THE EOYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
147 
far this will influence the accepted tactics, either in principle or detail, and 
what are the points to which we Englishmen ought especially to direct our 
attention, are the subjects to which I shall now address myself. 
In discussing the question of mobility, I shall consider only horse 
artillery and the ordinary field batteries, armed as they are, or will be in 
the immediate future—the horse artillery with 9-prs., the field batteries with 
16-prs. There may be of course in particular countries, and with reference to 
particular operations, both lighter and heavier guns brought into the field, 
but the principles which govern their disposition and movement will be the 
same, however the details may vary. 
It may be said broadly that mobility, in the sense of actual quickness of 
moving, has not been increased by our recent changes. What we have gained 
by the progress of science has been given to increased power in the gun, and 
the actual weight behind the horses has not been lightened—in fact, in some 
measure it has been increased. It is, however, evident that a very real 
mobility has been gained, for a machine of vastly increased power can now be 
moved at the same, or nearly the same, speed as the inferior guns of a former 
time, and the effect produced in a much shorter time, over a larger space, and 
with an exactness hitherto unknown. The conflicting elements of weight and 
power are of course important, and within certain limits will always be subjects 
of controversy. Some are of opinion that we have rather overstepped the 
limit of weight. However this may be, whether our guns might be a little 
lighter or not, there can be no doubt that their mobility, in the true sense, is 
greater than anything we have had before. 
There it a true and a false mobility; I am afraid our whole system and 
training has led us to attach importance to a kind of mobility which, although 
brilliant and effective at field days, cannot stand the test of service. It is 
not the power of galloping a few hundred yards into a position, blazing off a 
few rounds, and dashing off again, ventre a terre f to another position, differing 
from the first only in being a little worse; nor, again, is it the power of rapid 
movement on the part of guns only, which constitutes true mobility. True 
mobility must comprehend the movement of every part of the machine— 
guns, gunners, and ammunition—and must take account of the necessity of 
keeping up the movement over long distances, in all kinds of ground, in spite 
of obstacles, and with all the disadvantages of casualties and loss of condition 
in horses. 
The most movable artillery is that which can get soonest and safest to the 
point from which it can deliver an effective fire. 
There is no use in getting three or four miles to a flank, and then finding 
half a mile of deep ground up hill before you, and your horses dead beat. It 
is little comfort to say you did not know it was so far. Something should 
always be kept in hand to meet miscalculations and difficulties. Nothing is 
gained, even in short distances, by hurry in taking up a position. The general 
result of galloping into it is that the guns are not placed to the best advan¬ 
tage, and are unnecessarily brought under fire. It is rarely of consequence 
that a position should be occupied a few minutes sooner or later. At field 
days there is often an impatience to see troops moving, but almost the only 
occasion on which hurry can be necessary, or even desirable, is when a move¬ 
ment in the nature of a surprise has been undertaken. When artillery has 
been detached to occupy a position on the flank of the enemy, and its ap- 
