BIG GUNS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2729, 25 March 1916, Page 3

BIG GUNS

ELEVENTH ARTILLERY FIRING

THE LINE OF SANDWICH MEN

Squads and platoons of infantry wero being drilled on tho parado ground at Trcnthnm. In tho still, sunny afternoon, tho words of command, tho tramping of feet, tho rattlo of riflobolts sounded, clear. And theso sounds wero smothered from timo to time by tho head-racking uproar of a machinegun which was being fired point-blank into an earth bank for purposes of instruction. Tho rattlo of riflo-firo on the ranges, whoro tho Eloventh Infantry and Mouuteds were completing ilioir musketry was a distant/ noiso. Altogether, with tho bluo skies, onTy flecked hero ami-thero with cotton-wool cloudlets, and with tho valley dreaming in the autumn sunshine, it was n poacoiul aftonioon. And tho poacefulnoss was about to be shattored bv tho IS,pounders of tho Eleventh artillery. The Observation Post. The first indication of artillory being &l tho vicinity was givon when about 200 artillorymen marched across ilio parado ground and away round tho swamp towards a hill spur near tho targets. Theso wero situated about half-way up a green gully; they looked liko half-a-dozen sandwich-men. drossed ili yolloiv and standing in a row.' On the spur, about 500 yards to tho loft, tiio observation post was situated, with signallers to communicate with tho officers in charge of tho guns. As tho column of artillerymen faded into tho distance, more men with red-and-bluo hat puggarees, marchcd across the parade ground towards tho spot, near the machine-gun, whore, tho guns wero to fire from. And after thorn the guns rumbled,, with prancing teams and calm-eyed drivers. Threo guns and an ammunition wagon moved out from tho camp street, aud rolled, by a roundabout way,.to tlioir positions. Ofßccrs and n.c.o.'s rode alongside, and near at hand could bo seen tho red mountings of staff officers' uniforms. For tho Chief of Staff and officers . from Headquarters and from Featherston oome to. soo the big guns at work. The Talking Flags. While the guns were being unlimborod and the teams taken to tho rear, the flags were talking. High on tho distant spur a signaller was posted, and had quito a lot to say.to tho flag that fluttered and crackled beside the guns, near tho group of staff officers. Tho horsos were becoming restive, in anticipation of the voices of the guns. The infantry had been given their afternoon smoke-oh, and had gathered in hundreds to watch the firing. "What I They're going to firs off cannon 1. a new hand exclaimed. "Gum I That'll deafen us, won't it p" His friend was too intent on the flags to answer.

"Wish I could read what they're Bending," he said. ''Look, you tan see that chap on the-ridge without his flag."

"Very clear day," another soldier said. "Now they're about ready." "Gum!" exclaimed tho new hand in excited anticipation. ' Laying tho Guns. The officer who was directing the laying of the.two guns that were to bo used was moving about with an optical instrument in jiis hand. The guns' crews were crouched behind the guns and behind tho ammunition limbers, which, had been ranged alongside tho guns. ' "No. 1 Gun, 4725," the officfer said, giving the range. His words were repeated by the corporal kneeling at the gun-trail; who also raised his hand to indicate that he had heard. "Oorrest, 150," the officer added. ■ Then there was 6ilence for several seconds. "Fire!" . The order came almost as a surprise. One expected more preparation. The gunner pulled his lanyard and the gun spoke. Bed flame shot out of the brown muzzle, a cloud of dust blew along the ground, and l a stunning bang made the horses cower towards the earth, too terrified to; plunge and kick. Tho deep roar, that was intense with the suggestion of tremendous force, seemed to travel low, like tho dust cloud, and run towards the green gully where the targets stood, rising as it ran and echoing among the hill peaks. But, through this deep sound 1 , a whining shriek lied, travelling high, from tho gun to the hills. It was made by the shell. AH eyes were on the row of sandwich men in the green gully. Above them, and it seemed beyond them, a faint cloud appeared. It was tho shrapnel bursting, the thudding noise of it floating back' to those nt the guns, while the flags leaped to life again and began wig-wagging... A Column of Dust. Almost at once No. 1 gun spoke again, leaping back on the oil-cylinders, which take the recoil, and gently push the weapon forwards again after it has been fired. There was the same high crying sound above tho deep roar, but no puff of cloud appeared above the targets. To the left of them a mass of earth shot high into the air, showing where the shell had struck ithe ground and burst. These shots, in fact the -first four shots, were, strictly speaking, only sighting' shots. No. 2 gun fired the third shot. A beautiful white puff-ball of cloud materialised above the targets, with a vivid flame in its centre. "Pretty shot," someone exclaimed. The bullets raised dust on. the near aide of the targets. Tho noxt shot was to the right of thejn. The fifth shot was the prettiest of all. It was fired almost immediately after the fourth, and the cloud of the bursting charge was right above the centre of tho targets, while the bullets raised dust over a wide area just in front of them. Tho roaring guns had got on to the range. With occasional changes of crews, they fired eight shots, followed by several rounds of blank. It was fascinating to watch, so much so j that tho infantrymen, when 6moke-oh ! was over, turned deaf ears to . tho whistles. calling them to drill. Only when an officer,told them in peremptory tones, "Carry on, Fourteenth," did they tear themselves away,, the new hand uttering and repeating superlative terms of admiration for the guns' "lovely roar."

While the firing of live shell made the horses tremble and cower, the rounds of blank nearly made them unmanageable, and there were soma lively moments. Then tho gun teams came prancing along, tho guns wore limbered up, and tho Eleventh Artillery retired from tho field after making excellent practice, so far as was possible with the limited amount of ammunition allowed them, one-half of which was used in sighting shots, according to British artillery .practice. The row of sandwich men in tho green gully had been well peppered, and had they been alive would have been completely demoralised.