332 
MINUTES OP PROCEEDINGS OP 
and, in truth, this difficulty at first sight may seem insuperable; but on 
looking closely into the matter, we must allow that the new materiel would 
have the effect of saving so much money in the War Budget, that the cost 
would be paid off in two years, and that we should gain greatly were it 
necessary to put the army on a war footing. 
In fact, the cost of the new equipments, calculated at an extravagant 
rate, does not amount to three millions (£120,000), whilst, by somewhat 
altering the organization of the artillery and of the train, it will effect a 
saving of more than one million (£40,000). 
Moreover, we may observe that the organization of Venetia and its en¬ 
trenched camp, forces us to spend no small sum in the armament of all these 
new fortifications. The service field artillery with all its materiel would 
perfectly well serve this end, therefore the introduction of the new materiel 
will evidently diminish by three or four millions (£120,000 to £160,000) 
the expenditure necessary for the armament of the new fortresses. Hence 
it may be said that the new artillery will not cost one penny to the country, 
whilst it will effect an enormous saving to the Budget of the War Depart¬ 
ment. But to put the case at its worst, the service artillery must always 
be worth something even if it be sold for old iron; that value, which is 
more than a million (£40,000), must always be deducted from the three 
millions (£120,000), the cost of constructing the new materiel. 
Finally, putting the army on a war footing, and supposing it to remain on 
that footing 150 days, which is below the truth, and that the new materiel 
effects a saving of 3000 horses and 5000 men, we shall save 2,100,000 lires 
(£84,000) in the purchase of horses, 900,000 (£36,000) in their keep, and 
825,000 lire (£33,000) in the pay and keep of the men. In sum total 
then we shall save 3,825,000 lire (£153,000), so that in one campaign the 
new materiel will be more than paid for. 
After all that we have said, it is clear that,— 
(1) The new materiel is the lightest of all the existing artilleries, it is conse¬ 
quently the best suited to overcome speedily all difficulties of ground. 
(2) As regards power for an equal number of rounds, it is not inferior to any, 
and is perhaps superior to all.* 
(3) As regards power for an equal expenditure of means, it is certainly far in 
the way (about twice) superior to all European artillery materiel. 
(4) It is less expensive than the service materiel , requires far less repair, 
besides lasting much longer. 
(5) We have no large and special storehouses to construct for storage of the 
materiel , nor for building the carriages is there any necessity of having a large 
stock of materiel , constituting inert and unfructifying capital. 
(6) Its adoption will cause a considerable saving in the War Budget. 
(7) The new materiel will be fully paid for, if it be necessary to put the 
army on a war footing. 
(8) In short, its adoption will increase the force of the nation, saving expense 
at the same time. 
* See note, p. 333. 
