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brought four mitrailleurs against them, and after a quarter of an hour 
these guns limbered up, evidently having some of their horses and guns 
disabled, and retired another 300 yds. to the rear.”* * * § 
The Special Committee (of which Colonel Wray was President), in 
their report of 1870, state :—“We are also impressed with the effect pro¬ 
duced by the medium-sized G-atling—0*65-in. calibre—at long ranges, as 
compared with that of a field gun; but looking at the weight of ammu¬ 
nition required to produce this effect, and to the exceptional conditions 
under which the larger Catling could be used with advantage in the 
field, we are satisfied that a gun is far preferable at long ranges, and 
consequently we do not recommend the introduction of the larger 
description of Catling for land service. Except against an enemy in the 
open, the fire of a mitrailleur is comparatively worthless; whereas 
artillery fire will search out an enemy from almost any position, whether 
covered by trees, brushwood, earthworks, or houses, and at distances 
far beyond the range of a mitrailleur.” 
Notwithstanding the many advantages claimed by Mr. Catling and 
othersf for the use of a far-ranging mitrailleur, the reasons to the con¬ 
trary seem conclusive; and we find that the opinion of foreign officers 
coincides with those of our own Committee as to the advisability of not 
adopting such a weapon for service in the field to cope with artillery at 
long ranges. J 
For use against cavalry and infantry, however, a lighter machine gun, 
firing S.A. ammunition,§ might be employed, and would in certain 
cases be very useful. So much had been expected of their new arm by 
the French, that when their armies were vanquished by the victorious 
Prussians, the mitrailleurs, like all else concerned on the losing side, 
did not get the credit due to them. Those which they employed were 
so heavy as to require six horses, while the few taken into the field by 
the Bavarians under Yon der Tann were very defective in mechanism. 
Notwithstanding this, however, and the imperfect knowledge then 
possessed as to their proper tactical employment, we find that they 
proved at times of great service. 
Captain H. Brackenbury, B.A., mentions several instances :—“ At 
the battle of Rezonville,” he says, “ we have very plain evidence as to 
whether the French considered the mitrailleuses to be more effective 
than guns in certain positions, by this fact—that Marshal Bazaine, who 
was there on the spot himself (near a ravine close to the Bois de 
Oignons), had plenty of guns under his hand, but had only two batteries 
of mitrailleuses. To defend the head of this ravine (and this was after 
* The French mitrailleurs, we must remember, were heavy ones, having six horses and considerable 
range. 
f These may be summed up as—(1) Equal range, with greater accuracy and precision than field 
pieces. (2) Rapidity and continuity of fire. (3) No recoil; therefore no re-sighting or re-laying 
necessary. (4) Lightness. (5) Greater power of richochet fire. (6) Economy in money, horses, 
and men. 
$ Vide American report of this year. 
§ It is not absolutely necessary, of course, that the ammunition used should he the same as that 
used by the infantry, but still it is very desirable. Neither with our own nor the French machine 
gun can service S.A. ammunition be used, at present. 
