the field artillery journal - Fort Sill - U.S. Army

THE FIELD ARTILLERY JOURNAL
of my conclusions and recommended greater caution, that is,
thought it best to wait for more positive proofs before opening
fire. I admit that it is best not to open fire when there is any
doubt, but I was positive in my belief and gave the definite
order: "Fire will be opened; I assume responsibility." This
dainty morsel, this battery with its flanks exposed to our fire, I
assigned to the two batteries, the first and the third batteries, in
position next to me, and gave as principal reference point what
I took to be the church tower of Rixingen (directly in rear of
the hostile battery). It was not until much later, after the battle,
that this turned out to be the church tower of the village
Deutsch-Avricourt. This error is made daily during active
campaign in a hostile country and it can easily be the cause of
fatal mistakes in the transmission and execution of orders. I
mention this here because I believe that one cannot do too
much of this reconnaissance of the hostile sector, nor practice
too often the immediate and accurate location and
identification of all visible reference points which may be
needed in the direction and control of fire.
I must admit that I could scareely await the first shot from
our batteries, especially since it was becoming constantly
clearer from the conduct of the hostile battery that it was a rear
guard battery evidently with the mission to delay the pursuit by
the German troops coming from the extensive woods northeast
of Rixingen. And such was the case on this day at almost all
points along the battlefront. Everywhere march columns were
suddenly attacked with a withering fire in order to break up and
delay as much as possible the pursuit of the opponent.
I ordered the first battery to open suddenly on the target
with échelon 1 (time) fire, in order to get in at least some effect
1 TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.—In échelon fire, the three platoons, or the six guns, fire a
simultaneous volley, the range for the different platoons or guns differing progressively
by 100 meters. Only one range is given in the command, which range is taken by the
centre platoon in échelon fire by platoon, or by the fourth gun in échelon fire by piece.
Several volleys are usually fired in rapid succession, without waiting to observe effect.
The height of burst is so chosen as to prevent grazes, but on the other hand very high
bursts are not desired.
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