LIMBER SYSTEM EOR FIELD ARTILLERY. 117 
be no waste of material, for tbe change could be effected by degrees, 
as tbe present equipments became unserviceable, according to custom 
in such cases;, and even such component parts of the wagon equip¬ 
ment (as, for instance, wagon body perches) that would not enter 
into the general working of the proposed plan (except for spare wheel 
carriages) could be used up in turn with such wagon equipments as 
were still on charge, or with reserve ammunition columns. 
After the above simple statements, does it require any very great increasing 
mathematical mind to grasp the facts that a limber system would be a ofRghtM? 
positive economy and a great advantage in the end, and that the cost tllleiy * 
of its introduction need scarcely, indeed, be felt ? The time may yet 
arrive when the possession of a considerable force of uniformly light 
and handy field artillery will be considered to be of supreme im¬ 
portance; and the steps taken in this direction on the Continent of 
Europe prove the increasing prominence that is given there to this 
arm of the service. At the present time it would seem that our field 
artillery equipments are not in all respects in keeping with the general 
military progress of the age; and however well the heavy ammunition 
wagon may have served us in days gone by, it may fairly be ques¬ 
tioned whether it had not better have been buried at the same time 
as many a fine old soldier, or other memento of contemporary origin. 
We have outlived the days of wooden naves, sugar-tong seats in the 
saddle, pedlar-like packs, leather stocks, and brown besses, and may 
yet hope to see the last of the lumbering and antiquated ammunition 
wagons, as also of muzzle-loaders either large or small. 
Light artillery, far from being of less avail than formerly, only 
requires a really progressive development and thoroughly good 
handling. A far greater use might also be made of light mortars in 
the field; and Catlings should be worked with and by infantry. The 
clumsy use made of the Russian artillery at Plevna has not prevented 
the recent large increase of that arm in continental armies, and we can 
wish for nothing better than the chance of proving what different 
results might be obtained by a vigorous handling of a numerous and 
mobile British artillery in the field, organised so as to possess a 
maximum number of guns with a minimum number of men and horses 
to keep up or to be exposed to fire, and having in each limber 12 more 
rounds than at present, while the ammunition supply would be more 
rapid and less risky in action, by reason of its better distribution. All 
the above advantages could be secured by the adoption of a limber 
system of equipment, which might, indeed, give quite a fresh impetus 
to the tactical action and working of the entire body of our light 
artillery. Shall we, then, wait to see whether other nations will make 
tbe change before us ? 
