THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
489 
had the Prussians introduced their 9-pr. before the 15-pr., instead of 
the reverse, the 15-pr. would never have existed. 
For the horse artillery and ordinary field batteries, then, the Indian 
Committee have recommended only one gun—the 9-pr. rifled bronze 
gun of 8 cwt. 
13. Permit me to draw your attention to a very important bearing 
of this recommendation. It is the unity and simplicity of armament 
inherent to such a system, which will facilitate the supply of stores, and 
render that supply economical. 
As to facility, take the battle-field. A battery of artillery obsti¬ 
nately engaged is running short of ammunition, or has a shaft or 
wheel broken. The first wagon met with, whether belonging to the 
horse or field artillery, will furnish exactly what is wanted. Or, to take 
a time of peace: two batteries relieve each other, one of horse, the 
other of field artillery; a subtraction of stores from the one, or an addi¬ 
tion to the other, will complete the equipment. The neighbouring 
arsenal has only one species of stores for horse and field artillery; thus 
there can be no confusion, no mistake. I leave you to compare such a 
system with the S.B. field artillery with its four calibres! 
Then think of the distances we have to deal with in India. As the 
crow flies it is about 1800 miles from Peshawur to Cape Comorin, and 
about 1300 to Calcutta; while from Cape Comorin to Kurachee is about 
1400 miles. Now, if you will recollect that roads and rivers do not run 
as the crow flies, you may form some idea of the distances stores have 
to travel. I think, then, that in India of all countries, unity and sim¬ 
plicity of armament are most desirable, and we have both, on the proposed 
system, developed in a very high degree. 
Unfortunately, however, I am obliged to confine these advantages to 
the horse artillery and ordinary field batteries. 
14. There remains the want of ordnance for the attack of fortified 
villages, entrenchments, and the like. For this purpose I would have 
a 20-pr. howitzer and a 20-pr. mortar, both rifled. Neither of these 
pieces are yet in existence; but the S.B. 9-pr. can easily be converted 
for the one, and I see my way pretty clearly to the other with a weight 
of cwt. The latter piece, if it can be got to shoot well—and I believe 
this to be quite feasible—would likewise be invaluable towards the end 
of a siege. 
I would arm a few batteries with the howitzers. They must move 
slowly, owing to the weight of the equipment; but they would not be 
wanted until a fight was well developed, and they would rarely change 
position, I would further arm a few garrison batteries with rifled field 
mortars at the opening of a campaign. 
The remainder of the field batteries I would arm with the 9-pr. 
M.L.R. gun. 
15. To the advocates of a 12-pr. I would commend the words I 
have quoted from the Prussian handbook. 
Perhaps some of my hearers who may have been in the mutiny in 
India may object to me, that this 20-pr. howitzer will not replace the 
[vol. vi.] G4 
