THE ARM3 TRADE OF BELGIUM. 209 
as well as the cannon have not been lost sight ol by . the military 
authorities ; but the problem is not yet considered to be solved. The 
only infantry now armed with such a weapon is that of Prussia. 
Opinions are still divided as to the merits of the needle gun, and the 
balance of the opinion is against it. It is certainly the wisest course 
for other nations to wait till some more perfect weapon has appeared. 
In the meantime, inquiries are being conducted with reference to the 
Westley Richards breech-loader, for the three cavalry regiments armed 
with carbines. For target practice it is generally believed here that the 
breech-loading rifle invented and made by M. Ghaye of Liege is the 
best. 
The " Arsenal de Construction " of Antwerp has of late years ac- 
quired a development proportionate to that of the royal foundry. All 
the gun-carriages, caissons, waggons, and appendages of the artillery are 
here manufactured and repaired. The number of hands employed 
varies from 700 to 800, including 140 artillery soldiers and sergeants. 
Yet the new orders have been so heavy that much of the work, especi- 
ally the rough iron-work, has had to be executed in private workshops. 
Since 1860 a special workshop has been established here for fabricating 
the metallic parts of percussion rockets, shot for rifled ordnance, and 
another for making pointing instruments. Large smiths', saddlers', 
carpenters', wheelwrights', and other workshops are also in operation 
here. Steam-power has only been introduced since 1861. The Belgian 
pontoons manufactured here have been so favourably reported on by 
Colonel Lovell, RE. (who was sent on a mission of inquiry through 
Europe), that a whole pontoon has been supplied by this arsenal to 
Her Maje.-ty's War Department at a cost of 280^. 
The Ecole de Pyrotechnie of Antwerp is established in a dependency 
of the ancient citadel, abutting on the river. The ammunition for the 
new and old ordnance and small arms is here fabricated, including 
fulminate, percussion caps, wads, matches, rockets, fuzes, &c. Soldiers 
are sent here from the artillery to be trained as artificers. They receive 
a theoretical and practical instruction in this art, and are then sent back 
to join their batteries. Of late years the processes of manufacture have 
been notably improved, but they are jealouly guarded from view. 
Some sixty-four artillerymen and two engineers are employed here. 
All the workshops are mere wooden sheds at long distances from each 
other and separated by mounds of earth for safety. 
