498 THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE B.L. HOWITZER. 
Detail of Equipment of 5 /; B.L. Howitzer with Seige Train. 
Unit. 
| Howitzers. 
| Carriages.* j 
| Wagons, ammunition.* 
* 
in 
CD 
a 
| Forage.* 
| Store.* j 
| For ammunition.* 
| For stores.* 
| Ammunition 500 rounds per piece. 
j Ammunition carried per unit. 
| Harness, sets of* 
Remarks. 
5 -inch B.L. Howitzei. i Company 
to be composed of two Batteries. ... j 
.Each battery consisting of . 
12 
6 
12 
6 
18 
9 
30 
15 
2 
1 
2 
1 
4 
2 
6000 
3000 
1056 
528 
258 
129 
•Pole draught. 
If we compare this table with those given in War Establishments we 
shall see that the equipment of a battery of the Siege Train Unit is 
exactly similar to that of a battery of the Field Howitzer Brigade 
Division. 
The Siege Unit is the Siege Train Division which consists of 2 
Siege Companies with their equipment, or 24 howitzers in all. 
It seems quite a natural question to ask one self why, when the same 
gun is used and batteries equipped in the same manner, it is thought 
necessary to provide such batteries from the two different branches of 
the Royal Artillery. 
The idea that governs such an arrangement would seem to be that 
these howitzers may be required— 
( a ) For use with an Army in the field. 
( [b ) For use in work that is of the nature of siege operations, 
and that obviously they must for each of these purposes be used by that 
branch of the Artillery which is usually associated with the operations 
in question. 
If this is the idea it seems to me to carry with it assumptions which 
in my opinion are not warranted until definite answers are given to the 
following questions: — 
(1) .—Are the probable uses of the 5 ;/ B.L. Howitzer in field and 
siege operations so different as to require different 
methods of employment ? 
(2) .—Which Corps the Field Artillery or the Siege Artillery is 
best suited by its training and proclivities to use the 
howitzer with the greatest effect ? 
As regards (1) I think it will be admitted that in minor affairs, in 
advanced or rear-guard actions, and in reconnaissances howitzer batter¬ 
ies would be of little value, and that their use with a Field Army would 
be confined to the more important operations, the attack and defence of 
carefully selected, and strongly prepared positions where it was inten¬ 
ded to destroy earthworks, field defences of any descriptor?, or to shell 
