MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS OE 
8 ^ 
the plate, and exploded on its way through the backing. The plate was 
split right across, far from any previous holes; a piece 4 ft. 4^ ins. by 3 ft. 3 ins. 
was torn off and thrown down. Much force was necessarily expended in 
performing the work, yet there was enough left in the shell to blow in the 
backing and inner skin, so that a terrible wound would have been inflicted 
in the side of a ship carrying this armour. Thus, both the Palliser shells 
from the English gun made holes through the target—a feat which the Krupp 
gun had failed to perform with chilled shell, and only once with the costly 
steel shell.” 1 
In other words, directly the English gun was fired with the projectile 
designed for use against strong targets, it not only equalled but surpassed 
its rival—notwithstanding the advantages, already more than once enumerated, 
which that rival enjoyed. 
This is the experiment of which Captain von Doppelmair thinks it proper 
to omit all details. It is upon this experiment that he asserts that the 
small capacity shell were no better than the others. It is with this experi¬ 
ment before him that he ventures still to maintain the superiority of the 
Krupp system. 
III. 
Comparative Accuracy of the Woolwich and Krupp Guns. 
The Tegel trials, then, if they established anything, plainly established the 
necessity for the possession of a large margin of power on the part of 
Krupp's guns to produce penetrative effects comparable with those obtained 
with English guns. Captain von Doppelmair, having out of such un¬ 
promising materials attempted to frame a conclusion favourable to the 
Krupp guns, proceeds to deal with other points upon which these experi¬ 
ments appeared to him to throw some light. 
On the question of accuracy, he observes:—“ The superior accuracy of 
breech-loading guns, firing projectiles with a coating of soft metal, is incon¬ 
testable. The reason for this is the A B C of artillery service*” 3 And he 
proceeds to give certain figures which show a superiority on the part of 
the Krupp guns. We have here, therefore, at once an axiom and its 
application. 
With regard to the comparative accuracy of the tWo guns which were 
tried at Tegel, we believe the facts to be as follows :—During the 300 rounds 
of chilled projectiles which were fired at Tegel, on only two occasions was 
1 Times,” January 23, 1869. 
2 Doppelmair, p. 67. 
