DISCUSSION ON ARTILLERY. 
Lieut-Colonel Hunter-Blair :—No, the men were not mounted. The 
Egyptian Army Maxims were on galloping carriages and were 
employed continually with cavalry ? 
Captain May, R.N. :—Had you any jams ? 
Lieut-Colonel Hunter-Blair :—-No we had practically none. When 
we first started and the men did not know the thiug well we had con¬ 
tinual jams ; but all the jams we had at practice were from some fault 
in the detachment, from the men not knowing the work properly ; but 
the only one we had at Atbara was from defective ammunition, the 
only round of defective ammunition that I saw the whole time I was 
there. 
An Officer :—How many rounds did they fire from the six guns ? 
Lieut.-Colonel Hunter-Blair :—At Atbara it was not a great many ; 
I think we fired about 7,000 to 8,000 but I am speaking from memory. 
At Omdurman, I believe, they fired about 40,000 rounds. 
The Chairman :— I do not think there is much to be said about the 
materiel of the Maxims because I suppose we all know that pretty 
well. But now 1 do think it might be very interesting if one or two 
points in connection with tactical matters were raised, like that point. 
Perhaps General Maurice will say something on that subject. 
General Maurice, c.b. :— I was going to suggest Sir that you should 
first of all ask one or two infantry officers to speak to a point that 
I know occurred; that is, that they ranged from the guns with volley 
firing. 
The Chairman :—Yes that came out at Colonel Elmslie’s lecture, I 
think. 
General Maurice, c.b. :— I think there were some observations about 
it there. 
The Chairman :— I think now it would be interesting to bring out 
any tactical points. A letter was read at the last lecture from Colonel 
Villiers Hatton who commanded the Grenadier Guards. This is what 
he said. tc It appeared to me from what I saw that the artillery fire 
€e throughout was most effective, and that the range was got almost at 
“ once. It was steady and continuous, and (here of course I am alluding 
(( to the 82nd Field Battery), another most important matter was that we 
“ were able to obtain the range direct from the guns. This not only 
“ gets on 3 the infantry fire at once, but gives confidence, because the 
<{ men know they are right when they see the shells go home and feel 
“that from those very shells they get their own sighting.” Now 
we shall be very much obliged if any infantry officers who are here 
would tell us anything they can about it. 
An Officer :—I did not quite catch your question Sir. 
General Maurice, c.b. :—We want to know what you saw of the effect 
of your own volley firing in ranging from artillery. Did you not in 
volley-firing get your range from the artillery ? 
The Chairman :— I am afraid there is no one to answer. Then there 
are one or two points in connection with the position of these guns 
which have been raised, and I should like very much to bring them 
out. Colonel Hunter-Blair told us that he brought his Maxims up to 
