What was the purpose of the artillery barrage?

In military usage, a barrage is massed sustained artillery fire aimed at a series of points along a line. As well as attacking any enemy in that line, a barrage intends to suppress enemy movement and actions through that line.

the answer is to destroy the unions artillery.

Explanation:

china unilaterally claims the entire south china sea as sovereign territory, then builds artificial islands to bolster its claim. it suddenly activates an air defense identification zone over the east china sea, and threatens to down any aircraft that does not report its position. it builds roads into indian territory, then redraws the maps to show that it is actually chinese territory. the people's republic under president xi jinping is quickly becoming the bully of asia.

he did it to save us from our sins, so we can see him in heaven 1 day. it's because he loves us so much. he used himself as the final sacrifice, so that we could be forgiven for our sins, so that we can see him in heaven, if we believe.