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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
“ It is perhaps partly on this ground that the Prussians, whose tactics 
have been invariably offensive, have rejected them. 
“ For defensive purposes, in order to compare them with field guns, 
the effect on the enemy must be estimated, not over the limited range 
within which the Gatling is effective, but over the whole extent of 
ground on which the enemy would be exposed to projectiles when 
advancing. This would, on open ground, be three times the range of 
the Gatling; and the total loss caused by a field gun throughout the 
advance would probably far exceed that inflicted by the mitrailleuse 
within its own more limited range. 
“ But, on the other hand, many cases must arise in war in which the 
long range of the field gun would be superfluous, while the mitrailleuse 
could be employed under its own conditions of effectiveness. In all 
countries not absolutely flat, troops may often engage with no greater 
distance than 1200 yds. between the hostile forces. Thus the French 
troops attacking Hougomont would have been always under the effective 
fire of Gatlings from the British position. 
“ In broken or mountainous ground, there will always be parts of the 
field where the assailant's troops will be sheltered from fire up to short 
range, and would only begin to suffer loss on issuing from their shelter. 
Thus, in all the northern part of the field of Solferino, the defenders 
(had they prepared the position) might have effectually used mitrail- 
leurs, but not so in the plain forming the southern part of the field. 
“ It may therefore be fairly inferred that it would be quite inexpedient 
to diminish the field artillery of an English army, in a foreign war, by 
supplying it with weapons which, if present at all with marching and 
manoeuvring troops, must to that extent occupy the place of guns. 
But there are cases in which protected Gatlings would bring the most 
effective possible fire to bear on an advancing enemy, especially if 
approaching on a narrow front—as when issuing from a village, or moving 
in a hollow road, or crossing a bridge, and in which guns would be 
much better employed elsewhere. Therefore, for home defence, or when 
holding selected positions, there would often be opportunities for em¬ 
ploying them in preference to long-ranging artillery. For such 
circumstances, therefore—namely, the defence of this country, or 
when it may be foreseen that our troops will be engaged on the 
defensive—as to cover an embarkation—a certain supply of Gat¬ 
lings, say one to twelve guns, would be of great value if kept in the 
depots, and only moved into position when the time for using them 
had come." 
We have here an admirable summary of the tactical uses of mitrail- 
leurs, as might be expected from the writer. 
It is clear that machine guns would only be used for defence; as 
Captain H. Brackenbury well puts the question:—“What do we see 
in all those battle-fields but one single plan of attack ? First the 
infantry is utterly demoralised by the crushing fire of a mass of artil¬ 
lery concentrated on it; then masses of skirmishers or columns are 
sent up to attack* What can you do with the mitrailleuses ? They 
are of no value in the attack; but in defence, in certain positions, I 
