446 
ORGANISATION AND EMPLOYMENT OF SIEGE ARTILLERY. 
Expediency Dor direct fire, the new overbank carriage would be generally used 
°unsa e nd for * n our serv i ce ‘ A S’ 1111 mounted on it presents but a small mark to the 
letach- enemy, and the gunners working it are to a great extent protected, 
men s. q< 0 concea ] g un itself more effectually, it might be of value to adopt 
some carriage on the Moncrieff principle, allowing the gun to be loaded 
and laid under cover of the parapet, whilst easily elevated to fire over 
the parapet; it has also been suggested that the guns be mounted on 
low garrison sliding carriages, the platform being on a revetted bank 
of earth, just raising the piece high enough to fire over the parapet, 
whilst the detachments are partly under cover, 
charge of A siege train appointed to an army for general siege work, usually 
siege train, remains at the base of operations under charge of the Ordnance 
Department, until a siege is decided upon, when the ordnance with 
their equipment are moved forward to the field arsenal. On account 
of the increased extent of front, now occupied by the attack, it is 
probable that in future more than one such arsenal will be required. 
In recent sieges, several have been formed from 3| to 4 J miles from the 
place, and when necessary, intermediate depots made between them and 
the trench magazines, so * as to replace the daily expenditure with as 
little labour as possible. The French official instructions say :—“ If the 
lateral communications be bad, several artillery parks may be required. 
—The main park to be, say 8700 yds. from, the fortress.—The main 
powder magazines should be in secure positions, 200 yds. apart, and 
should hold from 120,000 to 240,000 lbs.—Intermediate depots for 
24 hrs. supply are placed in rear of the first artillery position.—Each 
battery to have two powder magazines.”* 
Field The site of the field arsenal is.usually fixed when the investment has 
arsenal, taken place, it must be as central as possible* well out of range of the 
enemy^s guns, and at such a distance as to be secure against any 
sortie; if there be communication by rail, much labour will be saved by 
placing it near the line. 
This arsenal, also in charge of the Ordnance Department, should 
contain a reserve of guns and carriages, together with platforms, and 
the various artillery stores and machines necessary for prosecuting the 
siege; also the general powder magazine for shell filling. From its 
reserves constant issues must be made to supply the daily expenditure 
of the various batteries, or replenish the supply of any depots or parks 
intermediate between it and the trench magazines. 
* “B;E. Institute Papers/ 5 Vol. II., 1878. Capt. Fraser, B.E* 
