Defects of 
present 
time fuzes. 
Time and 
percussion 
recom¬ 
mended. 
526 GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1879 . 
shell combined with the time fuze, and with the fact that no really 
satisfactory fuze of this latter nature has yet been devised. Repeated 
instances have occurred where the shrapnehs destructive effects have 
been shown, but want of a really good time fuze has prevented the 
general extension of its power. Our own do not appear to meet the 
requirements of the Field Artillery of the Future, and seem to have the 
following defects, viz.:— 
(1) At long ranges, the intervals to which they can be set are much 
too great. The longer the range, the nearer must the shells be burst 
to the object in order fco get the best effects. Our 9-secs, fuze can 
only give i secs, interval. This defect, however, is not inherent, as by 
increasing the number of powder-channels much finer adjustment may 
be attained. 
(2) The method of lighting is imperfect. Irregularities of burning 
appear to result, to some extent, from variation in the condition of the 
quickmatch priming used. This, however, might be remedied. 
(3) The graduations might be given in yards, which would be much 
more simple, but that this would, with this class of fuze, entail a different 
fuze for each gun. 
The following, however, appear to be objections fatal to usefulness 
and impossible to overcome :— 
(1) They cannot be carried fixed. This means loss of time in service 
and reduction of rapidity of fire—a point of most supreme importance 
at critical moments. 
(2) If bored at the gun, as ordered, extra work is entailed on the 
No. 1, who has already more than enough to do. They must be so done, 
as their construction renders it impossible for him to see if the opera¬ 
tion has been correctly performed by anyone else. 
(3) The length of time required to prepare renders their fire slow, and 
unsuitable for use at varying ranges, especially when the object fired at 
is moving fast. The experiment recorded at pp. 70-71, Okehampton 
Report, shows clearly what this loss is, although the target was 
stationary. With time shrapnel it took 10 minutes to fire 36 rounds; 
percussion 5 minutes to fire the same. The time shells disabled, it is 
true 182 troopers, the percussion only 131 ; but, considering the time 
the battery was in action, the percussion produced most effect, disabling 
in 5 minutes 131, while the time only disabled 91. Had the time been 
fired as quickly as the percussion, their superiority would have been 
marked. The experiment of August 27th, 1875, shows the decrease of 
rapidity also, 74 time being fired against 101 percussion. 
(4) Errors can easily be made in the boring, even when the hook 
borer is used. 
(5) As at present constructed, there is no possibility of using a 
percussion fuze in combination with them. That this is desirable we 
think there can be little doubt. In the experiment (Okehampton 
No. 62, 1. 9. 75), out of 36 shrapnel (time) fired, 4 fell into the column 
and were blind, 2 grazed 30 yds. short and were also blind, the fuze 
being either knocked out on graze or extinguished. The fuzes were 
