92 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



pot was 2.44 calibre, the Prussian 2.01, the Enfield 1.93, and 

 the Whitworth 3.00. At an elevation of 58 minutes, the range of 

 the Chassepot was 500 yards, the Prussian 206 yards, the Enfield 

 295 yards, and the Whitworth 345 yards. The two most 

 important elements in long ranges were a full charge of pow- 

 der and sufficient longth of bullet. In both these respects 

 the Enfield ammunition was sadly deficient, and he had been 

 urging the War Office authorities ever since 1857 to substitute the 

 45-inch bore. The velocity of the Chassepot bullet was much 

 greater at the commencement of its flight and much less at the 

 end ; thus, its penetration was comparatively small at long 



ranges. 



Mr. E. J. Reed, C.B., said it appeared to be universally ad- 

 mitted that a small-bore rifle was a long-range weapon ; and that 

 if troops were armed with a large-bore or short-range weapon 

 they would be subjected to a murderous and destructive fire be- 

 fore their rifles could be brought within range of the enemy 

 armed with the small-bore rifle. It was clear that the small-bore 

 or long-range rifle was the only effective weapon for military 

 warfare to make that warfare effective. 



BALLOONS FOR WAR PURPOSES. 



The experiments made at Woolwich by balloons inflated at the 

 Royal Arsenal Gas Works have, on the authority of the London 

 " Artisan," shown that a height of 100 fathoms, at a horizontal dis- 

 tance of 600 fathoms from an enemy, would enable the observers 

 to secure a wide expanse of view. The balloons with which ex- 

 periments were made at Woolwich were held by 2 new cords 

 fastened to the network, and terminated at 2 different points 

 on the ground, to give greater stability to the balloon, and to pro- 

 vide against one cord snapping, or being cut by the enemy's fire. 

 By the new system of military telegraphy for field service, and 

 by means of wagons at present being placed in store in the Royal 

 Arsenal, lines of telegraph can be carried through the air from 

 the earth several miles distant. The wire can be paid out as fast 

 as the balloon travels, so that if a captive balloon should break 

 away, communication could be kept up with it for 6 miles ; or 

 2 or more balloons can be sent up, and kept in telegraphic com- 

 munication with each other by means of similar lines, so that tele- 

 graphic operations can be made from the balloon to head-quarters, 

 and thence to the base of operations. 



By means of these new military telegraphic appliances the most 

 rapid intelligence, and consequent speedy word of command, can 

 be given. In sieges, war balloons are useful in giving informa- 

 tion of depots, points of attack, batteries, inner intrenchrnents, 

 the explosion of magazines in marshes, to spy out ambuscades 

 that may be in waiting, to rally columns, and to telegraph points 

 of assembly on attack. The observing officers were enabled to 

 survey an area of 30 square miles. It was found that by prac- 



