THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
m 
The following notes on the subject are, with Colonel MilwarcPs courteous 
permission, extracted from his diary in Abyssinia. 
“We left Antalo on the 12th of March, and on the 10th of April came into 
action before Magdala. We had a severe and trying march over perhaps the most 
difficult country that guns could be called upon to traverse. 
“ The ‘ A ’ battery accompanied the advanced guard throughout, often with the 
pioneer force over ghauts where no touch had been given to the track. Nothing 
was found too difficult. No serious accident happened, and in no instance was a 
mule lost, all the loads came safe—no falls—not a sore back. In one instance, 
ascending the frightful ghaut from the Jeddah to the Talanta plain, where the battery 
was part of the advance guard, and where the road had been washed away by the 
torrents, leaving it next to impossible for men in fact, one gun fell over and the 
front sight was broken; this was the leading gun of the battery, and I sent back 
40 pioneers to fill in the worst part of the broken road, which was roughly done in 
a few minutes, and the remainder of the battery passed over without an accident. 
“ The success of this battery in marching is most complete, and I think there is 
no doubt it could accompany infantry anywhere. 
“ 10th April—the fire was well sustained—the guns certainly require wet sponges. 
The shells burst well, and I am not aware that any were picked up unburst. The 
following rounds were fired at ranges varying from 450 to 1800 yds. 
Shrapnel .,. 55 1 Case . 2 
Common . 46 | Eockets. 15 
Total . 118. 
“ The recoil in some guns became very violent after a few rounds fired rapidly; 
the ground was very hard where this occurred. 
“ On the 13th at Magdala, the following rounds were fired by * A * battery 
Common shell. 94 | Double shell. 15 
Eockets . 10 
“ The double shells were fired from wooden mortar beds with 4 oz. charges and 
carried up to 1400 yds. easily. 
“The common shell were fired at 1300 and 1450 yds. and burst uniformly well. 
The orders were to shell the defences and huts about the gate. The best effect 
was produced, as the defenders were seen to leave their post, and thus make easy 
work for the infantry. 
“ * B * battery fired about the same number of rounds ; this battery was not 
present on the 10th. On the 13th they produced good effect by getting two guns 
by hand to an almost inaccessible point at the top of Salassi. No shells stuck 
this day, as water was available, and wet sponges were used occasionally. One 
gun of ‘ A 5 battery was dismounted and taken by hand up the rugged ascent to 
the gate of Magdala immediately after the assaulting party; this was done by two 
detachments without great difficulty, and would have been of great value had the 
service of the gun been necessary to clear the place, filled as it was with houses. 
This is an important use to which these guns may be applied; the very handy way 
of packing the ammunition, enabling a supply to be carried with the greatest 
ease. 
