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country sufficiently open for cavalry operations, tlie probability is that 
horse artillery, with superior range, would soon silence the mitrailleurs.* 
The duties of cavalry soldiers are sufficiently arduous as it is, and to 
add to them others quite foreign to their own would not be at all 
advisable. 
Organisation for Field Service, 
We find that the French used batteries composed of six mitrailleurs, 
while the two Bavarian batteries employed were composed of four each. 
These mitrailleurs, however, required six horses for draught, and also 
more personnel than would be used with our Gatling, for instance. 
For organisation in Russia and Spain, vide Note, p. 436. 
Colonel Wray's Committee proposed that twelve Gatling guns 
should constitute a battery, in accordance with the detail given in 
the Appendix. 
It will be seen that on the line of march the space occupied by such 
a battery, as compared with that taken up by a 9-pr. R.M.L. gun, 
would be 156 instead of 353 yds. 
The number and ranks of the officers would be similar to those in a 
field battery ; but there seems no necessity for this. Four mitrailleurs 
may be looked upon as the largest number likely to be employed in any 
particular case. The organisation proposed by the Committee is stated, 
indeed, to be meant “ for organisation, and not for tactical purposes." 
Would it not be better to have four mitrailleurs, in the charge of one 
Captain and one Subaltern officer, as the tactical unit ? Two of these, 
if necessary, might be united for larger administrative purposes under 
a Major, or four under a Lieut.-Colonel ; bub it seems to me that the 
tactical unit should, as in the case of field artillery, be also thoroughly 
recognised in organisation. 
The Swedo-Norwegian Committee say:—“We consider that a mitrail¬ 
leuse battery should consist of four pieces. Doubtless two mitrailleuses 
(half a battery) could alone strongly reinforce a position; but it would 
be preferable, in a case of importance, that a whole battery should be 
detailed, in order that the tenure of a position might not be imperilled 
by the dismounting of one or two mitrailleuses. On the other hand, 
circumstances are not likely to arise when the employment of more 
than four mitrailleuses would be necessary." 
As the mitrailleur can only be used advantageously for defensive 
tactics—and that on exceptional occasions, when the ground in front 
is clear of cover—all will agree, I think, that the reserve of a division 
is the proper place for batteries of this arm, if it be taken into the 
field.t 
* Count Thtirheim claims to have driven back a battery of French artillery with his revolver 
cannon, or mitrailleurs, at Culmiers, but the practice of the battery Was apparently very bad. 
f The Special Committee of 1870-1 recommend “ that they should be kept with the reserves, 
for the express purpose of increasing infantry fire at critical moments, in the same way that guns 
of position are used for strengthening the fire of field artillery.” 
The Swedo-Norwegian Committee say :— S! It follows, from the duties assigned to the mitrailleurs, 
that they should be under the command of the divisional chiefs ; that they should form part of 
the divisional reserve, and not be attached to brigades or battalions except the latter are ex^ 
ceptionaily employed under circumstances when mitrailletirs might appear necessary.” 
