THE EOYAL AETILLEEY INSTITUTION. 
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implied by the Austrian Captain Muller, 1 2 if I rightly understand his 
remarks on this subject. 
It may be concluded, then, that guns should bear on that arm of the 
enemy^s force which threatens us most, and that if doubt should arise 
as to which the predominant arm be, our artillery should devote its 
attention to the infantry and cavalry, rather than to the artillery of the 
opposing force. 3 
4. What to fire. 
The nature of the object fired at determines the ammunition that is 
to be used. 
Common shell is used, with time fuze set long, against ordinary 
buildings, wooden houses, earthworks, and combustible materials. It 
is laid down in most books that common shell may also be used against 
troops in mass or behind cover, with time fuzes so adjusted as to burst 
the shell on the first graze. This is one of those rules which it is so 
easy to preach and so hard to practice, and I have heard some of our 
best officers say that they had no confidence in such a fire, because it 
demands a delicacy of fire almost unattainable. 
The Prussians made good practice against troops with common shell 
in 1870; but they used percussion, not time fuzes. 3 
The difference between segment shell and shrapnel is so fine as in 
no way to compensate for the complication to which the supply of both 
descriptions of ammunition to a battery gives rise; and there can be no 
doubt that either kind should be withdrawn, and the proper number of 
projectiles made up by a corresponding increase of the other. Segment 
or shrapnel may be used with time fuzes against skirmishers, or with 
time or percussion fuzes against troops in line or column. They may 
be used with time fuzes against artillery, if it be desired to kill the 
gunners, drivers, and horses; or with percussion fuzes, or blind, if the 
intention be to smash the carriages. 4 
The extreme useful range of canister from rifled guns is about 
350 yds. Its use, therefore, has become rare and exceptional ; for if 
the campaigns of 1866 and 1870 teach anything, they teach us that a 
battery is in danger when the enemy^s infantry has arrived within 
1 “Das Oesterreichische Eeld-und Gebirgs-Artillerie.” Wien, 1868, p. 114. “ Studie iiber die 
Taktik der Artillerie bei der neuen Infanterie-Bewaffnung.” Wien, 1868, pp. 26, 27. I believe I 
have not misrepresented Captain Muller’s principles. The apparent contradiction between his 
statements and mine arises principally from the fact that he looks at the question as one of grand 
tactics, while I look at it as one of minor tactics. 
2 I merely lay down general principles on this subject. It would be unpardonable impudence 
to lay down definite rules on a question which must be practically decided almost entirely by the 
peculiar circumstances of each individual case. 
3 The use of percussion fuzes depends, of course, to a great extent on the nature of the ground 
on which the enemy stands; for if the ground to his immediate front be marshy, or even soft, shells 
with percussion fuzes will do him but little damage. 
4 See Capt. C. O. Browne’s remarks on shells and fuzes in the “'Proceedings of the E.A. 
Institution,” Vol. VII. p. 29 et seq. When possible, percussion fuzes should be invariably used 
with segment shell, and time fuzes with shrapnel. 
