SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1898. 
317 
Exceptions to this however may be looked for under certain favourable 
conditions of ground, light, range, etc.* If batteries are placed on 
particularly favourable sites, and the range has been accurately fouud 
beyond all doubt, it may be feasible to somewhat accelerate the rate 
of fire; this may also be possible when the Artillery on either one side 
or the other feels that it is beginning to obtain the better of its 
adversary, but these are exceptions. 
There is one point however in favour of the quick firer that ought 
not to be overlooked. If both sides are fairly evenly matched, the 
Artillery duel is likely to last a considerable time. The prolonged 
fighting of a battery is a great physical strain on the personnel. On 
active service batteries will have generally to march a long distance 
before coming into action, detachments will be more or less tired 
before the fight begins, and as casualties occur, and the guns have to 
be fought with reduced numbers the work of the gunners will increase, 
and this, at the very time when they may be called upon to put 
forward their very utmost efforts. At such a time, anything that can 
be of assistance, may just suffice to turn the scale. The reduced 
detachments, wearied with continually running up the guns on perhaps 
heavy ground, cannot be as fit for work as their adversaries, armed 
with the quick firer, and who throughout the fight have been spared 
this labour. Nothing tells more against accurate practice than 
physical exhaustion. When the detachments become fatigued, the 
guns must of necessity be less carefully laid, and the shooting will in 
consequence be less accurate. Even in peace time, with full detach¬ 
ments, the labour of working the guns is found to be very heavy. 
This fact was especially brought to notice quite recently by the Camp 
Commandant, Okehampton. In his report for 1897 on the practice 
of the Horse and Field Artillery batteries under his command, 
he states :—+ 
“ It is very noticeable at practice, even with full detachments, that 
the physique of gunners of Field Batteries is not equal to the work 
required in the service of the gun.” 
It would seem therefore that the adoption of the Q.F. gun would 
sensibly increase the efficiency of our detachments at a time we require 
to have them at their very best. There can be no doubt that the 
saving in labour when batteries are long in action would be very 
great. Anything that tends to thus lighten the work of the gunners 
must commend itself to us as well worthy of consideration. 
Also, besides sparing the detachment, the non-recoil carriage confers 
another advantage. It enables a position to be taken up, which could 
not so well be occupied if the carriage were permitted to run back. 
The well-known position selected by the Germans on the Rotherberg, 
at the battle of Spicheren is an example of this kind. This position 
was exceedingly narrow, and the space available for recoil limited. 
But to return to the attack : 
If the Artillery duel has ended in favour of the assailants the 
Infantry will advance, and as they do so the Artillery will have to 
* “ L’Artillerie pendant le Combat,” Revue d’Artillerie, December 1897, page 262. 
t “ Annual Report of School of Gunnery (Horse and Field),” 1897, par. 47. 
32 
