THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
307 
breach is commenced, the effect of the shot being watched, if possible, by 
a party posted at a point from which the face to be breached is visible. 
Shrapnel would be fired at times by the besieger, to prevent the 
enemy from repairing damages. Incendiary shells would be useful for 
bombardments, and heavy rifled mortar shells for the same purpose, and 
for exploding magazines. 
III .—Field Artillery . 
We will now examine the conditions which regulate the efficiency of 
the projectiles used by field artillery. 
The projectiles at present in use for field artillery are common shell, 
segment shell, shrapnel, and case. 
The last—namely case—may be dismissed with very few words. 
It is only applicable when, on the defensive, guns are required to re¬ 
main in position till the last moment, and even to sacrifice themselves 
for some particular object. Case may then be used, against infantry 
coming within 300 yds. of the guns. It could also be used against 
cavalry, if the guns were unexpectedly charged by them; but guns 
should rarely be exposed to this danger. 
Field artillery may be required to be used against various objects :— 
Living objects, such as cavalry and infantry, in the open, in motion 
or at rest, in masses or scattered. 
Artillery in the open. 
Troops under cover, either in woods or behind shelter-trenches 
or field works, in villages or houses. 
Artillery entrenched. 
Obstacles, such as abattis , stockades, &c. 
Against troops in the open, the choice of projectile lies between 
segment and common shell, and shrapnel. Of these, shrapnel is fired 
with a time fuze, segment and common shell may be fired either with a 
time or percussion fuze. In practice, it is found that segment and 
common shell fired with a time fuze are not to be relied upon, as their 
effect is small unless they burst within a very few yards of the objects 
which it is desired to strike—such as a battery of artillery or columns 
of infantry or cavalry ; but it is very difficult in the field accurately to 
estimate the distance of an object, and if the ground is at all broken 
even trial shots may fail to give the information required, and if a 
common or segment shell strikes either short of or beyond the object 
aimed at, its effect is very small. They would have great effect against 
a deep column, in which case an error in judging the distance would 
not exercise so great an influence, as with a moderately flat trajectory 
some portion of the column would be certainly hit; but against troops 
extended, either in line or as skirmishers, their effect would be very 
small. Shrapnel, however, is found to be efficient as long as it bursts 
in front of the object aimed at, within very large limits—from 50 to 
150 yds. short of the object in case of field artillery, and even up to 
300 yds. short in the case of heavy guns. With our present muzzle¬ 
loading guns we can ensure that amount of accuracy in burning of our 
fuzes, and the Germans are introducing shrapnel with their breech¬ 
loaders, and maintain that they can produce a sufficiently accurate fuze 
for use with lead-coated projectiles without windage. Shrapnel, as now 
