214 
MINUTES OF PEOCEEDINGS OF 
ON CENTRALISATION, 
AS APPLIED TO THE 
MANUFACTURE OF WAR MATERIEL. 
BY 
CAPTAIN C. C. SAXTON, E.A. 
[THE E.A. INSTITUTION PEIZE ESSAY OF 1875.] 
“ Si vis pacem, para bellum.” 
“ Although it may be a bold design to write upon such a subject, yet I do not 
consider it blameable to warn people by a mere dissertation, when others have made 
bold enough to do so by their actions; for the mistakes which 1 may commit in the 
execution of this project can easily be rectified without harming anyone, whereas in 
the practice and execution of warlike operations, if a mistake be made, it can but 
be 'to the prejudice of a state.”— Machiavelli. 
Definition of War Materiel. 
War materiel comprises all that vast variety of warlike stores, arms, 
and equipments required by both the army and navy, in order to main¬ 
tain themselves in a proper state of efficiency, alike in time of peace and 
in time of war. 
Under this head may be mentioned the following, as being princi¬ 
pally important:— 
Accoutrements. 
Ammunition of all sorts. 
Armes blanches (swords, &c.) 
Cannon, for both land and sea service. 
Carriages for ordnance, and for military transport. 
Clothing. 
Gunpowder, and its means of ignition. 
Harness and saddlery. 
Rockets, torpedoes, and all compositions employed for 
warlike purposes. 
Shoes. 
Tents. 
Tools. 
Small-arms, 
