the men to take oover well. C-r-r-r-ump came the salvo. Only threo burst this time, but dangerously near the guns; one just beyond one gun, and tho other two right between numbers' ono and two and two and three. "Any damage dono?" shouted the Major, and after a brief inspection all the guns wero reportod safe. So back, ho went to the telephone, and gave number 3 a frosh correction, and again an O.K. was reported. Tho junior subaltern, in his ignorance, was now for leaving woll alono and letting number 4 stay untested; buti tho Major know better. • "Get number 1 on," he said, and gavo the rango and angles, "but first of all repeat number 3. I don't want there to be any showing of our rato of fire." So number 8 gave the White Chateau another souvenir, and immediately after' another'salvo came over, tho most disooncerting of all this.time, for one. shell only just oleiu'cd, tho trench into which most of' tho dugouts opened; but the lino of ftro was now getting away to the right flank. . ~ Then number i spoke, and again _ the enemy put a salvo over, well behind the battery this time,-and.well to the right. Again number 4 fired: without correction, and tho answering salvo was further otr than ever, four brown mountains in an empty field. ' ] "Thore," said tho Major, thatil do« I'll not trouble about getting an O.K. with number 4, or they, may smell a rat* Cease firo." ~ So they ceased fire.* But not so tho Hun. Ho proceeded to put in some 200 rounds "for effect", into an empty held a hundred and fifty yards behind the battery. and well to a flank, in just tho spot which tho Major intended him to think the battery was placed. Had. the Major ordered coase firo aftor tho first hostile salyoho know very well that tho onemy would have drawn perfectly wrrcct conclusions as to tho position of the British guns. As it was tho Major had succeeded in his effort to ensure the onemy registering on u quito iucorrect point.