292 
SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1898. 
property of a Q.F. equipment when the number of guns are equal. 
Taking then a possible rate for a battery of 20 rounds per minute as 
well within the mark, it is evident that such an armament will have 
an immense advantage in fire effect over existing equipments. 
It is perhaps hardly necessary to point out that in speaking of rates 
of fire of 20 to 30 rounds per minute it is not intended to argue that 
such rates would be used for long periods and under all kinds of 
circumstances. Rather are they to be considered as a potentiality—a 
latent power—capable of being developed at critical moments, and 
adding to that Artillery which can first and best realize the true 
possibilities of this new property of the arm, and which can best train 
its officers to make full use of this property, a commanding power on 
the field of battle. 
2. Quick Ranging .—Of more importance than the preceding, is the 
power of quick ranging, some development of which must form a 
leading feature in the true use of a Q.F. Armament. 
The vital importance of Quick Ranging cannot be over-estimated. 
There can be no reasonable doubt, that, with the present accuracy and 
efficiency of artillery, if two practically equal masses of that arm come 
into action against one another, that side which first establishes the 
range, and first commences to pour in the terrible fire above described, 
will in all probability overwhelm its adversary, and this too while 
suffering but little loss itself. 
Even in 1870 when only common shell (which we now consider as a 
quite ineffective projectile) were in use, ranging, in the face of guns 
which had already got the range, was in many cases found to be 
impossible, or at any rate very difficult. 
Prince Kraft in one of the personal reminiscences contained in his 
letters (p. 149), gives a graphic description, too lengthy to quote here, 
of the difficulties experienced in ranging, against an enemy who has 
already got, or nearly got, your own range. And he also incidentally 
mentions that at Sedan the process of ranging the German Batteries, 
with which he himself was connected, took over an hour, owing to the 
enemy having first got the range. 
Again, referring to Gravelotte, when the line of German guns was 
established between the Bois de la Cusse and Gravelotte, Hoffbauer tells 
us :—“ Repeated attempts made by the French to bring fresh batteries 
into action were invariably baffled by the accuracy of our concentrated 
fire. Many of the guns could not even unlimber, and others which 
succeeded in doing so were obliged to retire after firing a few rounds. 
Explosions of ammunition wagons and limbers were frequently observed.” 
If this were the case with the armaments of 1870, what chance would 
batteries have of successfully ranging under the rain of bullets from 
bursting shrapnel delivered by a Q.F. equipment ? 
Speed therefore in ranging is all important, and there can be no doubt 
that a Q.F. armament will lend itself very readily to improvements in 
this direction. The value of minutes—nay even of seconds—at this 
vitally important crisis—for crisis it is when well-trained Artillery 
meets well-trained Artillery on the modern battle field—is not to be 
described in words, nor measured by ordinary standards. The slower 
Artillery will pay for those precious minutes with the lives of many 
gallant men and horses. Its influence on the battle field will be nullified 
—the other arms, looking to their Artillery for support, will look in 
vain, for it will be reduced to impotence—and woe to that Army and 
to that Nation whose Artillery is over-matched. 
