336 
MINUTES OF PEOCEEDINGS OF 
900 yds. from it, and tliat it is in extremis when the enemy’s infantry is 
350 yds. from it. 1 2 An Austrian rifled battery which galloped up to 
case range from the Prussian infantry at Sadowa, suffered such terrible 
losses that not a single shot was fired from it f and a Prussian field 
battery which unlimbered at 600 yds. from the French infantry at 
Grravelotte, for the purpose of firing case, had so many men and horses 
struck down that only two guns could be got into action, and these 
guns were withdrawn as soon as practicable. 3 Each subdivision of our 
field batteries is at present supplied with 16 rounds of case—a much 
too large proportion in the present state of tactics. Six rounds, three 
in each axle-tree box, would be amply sufficient, and room would thus be 
gained in the limber boxes and wagon-body for twelve additional rounds 
of segment or shrapnel; either of which are infinitely more useful than 
case. 4 
By depriving it of its most destructive projectile, canister, rifled small- 
anns have inflicted a heavy blow upon the field artillery. But the evil 
is not an irreparable one, for the mitrailleur is capable of delivering a 
fire of case far more extended and deadlier than anything before known 
in the artillery service. By adding two mitrailleurs to our present 
6-gun batteries, or by equipping one of the divisions of our batteries 
with mitrailleurs instead of guns, our field artillery would be enabled 
to deliver a destructive fire of case up to 1500 yds. 5 A certain number 
of mitrailleurs should also be equipped on the horse artillery system, to 
act as batteries of reserve. 
To distribute mitrailleurs among the infantry as battalion guns would 
be to revive a system which for a century and a half, from the Thirty 
Years’ War to the close of the 18th century, exerted a most pernicious 
influence on the progress of field artillery. 6 As the innumerable evils 
entailed by the battalion guns are so well known that it would be waste 
of words to re-state them, it seems incredible that a return to this system 
should be advocated at the present day by professional military men in 
Prussia, Austria, and England. 7 Yet such is the case—a further proof 
that “in this age the quiet surface of routine is as often ruffled by 
attempts to resuscitate past evils, as to introduce new benefits.” 8 
Unless mitrailleurs are recognised to be what they really are, powerful, 
although complicated pieces of artillery, and organised as such, the 
1 “ Ideen iiber die Verwendung der Feld-Artillerie.” By the Prince of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen. 
Berlin, 1869, p. 5. 
2 General Soudain de Niederwerth, in the “ Journal de l’armee Beige,” No. 213. 
3 “Observations amongst German Armies during 1870.” By Col. H. A. Smyth, E.A., in the 
“ Proceedings of the E.A. Institution,” Vol. VII. p. 196. 
4 The Prussians carry ten rounds of case per gun, of which, however, they have no opinion.” 
Col. H. A. Smyth’s “ Observations, &c.,” p. 201. 
5 “ Machine Guns,” by B. J. Gatling, in the “ Journal of the Eoyal United Service Institution.” 
Vol. XIV. p. 520. 
6 See “Proceedings of the E.A. Institution,” Vol. VII. p. 130 et seq. 
7 “Mitrailleurs, and their place in the Wars of the Future,” by Major Fosberry, 'F(£., in the 
“Journal of the Eoyal United Service Institution,” Vol. XIII. p. 560. “Proceedings of the E.A. 
Institution,” Vol. VII. p. 201. “Das Jahr 1870, und die Wehrkraft der Monarchic,” Vienna, 
1870, p. 27—said to be written by the Archduke Albrecht of Austria. 
8 Mr. J. S. Mill’s “Essay on Liberty,” p. 18. 
