THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
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first day tlie troops returned to their bivouacs, and that on the second day 
another series of operations took place some miles distant; but they were not 
told how both army corps moved to the new ground, so as to begin a new and 
separate series. He should like to hear this explained, and also another point. 
In mimic engagements like those described, villages would generally constitute 
points d’appui for the opposing forces; but, if they established batteries of 
artillery there, and kept up an ordinary fire, it appeared to him that there 
must be a considerable destruction of glass and other property. He asked 
whether it was usual for the Prussians to fire the whole of their guns as in 
real warfare, or to adopt the Austrian system of firing one gun and hoisting 
a flag to show that they were in action ? 
Lieutenant-Colonel Brat replied to the first question that at the end of 
the first day’s operations the successful force bivouacked on the ground, while 
the beaten army had to march four or five miles farther, ready for the 
manoeuvres of the next day, when the plan of operations might be quite 
separate and distinct, and altogether different, or it might be a continuation of 
Gie same operation—the beaten army retiring, for instance, on another position, 
wherei t might be attacked next day, or from which it might assume the offen¬ 
sive. In reference to the other question, he explained that really the destruction 
of property by artillery fire was very small, for the officer commanding the 
batteries, as soon as he took up his position, fired a gun to show that he was in 
action, and perhaps two or three guns when he was being attacked, but there 
was neither the waste of ammunition nor damage to property which would result 
from a heavy fire. The same thing had been copied at Aldershot last year, 
and it was now usual for the artillery to go out with four rounds of ammunition 
to do the work in which they would formerly have expended twenty rounds. 
The same system was adopted in the infantry, it being found possible to carry 
out the same manoeuvres with an expenditure of much less ammunition. 
(Applause.) In fact, with breech-loaders, if the old system of infantry firing— 
rapid volleys, followed by file firing, on the completion of each manoeuvre— 
were continued in these days, the consumption of blank ammunition would 
be enormous. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Vesey, R.A., asked how the Prussian troops were fed 
during these campaigns ? 
Lieutenant-Colonel Bray said : Their control department did all that for 
them. (Laughter and applause.) Each of the two armies had its military 
train and intendance complete. The military train, in fact, did as much 
work as any infantry regiment. (Applause.) The military train and com¬ 
missariat worked as they would in war; they fed the troops and horses, and 
carried everything requiring transport. The military train was supplemented 
with country carts when necessary, as, being on a peace establishment, 
they were unequal to the performance of the whole duty. Besides, even in 
war time, country carriage is always used by an army to increase its power 
of transport. 
Major-General Sir Lintorn Simmons, K.C.B., B.E., governor of the Royal 
Military Academy, said: There was one argument which was often used in 
opposition to the introduction of the Prussian system of field manoeuvres 
into England, which had, he thought, been much exaggerated. This was, 
that there would be great difficulty in finding a sufficient tract of flat country 
suitable for carrying on extensive manoeuvres in time of peace without a very 
great destruction of property ; and, therefore, that this nature of instruction 
must necessarily be neglected. It appeared to him, however, that this was a 
difficulty which ought to be capable of being overcome. (Hear, hear.) A 
day or two since he saw a return prepared for Parliament by the Inclosure 
Commissioners, which showed that twenty per cent, of all the land in the 
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