THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
339 
Until a step be taken in either one direction or the other, onr field 
batteries, with the French, will remain, as far as mobility is concerned, 
the most inefficient field batteries in Europe. 
From the axiom that guns are useless when limbered-up, it follows, 
in the second place, that the movements of a battery should be mini¬ 
mum in number j 1 for in order to move, the guns must cease firing and 
limber-up. If an advancing enemy reaches 900 yds. from the battery, 
it should at once limber-up and retire, unless it be necessary to hold to 
the last the position which it occupies; and if a retiring enemy reaches 
a position much beyond 2000 yds. from the guns, they must be rapidly 
advanced to within 900 yds. of the enemy's line; but within these 
limits it is undoubted that the calmer, the steadier, and the less inter¬ 
rupted the fire of the guns is the better. 
At the present day, the old principle that guns must move when¬ 
ever the brigade of infantry or cavalry to which they are attached 
moves, is still in full action in the English army. Field guns must be 
aligned on the infantry, must move when they move, and must fire 
when they fire; or to use the ordinary phrase, they must C( conform to 
the movements of the infantry." This mode of handling guns is utterly 
and diametrically contrary to the whole spirit of modern tactics; for 
1 Baron von Moltke lays down this principle witli admirable clearness:—“Rifled guns are not 
in themselves wanting in mobility, but their peculiarities require that they should keep a position 
as long as possible when once they have taken it up; for every change of position demands a fresh 
calculation of the ranges, on the accurate knowledge of which the result chiefly depends. On 
account of their extensive range, it is possible for properly placed rifled guns to be effective from 
one and the same position in all the different stages of a battle. It is not necessary to advance a 
few hundred yards in order to reach the enemy, for this object is gained by altering the eleva* 
tion, without essentially diminishing the efficacy of the fire.”—“ Beilage zu Nr. 27 des Militair- 
Wochenblattes, fur den 8 Juli, 1865.” Translated into English by Lieut. H. R. G. Craufurd, R.A, 
45 
