34 



MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUEOPE. 



The annexed sketch represents the sap fork ; its vertical 

 branch is unusually long ; the bar, attached by a pin to the 

 handle, serves as a fulcrum in placing the gabion. 



^ 



A brigade for the full. sap is composed of 1 non-commissioned officer and 8 men; the leading 

 sapper fills 2 gabions before changing; the manner of working, changing, &c., present nothing 

 peculiar. 



The centre of the sap roller is placed on the alignment of the interior slope of the gabionade. 

 In the double sap the rollers are never fastened together ; the interval between them is covered 

 by a short roller, or by a pile of sand bags. 



In the full sap the berm is from 1' to 2', according to circumstances. No. 1 always keeps one 

 filled gabion in advance of the head of his form. 



The forms of the sappers are as follows : No. 1, 18" X 18" ; No. 2, 24" X 24" ; No. 3, 30" X 

 30" ; No. 4, 36" X 36". Each sapper has a wooden measure of his form. In crowning the 

 covered way the sap is 4' deep. 



At the head of the double sap there is a rod as long as the clear interval between the 

 gabionades ; this passes through rings at the ends of two sticks, one of which is at the side of 

 each 1st sapper, and is used to verify the jjositions of the gabions last placed. 



The hurdle, sod, and fascine revetments, military pits, palisades, huts, &c., are well executed, 

 but present nothing novel. 



3Iines. — The galleries and shafts are well and neatly executed. I observed but two peculiari- 

 ties in regard to the galleries: first, instead of connecting the stanchions of adjacent frames by 

 battens nailed to them, pieces of 3" scantling, as long as the clear interval between the frames, 

 are driven in between them sideways and horizontally; second, before driving the wedges 

 between the ends of adjacent lengths of sheeting a strijj of board is driven in, edgewise, between 

 the ends of the sheeting planks, at right angles to them. In the shafts the frames are supported 

 from below. 



THE AUSTRIAN ENGINEER TROOPS. 



Their duty is confined to that of sappers and miners, and the construction of permanent works. 

 In a siege the batteries are built by the artillery. The construction of all kinds of bridges, and 

 of field fortifications, the repairs of roads, &c., are entrusted to the pioneers, a special corps 

 belonging to the general staff. 



The engineer troops receive, however, a certain amount of instruction in these duties, that 

 they may be able to perform them in case of necessity. 



There are 12 battalions of engineer troops, of 4 companies each. A company consists of — 

 1 captain. 

 4 lieutenants. 



