THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
213 
particular purpose, not necessarily that it becomes really stronger on 
the whole. 
To sum up, however, and to criticize both the General and his critic, 
the following seem to be fairly safe conclusions to arrive at. Should 
bronze steel be obtained quite free from tin spots, should its production 
prove of uniform quality, and should a gun constructed of that metal 
when tested to destruction, show safety against explosive bursting by 
the extension of the tough outer layers, after fracture of the inner 
layers by excessive strain, then this material may prove to be that 
required by Austria at the present moment, both on account of the 
economy, ease and rapidity of manufacture, and also especially as 
making her independent of other countries in the construction of a 
new field armament. 
It seems unlikely, however, that such a metal can long hold its own 
against the great improvements certain to take place in steel manu¬ 
facture, and in the construction of field guns from that material on 
sound theoretical principles. 
Still, time presses, and while the political horizon is so dark nations 
cannot always wait for the consummation of improvements. It is 
necessary that their Artillery should be as good as that of their neigh¬ 
bours.* 
If bronze steel guns can be made of equal power to those of the new 
Prussian field pieces, it may be good policy on the part of Austria to 
supply herself at once with a field armament of bronze steel, and then 
with an easy mind await the further development of her steelf manu¬ 
facture.! Whether this be the the case or not, Austria will owe to 
General Yon Uchatius, a discovery arrived at by philosophical experi¬ 
ment and practical skill, which stamp him as a scientific artilleryman, 
in whose success we, of the British Artillery, cannot but feel a brotherly 
interest. 
Postscript .—To drop the “we” and revert to the more modest 
pronoun. Though I stated at the commencement of the paper that no 
apology was required for the production of the paper itself, I yet feel 
that with regard to the few individual opinions expressed in Note II., 
I must disclaim any idea of supposing them to be authoritative, know¬ 
ing, as I do, how complicated a problem gun construction is, how many 
variables have to be considered, and how little I have myself studied 
the subject. Many of my readers have entered into it far more deeply 
than I have done, and to them I would say,—“ As you are strong, so 
be merciful.” J, F, 0. 
TfS plwich, May, 1875. 
* Since the above was written, we are told by the Austrian correspondent of the 
“ Standard ,”—“ That the introduction of the steel-bronze cannon has been definitely 
settled upon, after long and furious journalistic struggles,”—and “ that the Committee 
have voted for their adoption by 27 votes against 1.” It seems improbable, however, that 
the Austrian War Minister should yet have made his final decision. 
f By steel is here meant, as before mentioned, “ any variety of iron cast when in a 
molten state into a malleable ingot.” 
X As France has done in the case of her Reffye guns. 
