THE IlOYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
433 
The proportion of field artillery (including reserves)—-at most 3 guns 
per 1000 men—is certainly calculated as being the maximum which can 
accompany an army without hampering and embarrassing the latter by 
excess of impedimenta; but we . have seen that it is proposed to use 
only two horses for the carriage of a Gatling, so that the space occu¬ 
pied on the line of march would be very small, and it appears that we 
might add with advantage a small number, say twelve (or even more) 
Gatling guns to the proportion of artillery-—seventy-two guns*—laid 
down for an Army Corps of 30,000 men, to be attached to reserve of 
same, or distributed amongst divisional reserves. 
It must be remembered, however, that great care and caution have 
to be exercised in the introduction into our field equipment of an arm 
of such limited use. 
If we do employ any, they should be the very best obtainable; so 
that the wisest policy is not to manufacture many till greater mobility 
than our service Gatlings possess, as well as the other essentials men¬ 
tioned at p. 429, have been attained. 
As soon as this is the case, the necessary number for the reserve of 
our army can, with the manufacturing capabilities of this country, be 
produced at very short notice. 
II.— Employment of Machine Guns for Fortresses or 
Siege Works. 
There is very little difference of opinion as to this mode of em¬ 
ploying machine guns. Where space is limited, the front clear, and 
range known—as in permanent works—these weapons would be most 
useful in caponni&res, counterscarp galleries, &c., for the defence of 
ditches, as well as of the short flanks of works,f while in a breach their 
effects would be most formidable. 
^Reserve..... 
R.H.A. Guns. 
6 
Field Battery. 
Total. 
24 
3 Infantry divisions (each 12) ...., 
— 
36 
36 
1 Brigade cavalry ... 
12 
— 
12 
18 
54 
72 
f The Swedo-Norwegian Committee say:-—“In warfare of position, or fortresses, these arms 
have so great and so evident an importance that opinions cannot differ thereon.” The Americans 
carried on exhaustive trials last year between Gatling guns, field guns, and 8-in. siege howitzers; 
and the report of the Board of officers concerned was strongly in favour of using some of these 
weapons for flanks of works. In consequence, the Secretary of State for War has recommended 
to Congress the appropriation of 292,600 dols. for the immediate purchase of 209 Gatling guns 
and carriages, to be in position by the 1st July, 1874. Another Special Board, U.S. army, 
reporting as to advantages of mitrailleurs in defending short flanks, say:—“There can be no 
question that the great volume of fire of the 8-in. howitzer (1173 balls discharged in one minute, 
or double that number if necessary), would prove irresistible on the short lines of our permanent 
fortifications. Besides, these guns admit of the use of shells when needed.” In cases, however, 
of a simultaneous attack on the curtain and faces of adjacent bastions, they go on to say, “it 
