216 
GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY., 1880 . 
following it, which is the proper shell* * * § —common or shrapnel—to use, 
as well as the most suitable trajectory and point of burst of that 
projectile. 
Field entrenchments vary much in character and detail, according to 
their end and the time and means available for their construction. 
They are usually classed as, (1) hasty entrenchments for artillery, (2) 
hasty entrenchments for infantry, (3) field works. 
It will be necessary for our purpose to take in each class what may 
be regarded as a typical form and examine the effect of the projectiles 
fired against it. 
For covering guns the entrenchments made use of are either of the 
nature of epaulment or pit—more frequently the latter. A profile of the 
approved English gun-pitf is given in Fig. 1, and in Fig. 2, one blinded 
•—such as might be constructed in the exposed parts of an entrenched 
position, time and means permitting. 
Hasty cover for the infantry shooting line is provided by shelter 
trenches or breastworks; the former are sometimes, but not very often, 
blinded. Figs. 3, and 4, give profiles of English shelter trenches, J 
Fig. 8, of a breastwork. For protecting infantry supports, a trench, 
such as that of Fig. 5, or field casemate,§ as in Fig. 6, is usually made 
use of. For reserves, if entrenchments are necessary, field redoubts 
are generally employed; a profile, of common form, for a field work is 
shown in Fig. 7. 
Having selected the particular entrenchments, it is next necessary to 
determine the distance of the spot from which the projectiles are to be 
supposed to be fired against them. 
The general limits of range for ordinary artillery shell fire in attack 
are ruled by the considerations that guns should be brought into action 
within their effective range and not only so but, for decisive effect, at 
as short effective range as reasonably attainable. 
Effective range of modern artillery is not limited by the power of the 
piece, but by the power of sight and observation of the gunner. Unless 
the object can be distinguished, it is ordinarily impossible to lay; and 
without observation of effect, correction, in order to good shooting, 
cannot be made. The state of the atmosphere, direction of the light, 
color, &c., will cause the limit of effective range to vary, but it may be 
set at the outside as 2500 yds. || 
* Case shot, being a defensive projectile for special occasions, we leave out of question. 
■f “In 1877-8 the Russians preferred fighting their guns on the surface, while the Turks commonly 
used sunken pits. Nearly all at Cerkovna and elsewhere on the Lorn were of this form.”—R.E. 
Prize Essay 1879, by Bt.-Major Eraser, R.E. 
J “ It may be safely said that the sections used in 1870-1 and 1877-8 were seldom as good, and 
in no cases simpler or better, than those in our latest text books.”—R.E. Prize Essay 1879, by 
Bt.-Major Eraser, R.E. 
§ “ One of the chief lessons of the war of 1870-1 is the use that was made of blindages, or field 
casemates, for the supports, when exposed to heavy fire and when timber or rails were procurable.” 
—R.E. Prize Essay 1879, by Bt.-Major Eraser, R.E. 
[| The effective ranges laid down for 16-pr. and 9-pr. M.L.R. in the rules approved for the umpire 
staff at the Aldershot manoeuvres 1875, were respectively 2500 and 2000 yds. 
The Prussian “Artillery Drill Regulations ” state, “ An effective artillery fire is not to be expected 
beyond 2625 yds.” 
