during the past three weeks an
astonishingly small proportion of the number of shells fired by them
have been really effective.

Quite the most striking feature of their handling of the artillery is
the speed with which they concentrate the fire upon any selected point.
They dispense to a great extent with the method of ranging known by us
as bracketing, especially when acting on the defensive, and direct their
fire by means of squared maps and the telephone. Thus, when the target
is found, its position on the map is telephoned to such batteries as it
is desired to employ against that particular square.

In addition to the guns employed to fire on the targets as they are
picked up, others are told off to watch particular roads, and to deal
with any of the enemy using them.

Both for the location of targets and the communication of the effect of
the fire, reliance is placed on observation from aeroplanes and balloons
and on information supplied by special observers and secret agents, who
are sent out ahead or left behind in the enemy's lines to communicate by
telephone or signal. These observers have been found in haystacks,
barns, and other buildings well in advance of the German lines.
Balloons of the so-called sausage pattern remain up in the air for long
periods for the purpose of discovering targets, and until our aviators
made their influence felt by chasing all hostile aeroplanes on sight the
latter were continually hovering over our troops in order to register
their positions and to note where the headquarters, reserves, gun teams,
&c., were located.

If suitable targets are discovered the airman drops a smoke ball
directly over it or lets fall some strips of tinsel, which glitter in
the sun as they slowly descend to the earth. The range to the target is
apparently ascertained by those near the guns by a large telemeter, or
other range finder, which is kept trained on the aeroplane, so that when
the signal is made the distance to the target vertically below is at
once obtained. A few rounds are then fired, and the result is signalled
back by the aviator according to some prearranged code.

VII.

*A Fight in the Clouds.*

[Dated Oct. 13.]

From Friday the 9th of October until Monday the 12th so little occurred
that a narrative of the events can be given in a few words. There has
been the usual sporadic shelling of our trenches which has resulted in
but little harm, so well dug in are our men, an