THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
407 
I believe Colonel Wray has chiefly worked out this question, with some 
suggestions of Mr. Widgery, a foreman in the Royal Laboratory. 
Mitrailleuses. 
It is impossible here to do more than notice the probable powers of 
the mitrailleuse in general and the part it plays in the field. In order 
to do this we must know the ammunition it is to fire. Should it be 
decided to employ with it the same ammunition as the infantry, its 
powers become very limited, and its place easily defined; its extended 
use with heavier ammunition need not now be discussed, for it appears 
that the authorities have decided on the lighter nature for our service. 
We may say then, since it is obviously unsuitable for firing at 
skirmishers, and cannot injure materiel , that its work must be limited 
to firing on masses of men within rifle range . When will it have the 
opportunity of doing this ? Chiefly we may suppose in the defence of 
bridges, breaches, and whenever it can be masked and brought to bear 
suddenly on bodies of men, or when it can be specially protected by 
cover: for it clearly cannot be expected to work generally with 
skirmishers in an open field, for its men or horses would be killed, 
its limited range making it impossible for it to work from artillery 
positions. 
Thus I think it will appear: 
1st., that the mitrailleuse is decidedly adapted for defence rather than 
attack, speaking generally. 
And 2ndly, that it is specially adapted for a closed country rather than 
an open one. 
Hence it is an arm that England, of all nations, should adopt; we 
may expect before long to find it taken up by the volunteer corps. 
The fire of mitrailleuses compares best with that of guns at long case 
or short shrapnel ranges (say between 200 and 700 yds.) 
The skilful disposition of mitrailleuses is a kindred science with (but 
must not be supposed to be the same as) the handling of field artillery. 
RocJcets. 
If time permitted, much that is interesting might be said about 
rockets; just at present they are not in a satisfactory condition. Sir W. 
Congreve introduced them for incendiary purposes, but shell rockets 
have been condemned and carcass rockets have dropped out of the 
service almost un 
favourites. 
It surely cannot be thought satisfactory to use rockets which, if fired 
at much beyond half the full range of the old Congreve, fall dead with 
no more incendiary power and nothing like the striking force of a shot. 
Again, though Hale's principle is good, the accuracy is now nothing to 
boast of ; and here I may notice a very curious fact as to ranges of 
Hale's rockets fired in different winds. Captain Majendie advised me 
to classify results according to the direction of the wind, and in doing 
so it appears that the average range of Hale's rockets during the year 
54 
perceived, yet these were Sir William's special 
