MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS OE 
Date of 
practice. 
No. of 
rounds. 
Charge. 
Projectile. 
Eleva¬ 
tion. 
Mean 
range. 
Mean 
difference 
of range. 
Mean 
reduced 
deflection. 
Jan. 13,1870 
10 
lb. oz. 
1 12 
Common shell, plugged 
2° 
yds. 
1176 
yds. 
14-2 
yds. 
0-5 
Jan. 13,1870 
10 
1 12 
n 
3° 
1652 
17*1 
0’8 
Jan.17,1870 
10 
1 12 
it 
7° 
2665 
18'9 
0*8 
Jan. 18,1870 
10 
1 12 
it 
15^° 
4221 
25-0 
8*0 
It is unnecessary, in view of the figures which we have quoted, to consider 
the theoretical side of the question of the assumed superior accuracy of 
breech-loaders. The question is essentially a practical one; and practically, 
as we have seen, not only does the advantage remain with the muzzle- 
loaders, heavy and light, but the accuracy of which good guns of this class 
have proved themselves capable—even with a powder of admitted comparative 
irregularity of combustion—is all that the artilleryman could possibly desire; 
nor is it possible to conceive any real practical advantage resulting from 
the introduction of a weapon capable of greater precision and uniformity of 
fire than the English muzzle-loading guns. 
IV. 
Comparative "Rapidity of Fire and Facility of Manipulation of Woolwich 
and Krupp Guns . 
Captain von Doppelmair's mode of dealing with the question of the 
relative rapidity of fire of the Woolwich muzzle-loading and the Krupp 
breech-loading guns, is in principle similar to the system which he has 
adopted in dealing with the question of accuracy. He dissolves his facts in 
theories. 
His theory in this case is, that no comparative trial between the two 
systems was possible, because the carriages employed were different. 1 The 
facts which he has to get rid of are, that at Tegel the English muzzle- 
loader largely surpassed the German breech-loader in rapidity of fire. 
Having bridged over this difficulty, Captain von Doppelmair proceeds to 
construct another theory, which he employs as a sort of tete de pont . He 
enumerates the operations required for the two guns, omitting, however, one 
or two which form part of the manipulation of the breech-loader; he com¬ 
placently accepts the dressing of the lead-coated projectile with tallow or 
with wax dissolved in benzine as a serviceable condition; he makes every 
1 Doppelmair, p. 69. 
