GOLD MEDAL PEIZE ESSAY, 1880 . 
217 
The shortness of range attainable by artillery is governed by the 
consideration that, as far as may be, guns should not be brought 
within that distance at which they are likely to suffer very considerable 
loss, while coming into action, from opposing artillery in position; and, 
again, that they should, if possible, be outside the destructive zone of the 
enemy's infantry fire. With respect to the first-named condition, we 
find it stated,* * * § that “the experience of the war of 1870-1 shows that 
the advance of guns into action at a mean range of 2000 paces (about 
1670 yds.) can almost always be effected without considerable loss. 
This arises partly from the great mobility of the battery, and partly from 
the difficulty which the enemy will experience in firing at a long range 
against a moving object." From the war of 1876-7 we do not learn 
much in this respect, the Russians usually coming into action against 
entrenched positions at excessive ranges.-f Taking into consideration 
that the French artillery was not up to the mark in 1870-1, and that 
since that time there has been nearly universal improvement in 
materiel and at the same time greater attention to practice, we incline 
to place the limit now at about 1850 yds. With regard to the limit of 
approach of artillery to hostile unbroken infantry, there is much variety 
of opinion: after the war of 1870-1 it was commonly fixed at about 
1000 yds., since that time the Prussians have laid down that infantry 
may fire at artillery up to 1320 yds. J Due to improvements in small- 
arms and to the more careful and better training of the infantry soldier, 
in individual and mass firing, we think the distance of 1000 yds. may 
fairly be extended to 1300 yds. for the future. 
The distance of about 1850 yds. from the main defences of an 
entrenched position will, then, ordinarily be the range at which artillery 
will come into action for definite attack; we shall therefore take it as 
the distance from which the projectiles are fired whose effect we propose 
to examine, and, unless the contrary is specified, we shall assume the 
ground to be level § and the line of fire frontal. 
To commence with the case of the ordinary breastwork; in Fig. 8, 
is shown the trajectory of a 16-pr. || common shell passing through the 
crest of the work : also the cone of dispersion^ of a 16-pr. shrapnel 
burst 20 yds. short and having its trajectory somewhat raised above 
that of the common shell. 
Bursting the shrapnel at greater or less distance than 20 yds. has 
the effect of increasing or reducing the section of the cone above the 
crest and the area of ground covered in rear of the parapet, at the same 
time reducing or increasing the velocity of impact of the bullets. 
Lowering the trajectory to that of the common shell—namely, till it 
* “ Characteristics of Modern Battles,” translated from German by Captain Hime, B.A. 
f To this there were one or two exceptions of coming into action at about 1800 yds. 
X I n the war of 1876-7 the Turkish unaimed infantry fire is stated to have had considerable effect 
up to 1700 yds. 
§ Difference of level we'need not’enter into, the height of parapet being usually made to 
correspond. 
|| We take the 16-pr. as being the more powerful of the present English field guns. 
U The drop of the axis of the cone we have neglected, as being of no practical importance. 
26 
