THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
31 
REMARKS ON THE 
PROPER PROPORTION OF GUNS TO MEN. 
BY 
CAPTAIN E. BARING, R.A. 
An interesting paper appeared at the commencement of the year 
1870-, in the “ Archives of the Prussian Artillery and Engineers,” on 
the subject of the most suitable proportion in which artillery could be 
combined with the other arms for service in the field (“ fiber das 
Starkeverhaltniss der Feldartillerie zu den Andern Waffen-Gattungen.”) 
The author enters at considerable length into the subject, and states 
approximately what has been the usual proportion adopted in the 
various wars since the first introduction of artillery. During the wars 
of the 18th century, 3 guns per 1000 men was usually regarded as the 
normal standard, although in. a great many cases the proportion was 
increased in favour of the artillery, and in some few cases it was diminished. 
Thus at the battle of Kolinthe Austrians had 60,000 men and 162 guns 
(2*7 per 1000), the Prussians 32,000 men and 76 guns (2*4 per 1000) ; 
at Gross Jagerndorf the Russians had 90,000 and 300 guns (3*3 per 
1000), at Zorndorf 50,000 men and 212 guns (4*2 per 1000); the 
Prussians at Zorndorf had 34,000 and 117 guns (3*4 per 1000), and at 
Leuthen 32,000 men and 167 guns (5*2 per 1000); the Austrians at 
Leuthen had 80,000 and 210 guns (2*6 per 1000). In the campaign 
of 1762, Frederic brought 67,000 men and 275 guns into the field 
(4*1 per 1000) ; the army of the Duke of Brunswick, which consisted 
rarely of more than 100,000 men, had from 220 to 280 guns attached 
to it (2*2 to 2*8 per 1000). In 1758 the French brought a very strong 
force of artillery into the field; the Swedish army, also, at the close of 
the war, consisted of 17,000 men and 70 guns (4*1 per 1000). 
The maximum proportion of artillery to the other arms appears to have 
been attained at the time of the War of the Bavarian Succession (1778). 
The Prussians then brought 6 guns per 1000 men into the field, the 
Austrians 5-| per 1000 ; no general action, however, ensued during this 
campaign, which was, in fact, devoid of military incident, and can 
therefore scarcely be cited as a fair precedent. 
During the early wars of the French Republic the allies encumbered 
