Q.F. FIELD EQUIPMENTS ON THE CONTINENT. 
145 
From a consideration of all that has been said above, about this new 
German field gun, it can be scarcely considered to deserve the title 
“ Quick Firing.” The most marked improvement certainly seems to 
be in its mobility, compared with the old equipment. About 6 cwt. 
has been saved, and the limber carries six rounds and the wagon body 
seven rounds more than formerly.* The only sacrifice made has 
been a reduction of weight of shell from 16J lbs. to 15 lbs. and a re¬ 
duction of the diameter of the wheels by nearly 8 inches. This 
sacrifice of height of wheels is somewhat serious, as the pull on 
the traces varies, approximately, inversely as the diameter of 
the wheels, when passing over obstacles. With this equipment 
also, the Germans without introducing any very radical changes, 
have endeavoured to facilitate the service of the gun by (1) an 
improved breech mechanism with percussion firing, (2) brass cart¬ 
ridge case, (3) spade, (4) ammunition baskets, (5) sight combined 
with clinometer, which need not be removed for firing, and has a rack 
and pinion instead of a clamping screw, (6) a lanyard permanently 
hooked as long as the gun is in action. 
It is interesting to note that the new Drill Book makes the following comparisons between in¬ 
fantry and artillery fire. Infantry fire, well directed, against troops in close order in the open or 
against artillery has considerable effect even at ranges between 1640 and 1093 yards. Troops can¬ 
not remain in close order at 3280 yards from unshaken hostile artillery. The superiority oi artill¬ 
ery fire over infantry fire begins to decrease at ranges under 1093 yards; at about 666 yards, in¬ 
fantry fire is generally considered the most effective. At ranges under 1093 yards, the combat 
between infantry and artillery demands great rapidity of decision. 
FRANCE:, 
The French have up to now succeeded in keeping the new equip¬ 
ment, which they are known to be providing, very secret, and very little 
seems to have been published about it. They are believed to have 
begun trying Q.F. field guns some five years ago. It is, however, 
stated that now every Army Corps has some of the new guns. They 
have been issued in four gun batteries ; this appears to be a tentative 
measure and one which has many opponents; in fact it is said to 
be disapproved of in very high places. These guns were seen at autumn 
manoeuvres in 1898 both near Cambrai and Chalons.f The gun is 
said to have a calibre of 2*95 inches J ; it is made of nickel 
steel and has the usual (de Bange) breech mechanism, the gun 
is connected to the carriage by means of a recoil cylinder which 
allows it to recoil on the carriage. Rough laying is done by 
using the hand-spike, line laying by traversing gear fitted on the 
carriage. To keep the carriage from recoiling, a strong spade is 
secured to the rear end of the trail. The gun is laid and fired by a 
man sitting at the side of the carriage. Splinter proof shields are pro¬ 
vided on each side of the gun. There are seats also, on which, it is 
mid, men sit when the gun is being fired. Rapidity of fire depends 
on the gun being automatically returned to its original position ; on the 
use of fixed ammunition (the shell and cartridge are said to be like a 
large rifle cartridge of an immoderate size) ; and on the possibility of 
* Old Equipment: limber thirty rounds; wagon body forty-five rounds 
New Equipment : limber thirty-six rounds; wagon body fifty-two rounds. 
f Revue Militaire Suisse, October, 1898 ; Journal Military Service Institution, November, 1889. 
J The old pattern Field and Horse Artillery guns had calibres of 3*64 inches and 3*16 inches 
and fired shell of 19 lbs. and 14 lbs. weight, respectively. 
