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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
“ work done/* the former appears decidedly to be in the more profitable 
shape. 
The Prussian common shells and percussion fuzes are I believe not 
doing so well this winter, and it is not wonderful; even ploughed fields 
may become hard in the sun, but battles may be fought, like Waterloo, 
under circumstances which would render it very doubtful if percussion 
fuzes would act at all. If we are to imitate the Prussians, let it be in 
the way in which they form their own conclusions, and when well 
founded, hold to them in spite of the opinions of other nations (as for 
example in their adoption of the needle gun), rather than in the servile 
copy of what we have proved to be bad. 
Since writing the above. Captain Majendie has informed me of the 
news that the Prussians are dissatisfied with their common shells and 
percussion fuzes, and are endeavouring to get a supply of shrapnel and 
time fuzes. This, however, can hardly be said to affect our decision in 
this matter, for we have worked this question out for ourselves in a 
way that may be relied on. Supposing then that the choice lies 
between the segment with its wide-spread and telling action on graze 
or impact, and the shrapnel with its close cone of dispersion and great 
penetration, so admirably suited to time fuzes; are we to take both, 
or which of the two ? This is still a matter open to speculation and 
opinion, but I hope there may yet be found a satisfactory solution. 
The wide spread is desirable for action on impact or graze, the close 
cone for bursting in the air. Can the same shell be made to act in 
both ways ? It hardly appears probable that the segment could be 
made to open with the close prolonged action of the shrapnel in the air, 
but is it not evident that the immediate wide dispersion so desirable on 
graze might be given to the shrapnel by simply inserting a second burst¬ 
ing charge in the socket beneath the percussion fuze, which, with it, 
would be removed when a time fuze was to be used, so that the design 
and action of the shell in its own way would not be interfered with. I 
proposed this before the Aldershot trial took place, and some time since 
Mr. Forest brought it forward, using a tin burster to contain the powder, 
and it has given good results. 
It appears also that the advantage of great speed in action may be 
obtained by carrying the shell with a percussion fuze and bursting charge 
in a tin burster beneath it. This is fired as quickly as a shot, for it is only 
necessary for the man bringing it up to the gun to pull out the safety 
pin, which in the form of fuze now brought forward by Colonel Milward 
is clear above the apex of the shell. 
Should an officer consider he can fire time fuzes with advantage, the 
screw percussion fuze and burster may be nearly as quickly removed as a 
screw plug. 
Does it not appear that we might under these circumstances depend 
mainly on Boxer shrapnel supported with case shot and a few common 
shell; and thus, while fully owning what the segment has taught us, 
make the shrapnel perform duty for it in the way just described ? 
As to case shot, there is a much better pattern likely to come in 
for the 9-pr., containing lead and antimony balls packed in clay and 
sand, which seems to travel well and give remarkably good results. 
