THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
455 
THE MOBILITY OF FIELD ARTILLERY; 
PAST AND PRESENT. 
BY LIEUT. H. W. L. HIME, E.A. 
[No. III.] 
“ Die Scbopfung del* reitenden Artillerie .... kann als kein zufalliges Ereigniss angeseben 
werden, sondern war unzweifelkaffc ein Ausdruck der tief empfundenen Nothwendigkeit, die ver- 
geblick angestrebte Beweglicbkeit der Feldartillerie auf einem andern als dem bisberigen Wege 
zu erreichen.”'— Gen. von Taubert. “Der Gebrauch der Art. im Feldlcriege.” 
The close of tRe first half of the 18th century left the military world 
actively engaged in the attempt to construct some system of artillery that 
could move as well as fire, and the beginning of the second half of the century 
found it engaged in the self-same task. The matter was one which received 
the greatest attention; for men were impressed, and justly impressed, with 
the conviction that that state which first became possessed of a powerful 
artillery would obtain a marked preponderance in the affairs of Europe, 
and the feeling was daily growing stronger and stronger that, in the words 
of Erederick the Great, “ Partillerie fait dans tous les temps le destin des 
etats.” The system of artillery so eagerly sought after would naturally be 
first constructed in that country in which circumstances were most favourable 
for its invention. The seed had been sown broadcast over Europe, and the 
flower would necessarily spring up first where the soil was best suited to its 
growth. The successful state, in short, would be that in which the five 
following conditions were most perfectly fulfilled:—Eirst, the nation should be 
involved in some great war, which would render the possession of a powerful 
artillery a matter of imperative necessity. Secondly, it should possess a well* 
disciplined cavalry and infantry, which could move with such precision and 
celerity as to throw the immobility of the artillery into striking relief. Thirdly* 
circumstances should exist to render a closer connection between the artillery 
and the other arms desirable, if not necessary. Eourthly, the state should 
contain at least one man of ability devoted to the artillery service. Eifthly, 
this man should possess the power to enforce the adoption of his plans. 
Most countries in Europe fulfilled the first of these conditions, but none 
so perfectly as Prussia. In the Silesian wars she fought for conquest, but 
there were moments during the Seven Years'’ War when she fought for 
existence. No nation at the time I speak of was engaged in so gigantic 
a struggle. 
As regards the second condition, Prussia far outstripped all competitors. 
By some freak of fortune; Erederick William, who ruled during the earlier 
[vol. vii.] 60 
