1874.] British Artillery Mateértel. Gi 
several feet before a percussion fuze will have time to act; 
thus the effect of the explosion will be comparatively slight 
in a lateral dire¢tion. 
The effect of shells burst in the air, over the heads of 
troops, or just in clearing the parapet, would be much more 
searching than the effect of shells which had entered the 
ground before exploding. 
Again it is an open question which nature of fuze would 
be best when firing at bomb-proof structures. 
It is possible that under these circumstances the wood 
time fuze would act percussively, but by cutting it long the 
shell might be given time to enter to its greatest depth for 
exploding ; it would thus act with the greatest advantage as 
a mine.” 
XIV. From experiments with guns fired from casemates, 
and behind shields at Picklecombe, Bovisand, and elsewhere 
it has been found— 
1. That a slight difference in protrusion of muzzle of gun 
has an immense effect with regard to concussion and smoke, 
which are much lessened. 
2. That the mantlets materially lessen the amount of 
smoke and concussion in casemate, but not sufficiently so to 
allow of many contiguous guns being worked at close interval 
when firing rapidly. 
The side pieces or wings are somewhat cumbrous to 
move; do not allow sufficient play for bringing the mantle 
up to the gun when trained at an angle; and are in the way 
of men loading when the gun is trained at any considerable 
angle. 
3. The solution of chloride of calcium to render the rope 
uninflammable answers admirably. 
XV. The experiments with the 35-ton guns have been also 
satisfactory. Some difficulties have been experienced in 
loading when the recoil is less than five feet, and it is 
necesssary for one of the gun detachment to hold up the end 
of the rammer outside the work, the leverage of the stave 
being too great for Nos. 2 and 3 to support it within. 
The shooting of the common shell of 618 lbs., with full 
charge of 85 lbs. of pebble powder, is better than that of the 
Palliser shell of 7oolbs., and battering charge of 110 lbs., 
which is principally due to the shearing of the front studs 
of the latter and consequent increase of gyration, which 
causes inaccuracy and a want of uniformity in range and 
deflection. 
Meantime improvements, both in armour-plated ships and 
armour-piercing guns, continue to be made, and whilst at 
