8 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
stood the former Saxon artillery officer Strenbel, who published a series of 
papers under the name of Arkolay, the last of which may be denominated 
pamphlets.” 
In the remaining chapters of this part, we have the arguments on the 
organisation and tactics of artillery, which may here be passed over with the 
greater confidence that the generality of what is brought forward is at the 
present moment in operation and universally recognised. 
Period 1Y.— Prom 1866 to 1870. 
The campaign of 1866 brought rifled guns into the field for the first time 
in great number. On the one side, were more especially the Austrian muzzle- 
loaders—acknowledged to be the best muzzle-loading system—and with them, 
in the smaller German armies, the Prussian 9 c.m. breech-loader. On the 
other side, were the Prussian breech-loaders. Both sides employed also 
smooth-bores—viz., the short 12-pr., the 15 c.m. howitzer of Hanover, &c. 
The general conclusion arrived at, even from the commencement of the 
campaign, is this—that material support was looked for from artillery combats 
and from the deciding effect of artillery fire. The author in this particular 
coincides completely with Maresch, who says:—“The time had come, when 
the morale attached to rifled guns was greater than the excellence of'the gun 
itself.” “ The smooth-bores effected virtually nothing in the campaign. In 
comparison with the rifled guns, they were powerless, and could seldom be 
advanced sufficiently forward to be brought into play against other arms.” The 
rifled breech-loading pieces, however, did not fulfil the certainly too high 
expectations placed on their effect. What was more easy than to decry this 
effect ? Meanwhile, the Austrian artillery even, which fought the battle of 
Koniggratz for a long time alone and with success, and later checked the 
pursuit, in which it not only to a great extent sacrificed itself, but undoubtedly 
had to put forth the greatest efforts—even it was not permitted to enjoy its 
glory without alloy, for it was attacked by its own army. “ How firmly stood 
the much-vaunted Prussian breech-loading artillery,” says Major Muller, 
“ beside the Austrian artillery.” 
In the 1st Chapter, the author sketches the development and change in the 
systems after 1866, and at the same time touches on the introduction of 
mitrailleuses, to which he refuses to attach any special importance in the 
field, though he acknowledges the moral effect in many cases, more especially 
at the commencement of a campaign. 
The 2nd Chapter is occupied with the combated question —bronze or cast- 
steel? Supported by numerous arguments and by extensive experience, 
gained on the practice ground as well as in the field, the author arrives at the 
conclusion that steel is preferable for rifled tubes. “ Only a limited number 
of the Prussian bronze 8 c.m. pieces were employed in the war of 1870-1, 
therefore there was no opportunity for detecting defects of a peculiar nature. 
On the other hand, it has been proved by further experiments, that bronze 
tubes become comparatively rapidly worn out— i.e., run at the muzzle with 
firing, and, in consequence, lose their accuracy much more rapidly in com¬ 
parison with steel tubes.” 
The author again recalls the fact, that steel tubes gained the great successes 
