454 
Q.F. GUNS FOR FIELD ARTILLERY. 
case with other systems. However, we do not actually do this in 
practice, we make it lighter by the use of stronger material, and are 
by that means able to take the strain without any possible risk. 
Another very important advantage of this system of overcoming 
recoil through a long distance and keeping the strains low is that 
there is less liability to jump and so throw the sights out of align¬ 
ment. 
Associated with the system of recoiling the whole mass over the 
brake arrangement, there is another advantage which is perhaps acci¬ 
dental to the system, but nevertheless of some importance, and that 
is that the brake can be readily detached in case it should be damaged 
by shell fire, or it should be desired to lighten the weight behind the 
horses in travelling over rough country. This brake complete weighs 
two hundred pounds and can be detached without skilled labour in 
under a minute, and when so removed, you have to all intents and 
purposes an ordinary field gun, without any of the complications what¬ 
ever attendant on the quick firing system. That, I think, might be 
considered an advantage, although I do not anticipate in that partic¬ 
ular system of mounting that there is any fear of anything going 
wrong with the cylinder because it is right under the trail, and is 
well protected from fire, and even if it were hit, the material of which 
the casing is made is so strong that nothing but shrapnel or high ex¬ 
plosive shell fire would do it any damage. 
Now Sir George Clarke alluded to what he considered to be the 
best principle, namely the joining of the limber to the gun. I can 
only say in regard to that, that if you have to turn your mounting 
through 90 degrees very rapidly, it will have a very great disadvan¬ 
tage, and with Horse Artillery rapid change of direction is likely to 
be required. Perhaps with Field Artillery this condition is not so 
essential, but I think you will admit that the quick firing systems 
employed should be the same for one as for the other, provided you 
do not lose very much by it. 
Speaking generally, there is no doubt that the rate of fire of fourteen 
rounds a minute can be obtained with a trained crew, and a modern 
Q.F. field carriage. 
I have heard it mentioned that setting fuzes may cause a reduction 
in the rate of fire, now I can practically attest that fuzes now being 
used in Europe, and notably one supplied by Messrs. Krupp, of Essen, 
can be set in about three seconds. 
In regard to the best form of ammunition to obtain a maximum 
rate of fire, I am persuaded that it is necessary to attach the charge 
to the base of the shot and ram both home together by hand, in the 
same way as you load fixed ammunition in a metallic cartridge case, 
and so you would obtain the full advantage of your quick firing system. 
It would I think be even more satisfactory to carry the shell fuzed, 
with the cartridge attached, each round being in a separate compart¬ 
ment capable of holding (say) three rounds, which could be quickly 
moved to the firing point. A rapid rate of fire will be of great ad¬ 
vantage also in the question of ascertaining the range. The force that 
is able to ascertain the range quickest will certainly have a great ad- 
