154 
SUPPLY OF AMMUNITION IN THE FIELD. 
the wagon-bodies—so that the gunners seated on them can pull the 
magazines out without dismounting. 
Now as to the working on service :— 
The wagons must not come anywhere near the guns when in action. 
At the word <( Prepare for action ” two of these magazines are to be 
taken out of the wagon-body or of the gun-limber if the wagon is not 
near, and fastened to the gun-carriage, not the limber. Two more are 
to be placed on the foot-board of the gun-limber. 
The battery now goes into action. Each limber can at once go away 
and each gun is left with 16 rounds of ammunition. The limbers halt 
under cover some 400 yards off, or nearer if there is good cover avail¬ 
able. Directly they are halted the officer or N.-C.O. in charge of the 
wagons sends up four more full portable magazines for each limber 
if the ammunition in use has been taken from them. These can he 
sent up slung over the backs of spare horses, or unhooked lead or 
centre horses. When the gun-limbers are full, should the battery re¬ 
quire more ammunition, the wagon horses can carry more up, or the 
spare gunners can carry the magazines. 
In this way all exposure is reduced to a minimum, and the labour 
compared to the system in vogue is one quarter if not less. I shall be 
happy to produce my magazine if requested. It will carry shells fuzed 
or not. If the guns go on to a second position, the limbers are now 
full, and the empty magazines can either be taken on, fastened on at 
the backs of the limbers, or left for the wagons to pick up during the 
advance. 
Wagons with a battery in action are a terrible encumberance. They 
add to the enemy's target and, when reversed in rear of a section, are 
straight in front of the guns in the event of a flank being thrown back 
to repel a charge. Doubtless many brother officers will find defects 
in my propositions above, but I feel sure that it is a step in the right 
direction. 
