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SOME EXPERIENCES IN EGYPT. 
empty cartridge cases, and so all the officers assured me in those batteries, and they 
were entirely pleased with that gun so far as the work they had to do. I do not 
think that they considered that it was altogether a mountain gun, but so far as 
the work went they were pleased with it. The automatic Maxim rifle, mounted 
on a galloping carriage with six horses in it, and mounted detachments as well, we 
found of great use on these reconnaissances at Atbara,—which was the only time 
it wa3 really brought into play with cavalry, especially during retirements when 
they could be fired without unlimbering, and even on the move, so that you could 
keep up your fire the whole time ; but I should say that the carriage as it is provided 
in the Maxim-Nordenfeldt Company—the last two they sent out—had to be alter¬ 
ed to admit of firing while still limbered up—the muzzle of the gun had to be raised. 
That is easily altered. But of course we had no experience of their use when 
exposed to hostile artillery. Maxims and guns I believe are of the greatest 
possible value in the very front line, in the line of infantry during attack on 
positions, and it is only by that immense superiority of fire, which they aid very 
much in getting, that bodies of troops will be taken in to the assault in these 
days. My own.battery did not, what the other batteries and the Maxims did,—go 
right in with the line to the Zeriba, and the infantry I know were very pleased to see 
them there. The results of the Artillery fire I think were all that we could 
desire. At the Atbara I noticed great clouds of dust in the Zareba, and I am sure 
that was the result of a very large number of people leaving the Zareba before 
the shot was launched. I am certain that when the infantry went in, and I went 
in with them they did not find 20,000 men in there or anything like that number 
of Mahmoud’s Army; and so far as the actual material results went, I believe 
the great number of camels, donkeys and men killed, lying at the bottom of 
the deep trenches, must have been killed by the shrapnel fire—nothing else could 
have done it. At Omdurman the great effect on their masses in the open cannot 
be exaggerated, but that has been better described already. Then there is the 
question of the proper place for wagons of Horse Artillery—I had never been 
taught practically, and I have never seen wagons of Horse Artillery at home 
taken out in the field, and when I went out there and had to move the wagons 
I did not know what to do with them. I looked at the Brill Book. The Artillery 
Brill Book says that they should accompany the Cavalry Reserve Ammunition 
Supply; if you go to the Cavalry Brill Book you find the Reserve Ammunition 
Supply should be with the Artillery wagons; but l do not know whether it is ex¬ 
pected that the Cavalry Commander shall give them a separate escort or whether 
the Artillery Captain is to take the chance entirely unprotected. I kept my 
wagons just behind my guns as we did in Field Batteries when I joined the service. 
I think that is all 1 have to say except that the one lesson above all others 
impressed upon my mind by these two and a half years campaigning is the use¬ 
lessness of all this material, beautiful guns and shell, if the men are not good. 
It is the military virtue that is the quality we have to educate and look to, with¬ 
out which they are of no use (applause). 
The Chairman : General Maurice will you say anything ? 
Major-General J. F. Maurice, C.B.: I think, Sir, it is much more interesting 
to hear experiences from those who have been out. 
The Chairman : I will ask the Secretary to read a letter from Colonel Yilliers 
Hatton who commanded the Grenadier Guards throughout the campaign. 
The Secretary read as follows:— 
««It is a most difficult thing for anyone to say how the effect of the various 
« fire should be proportioned. 
« But it appeared to me from what I saw that the Artillery fire throughout was 
“ most effective, and that the range was got almost at once. It was steady and 
