15.7 INCH GUN ON FRENCH FRONT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 187, 30 June 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

15.7 INCH GUN ON FRENCH FRONT.

M. THOMAS ON U.S.A.'s i'OSSIBLJ

NEW ROLE

VERDUN'S ARTILLERY LESSONS

The ••'New York Wor'd" publishes the following interesting and important interview with Si. Albert Thomas, the Trench Munitions Minister, by .Us Pans Correspondent, Mr. Lincoln Eyre : The effect upon American munition .shipments to the Allies of .1 rupture between the United States and Germany ; Trench experiments with destructive gases; the amazing it.crease .11 Trench artillery strength at Verdun, imd the actual presence at tlio front of the newest monster ordnance —a 13 " inch siege gun—were among the subjects touched upon in an enlightening conversation I have been privileged to have with M. Albert Thomas, tlio Minister of Munitions. "The Master of the Forge," as he has come to be called throughout France, has '.ound time to follow closely President Wilson's controversy with the Wilhelmstrasse, and his approval of the President's present attitude is readily discernible. "It has been said that the United States' entry into the war would embarrass the Allies by restricting their supplies of war material from America. Do you believe, that?'' I asked ;vl. Thomas. "If the American Government," tie replied, "should take over the entire American output of munitions and the raw material for their manufacture, it certainly might prove n source of temporary embarrassment. We should be obliged to seek another field which, of course, could be found without insurmountable difficulty. But to my mind" —M. Thomas fond'ed lovingly the cap of a big shell on his desk—"if your Government goes Ho the extreme in settling its disagreement with Germany it must strive to bring about Germany's defeat, for only thus can peace and the recognition of human rights : e encompassed. And I cannot see th.it the United States can achieve this ona more speedily than by r-upplying Get many's active foemon with shells nnd steel. NO MILITARY AID EXPECTED "You have no point of dir.'ct contact with the German Empire should yoj find yourselves at war. Your situation would be like that of Japan after the fall of Kiaochow. Heme your only immediate means of assuring to the American people and humanity at large the rights which Germany has *>o wantonly violated wou'd !e by providing the arms and ammunition wherewith Great Britain and France could enforce these rights. American shells aud American guns in the hands -J French artillerymen would be quite sufficient." "Would the Allies count upon miliitary assistance from the United States in the event of it becoming : t war with Germany?" "I should very much doubt it." "How long would it take the United States to build up an army o f the siz,? of those engaged in this struggl?? Two years perhaps, more or less'r" "General Joffre has often expressed to me his approbation of ihe British troops, yet one mustn't forget that it has taken England a year and a had to organise an army strong enough l-o make itself felt—and England had i 0 Mexico to face when it entered the war." I recalled to M. Thomas that lust February the Ministry of Munitions informed th,e "World" that no Americanmade shells had yet been filed from French guns, and inquired if that wis still a fact. It was the third time that the "World" had laid this query before the Master of the Forge, and he smiled broadly as he responded : "It's still true. But thee are some shells now en route from America, and I hope that if no submarine intervenes they wi'l be flying towards the enemy from French guns in a month or so. I will take care to let you know about it too." A few clays ago an officer friend fresh from the frorJt told me of Eiench experiments with a new gas in the Champagne sector. 1 asked the Minister of Munitions about it.

NEW GAS IX CM AMP AG XI

''There have been experiments," he replied frankly—ho is much franker than the average American business magnate whom ho resembles —" and thev have been highly Nat*factory. Staffexperts tell nip that when our gas was carried over the German lines near Rheims by a favourable wind all sound ceased behind their trenches, although just before that their batteries had been bombarding heavily. 1 believe tlneir I<>-. s were very heavy, the Germans had a. big lead over us in the manufacture of gases owing to their superiority in chemistry, bu ; t I am gla.l to say we now have several establishments given over entirely ''J the production of asphyxiating gas. German fiendishness has forced us to have recourse to this weapon, but I can t sav 1 consider it of primary importance. '+s successful use depends too much on conditions, and nowadays our protection against it i- such that it -an have no effect except in the initial surprise attack. The proof is that the German-. though depending on laeliryniogoneous and asphyxiating shells liberally, haw made no'attacks with clouds ol gat, n ; ,|1 .the Verdun lighting." •'All 1 can authorise you to say a ho it the 400 mm. guns (1".7 inch) is that some are actually at the disposal nl the CommanuVr-in-Chiof in the zone ol the armies," he observed eautioush : then he added brisklx : "It sail exa--"eration to sav that the Germans n*e guns of a greater calibre than 210 in artillerv prep nation against the trendies or in open Held fighting: Mo. ahout winch so much has been written, i, ; ~,,1,-h too .umbei- une lor operations other than against forts ike Doiia.iinont and Vaux. We have no evideti." „)' ntiv German qui. k-firing heavy gun if thev have one is- effe ts haven t | !C ,>n noticed but :i isa I act tint ih"V have largely ilis.-arded tho ; r 77Jc1.1-gun, gun, although we are using our 7o s * > an ever-increasing extent. "T consider the 7*> still the fine-'t arlillery arm of lbs war from the standpoint of <i."iU'fi preri-i 11 and nerle.'tion. In compaiing the I'Ynich and Oerman mdiv Mice one must t : ot tor- >t that our con tan a far h:gh •:' pronortion nf oxnlo.ivo . «p or instance, our ,■> slid! has a,

much as their 100, mid our *jj is c-qiul to their L'lo.

"Apart frfun its other aspects, the, battle of Verdun has been unprecedented a* a gunnery combat, and the Gorman effort has been, .nd stil] '?, simply colossal. In no previous battle have batteries on both sides suffcre'l more from direct shell-fire of their ■ tversary. The Germans had the BiiperiorMy at tlio start, but we're caugnt up with them and yet been able v.» keep many heavy guns in reserve, A* regards ammunition, wo were obliged in the early days of the offensive- o draw on our reserve stock, but we havo since been able not only to make ip the depletion, but even add to the reserve. This moans that we arc able t> meet all the. Verdun requirements n shells by our daily production, and it the same time our reserve U mounting daily.'' •

"And the war as a whole?'' I asked in conclusion. "My confidence is undiminished. So long as they work together Ihe Allies hold the whip-hand and will continue to wield the \z-h until the day of final victory."