MEPPEN EXPERIMENTS. 
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liand, the opinion of Captain Studer, who was over in this country recently, represent¬ 
ing Herr Griison, who is actually a rival of Krupps’, to a certain extent. Captain 
Studer admitted to me that the gun was quite worn out, and ought not to have been 
fired at all. With regard to the German breech-loading field guns which failed in 
the Franco-German war, it is not in evidence that the failure was due to the breech¬ 
loading. At all events, they were not the Krupp guns dealt with in this paper, 
but of the Wahrendorf double-wedge system, and they were replaced by Krupp 
B.L. field guns. It is quite to be understood, therefore, that Herr Krupp would 
have no hesitation in referring to the fact. May I remind you that Krupp’s guns 
are not the only guns which have burst lately—we have to-day been attending 
experiments on the accident to the ee Thunderer ” gun. The Krupp gun on board the 
training ship is not proved to have burst owing to the fact of its being a breech¬ 
loader. Now, it has been proved to-day, to all our satisfaction, that the 
“ Thunderer ” accident arose from double-loading. Could it by any means have been 
double-loaded if it had been a breech-loader? A highly-polished rammer may 
mislead you in loading a gun at the muzzle by hydraulic power; but is there one single 
officer here prepared to say that any man looking in at the breech of a breech-loading 
gun could possibly fail to see if there was already a charge and projectile in the bore ? 
Major Stoney objects to the comparison between results obtained by our service pro¬ 
jectiles and powder, with those obtained from German projectiles and powder. I 
would reply by asking what is the hardship in using our own service powder ? Why 
the very suggestion that German powder gave Krupp an advantage, is an admission 
that we have, at all events, some “ lesson to learn from Meppen.” As to his remarks 
about steel guns, I repeat that I have tried to keep steel out of the question, but I 
believe you will find that there are steel guns which have fired 6000 rounds without 
suffering. And now, lastly, as to riding my hobby, I am anxious that it should 
be understood that I am no more the special advocate of Krupp than any person 
now present. My only object in repeating the statements contained in my paper 
here to-day, as I was requested to do, was to provoke a discussion which, I am 
happy to find, has been so valuable. (Applause). 
General Smythe, the President, in concluding the proceedings, said:—I may 
say, in the name of all who are here, that we are very much obliged to Captain 
Orde Browne for his graphic and excellent paper. The question which it raises 
may well be characterised as of very great importance, and the interesting discussion 
to which it has led will not, I hope, be unattended with advantage. His weak point 
is on the military side; for, owing to the public opinion which governs this country, 
the Government cannot act always so promptly as desirable when it is requisite to 
produce a change. If, however, we find in existence so general a concurrence of 
opinion as seems to prevail in such a professional audience as this, it might be 
possible to convince public opinion, and carry out such improvements in the national 
materiel as experience may prove most essential to the nation’s welfare. However 
that may be, the subject is too important to be forgotten or neglected. I never 
presided at 'a more interesting or valuable discussion, and, after what has taken 
place, I think we shall go away pretty unanimously of opinion in the main, although 
we may differ in minor particulars. Sir John Adye has fully, and I think fairly, 
taken the part of the muzzle-loading system, but after all, said very generously 
that he had no prejudice against breech-loading, and that he desired the fullest 
investigation in order that the right system should prevail. At one time an idea 
existed that discussions of this kind interfered with discipline, but how that could 
be it is impossible to conjecture. I have never heard the idea explained, and we 
may regard it as inexplicable. However, I may express, in your name, thanks to 
Captain Browne for his lecture, and say that, while we are sorry that he has left us, 
we see with satisfaction the continued application of his knowledge for the benefit 
