623 
THE EFFECT OE SHELL ON MUD WALLS. 
CONTRIBUTED BY 
BRIG.-GENERAL DENIS-DE-VITRE, R.A. 
Kandahar, 
16th April, 1881. 
The accompanying papers marked A, B, C, D, and E, are forwarded 
to the Secretary, R. A. Institution, for publication if deemed of suffi¬ 
cient interest. 
The object of the experiments detailed in these papers was to test 
the destructive power of shells on mud walls; and further, if possible, 
to prove that shells powder filled, plugged, would explode on penetra¬ 
tion, on which point much difference of opinion existed. 
My faith in the theory has met experimentally with convincing 
proof of their destructive agency against such walls, and I view them 
as not inferior to fuzed shells for this purpose. 
Unfortunately, time did not admit of more than one day's practice 
for each battery concerned, the breaching results could not be con¬ 
sidered satisfactory, as in no case were they practicable; much there¬ 
fore remains open to further investigation and experiment. 
It must be borne in mind also, that the walls of Old Kandahar, 
against which the experiments were directed, are 200 years old at 
least, for the present city was built about the year 1747; the old city 
was shortly afterwards deserted, and its walls, probably never again 
refaced nor repaired, are now in a crumbling and ruined condition, 
comparing unfavourably in tenacity with the walls of recent date. 
Officers commanding batteries conducted their experiments inde¬ 
pendently, and are responsible for their own statements and opinions. 
W. DENIS-DE-VITRE, 
Brig.-General, 
Comdg. R.A., Southern Afghanistan. 
