GOLD MEDAL PEIZE ESSAY, 1880 . 
221 
be seen that neither trench is completely searched out, for in one a 
man would be safe lying down and in the other secure sitting; when 
firing in either trench he is of course partially exposed. If, however, 
common shell with percussion fuze* be used, the trenches may be com¬ 
pletely searched out, as they are shallow and the protecting earth is not 
of sufficient thickness to keep them out, or even many of their splinters 
if they burst in that earth.fi In order to ensure full penetration, as well 
as to secure a maximum number of effective hits, the mean trajectory 
of the shell should strike a little above the centre of the covering earth, 
as shown in Figs. 3, and 4. We therefore advocate for the attack of 
such trenches common shell with percussion fuzes, in the first instance, 
then time shrapnel when the protecting earth is cut down or the 
infantry fully committed to firing. In using shrapnel the point of 
mean burst should be rather longer than when firing against a 
breastwork or parapet, the cover being less, as well as more easily 
reduced by common shell. If, however, the trench is blinded, common 
shell must be adhered to throughout, though it is not likely to give 
much result. 
Against field casemates and also against open trenches for supports 
(Figs. 5, and 6,) the same rule will apply as to the blinded trench. 
With the foregoing entrenchments, as in the case of the breastwork, 
an oblique line of fire with common shell is to be avoided, but with, 
shrapnel may be advantageous. 
Lastly, we come to entrenchments for artillery. In gun-pits (Figs. 
1 and 2), or any form of battery for field guns, plainly the gun and 
gunners, while actually working must be more or less exposed, and 
when not working the gunners^ case is similar to that of infantry behind 
a breastwork. To open out the embrasure, remove any protection such 
as logs, fascines, &c., placed across the upper part of it or upon the 
parapet, as well as to cut down the crest of the latter, common shell 
with percussion fuze, as in former instances, should first be used, thus 
preparing the way for time shrapnel, which should after take its place. 
If the entrenchment is blinded, common shell alone must be used, as 
with other cover of that nature. The rule already given for taking an 
oblique line of fire will hold good with gun-pits, &c. 
We thus find as a general rule, to which there is one exception, that 
in the attack of field entrenchments by artillery, the object of the 
former must be nullified partly by destroying and partly by searching 
out, fire being opened with percussion common shell, and changed to time 
shrapnel as soon as the cover is somewhat reduced and the defenders 
fully committed to firing.fi All nature of blinded cover and the deep 
* Time fuze we reject for the reasons before given. 
f The burst, we know, though apparently instantaneous on impact, is not really so, and there¬ 
fore would usually take place towards the inner side of the covering earth ; due to which, and to 
the onward velocity of the splinters, the main effect would be spent in the trench. 
X Since writing this essay it has accidently come to our knowledge, that experiments have 
recently been made as to the searching power of Gatling guns, fired at 2500 yds. range (and 
therefore with considerable elevation), and apparently with good result. We however question 
the efficacy of such fire, under service conditions, at the long range necessary to obtain a sufficiently 
