282 
GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1880 . 
enemy as formerly in the time of smooth-bore arms. Two exceptions, 
however, must be made in favour of the employment of horse artillery— 
namely, when the batteries have to act in concert with cavalry and when 
they have to act independently with the utmost speed, as, for instance, 
when bearing aid at critical moments. For the former—which is the true 
purpose of horse artillery—there is the horse battery of the cavalry 
brigade and for the latter—which would be of rare occurrence—one horse 
battery in the corps artillery would suffice; we therefore conclude that 
two horse artillery batteries of the corps artillery might well be replaced 
by two light field batteries.* In this we are assuming that, as at 
present, both horse and light field battery are armed with the same gun, 
the propriety of which cannot be doubted; for, apart from other con¬ 
siderations, the additional weight of 5 cwt., due to the three extra men 
mounted on the carriage, brings up the weight behind the team of the 
light field battery to quite as much as is admissible. 
In Part I. we have shown the necessity for the introduction of field 
howitzers for the attack of entrenchments. Such pieces should be 
disposed in batteries, not as they were in the S.B. system mixed with 
guns in the same battery, which tended to complication and confusion, 
besides preventing the use of the full power and proper application of 
both descriptions of ordnance at the same time—one being, as it were, 
tied down by the other. It appears to us that it would be well if the 
two 16-pr. batteries of the corps artillery were replaced by heavy field 
howitzer batteries,! for special use against the decisive points of attack. { 
As in Part II. we adverted to the need for systematic and practical 
annual practice in order to effectual training of field artillery, so now 
we would lay stress upon the absolute necessity for autumn manoeuvres, 
or combined exercises on not too small a scale, in the same view. 
Without such regularly—not incidentally, once in a way—how can 
officers commanding divisional artillery, or batteries, be habituated each 
to perforin his own proper part in the chain of responsibility towards a 
common end, and more especially in taking up proper positions, with 
reference not only to fire effect but to combined action with other 
arms ? Proper and ready choice of position is, as we have already 
stated, difficult; not so much in satisfying the ordinary desiderata in 
detail of ground, as in proper adjustment to circumstances of the 
moment. Hence nothing but practice in dealing with circumstances as 
they arise can give the power and confidence necessary in order to right 
selection. 
In conclusion we would note that the terms reserve 99 artillery and 
“ massing 99 guns seem now frequently used in an uncertain sense 
and it appears desirable that definite meanings should be attached to 
them. For example, the former term is frequently applied to the corps 
* And for all field service, not merely the attack of an entrenched position. 
f The construction of this equipment would he guided by the consideration that the total weight 
behind the team should be the same as the heavy field batteries— i.e., the maximum admissible for 
field service. A light field howitzer we consider unnecessary. 
J They would be equally useful for defence, to search out artificial cover, hollow ground, &c., as 
already mentioned. 
