390 TACTICAL EMPLOYMENT OF AMMUNITION WAGONS. 
tion, that we have nothing to learn in this respect from our continental 
neighbours. It is however when we come to consider the ammunition 
supply of Horse Artillery employed with Cavalry that we have to deal 
with conditions which require the closest examination in order to 
arrive at a system which will meet the requirements of the complex 
situation, and secure ample supply without exposing our wagons to 
unnecessary risks or demanding from the Cavalry a multiplication of 
escorts. 
The first point to be considered isDoes a Horse Battery, armed 
with quick-firing guns, acting with Cavalry, require more ammunition 
than is available in the present “ Limber Supply ” system, which 
amounts to fifty rounds per gun in the 12-pr., 6-cwt. Horse Artillery 
gun, a number, which from consideration of weight is not likely to be 
exceeded in any quick-firing equipment. It may be argued that the 
moments during which a cavalry target is under fire are SO' fleeting 
that this amount is sufficient; but, on the other hand, if the moments 
are fleeting the rate of fire must be rapid, and as the time under fire 
is not affected by the nature of the gun, the number of rounds fired 
will be increased four-fold. By a reference to the School of Gunnery 
report on the practice of Field and Horse Artillery, 1898, it will be 
seen that ten to twelve rounds a minute per Battery, or two rounds per 
gun, is the most which can be counted on with magazine fire and case, 
while the Krupp gun, 7'5 centimetre, Model 1897, claims to fire eight 
aimed rounds per gun per minute ; now it is in a Cavalry and Horse 
Artillery action, that the most rapid development of fire may be ex¬ 
pected, surely therefore, here if anywhere, we must provide for a 
maximum; or to look at the question in another aspect; in a cavalry 
action, the limbers would be exhausted in six minutes of rapid fire, 
and though it is not pretended that every engagement would afford 
such a splendid opportunity for fire, yet, if a few rounds had been ex¬ 
pended in a preliminary action, followed by three minutes of continu¬ 
ed fire against Cavalry, the limbers would be so depleted that the 
Battery Commander, starting in pursuit, would be in a false position, 
or in the case of reverse, the Cavalry Commander, relying on the guns 
as a point d'appui might be bitterly disappointed at finding them 
wanting at the critical moment through lack of ammunition. 
The next question is:—Do the expedients given in the Field 
Artillery Drill, Chapter I., Section 18, meet the necessities of the case ? 
Granted that the Captain has a Napoleonic faculty for watching the 
tactical situation, (allowed to be of the most difficult and rapidly 
changing character) and anticipating a move, will be able to start his 
wagon limbers so as to arrive at the guns in time to advance with 
them? and should he do so, is it a sound tactical action to leave the 
wagon bodies a mile in rear without teams ? Again would the wagon 
teams which have made this rapid movement be in a condition to 
advance with the guns ? I submit that the only answer to 1 these ques¬ 
tions is a decided negative. If this is so, the case is made out, which 
requires the presence of wagons in a Horse Battery acting with Caval¬ 
ry, and it only remains to discuss the best plan of getting them there. 
As Cavalry escorts are not available for successive echelons of 
