GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1879 . 
531 
to be caused by an explosion would be less than that of a wagon, on 
account of the fewer rounds carried. 
In fact, such a subdivision of the ammunition supply appears to be 
the only method we can adopt, if we desire to take into the field a 
24-pr. gun with a sufficient number of rounds. A wagon to carry 
72 rounds of 24-pr. ammunition would be so heavy as to be quite out 
of the question. There would no extra horses required, as it appears 
that eight are allowed for a 16-pr. wagon. We may be permitted to 
hope the old, cumbrous, and awkward wagon will find no place in the 
Artillery of the Future. The only argument in its favour is the slightly 
less length of the column of route, and the facility it affords for carrying 
the spare wheel. However, it appears quite possible to fit a limber to 
carry a spare wheel underneath, and the extra length of the column of 
route is small; even if it were greater, it would hardly balance the 
many advantages to be derived from the limber system. 
Armament oe Gunners. 
A further improvement in the defensive power of artillery might be 
made by arming all the gunners with a revolver; or if that be con¬ 
sidered too dangerous, with a double-barrel breech-loading pistol. The 
present carbines are utterly useless in the field; they are useful only for 
guard purposes. The only occasions when fire-arms are likely to be 
of use to an artilleryman, such as when surprised by cavalry, on the 
march or on the field of battle, would be exactly those on which the 
deadly power of the revolver at close range would be of infinite 
service. The short range of the pistol would quite prevent any 
tendency of the men to leave off serving the gun to take to their fire¬ 
arm. The revolver would only come into play when the guns were 
temporarily useless. The bore of the pistol should be large, and a 
round ball would appear better than a conical. With determined 
gunners, under cover of the guns, a comparatively large force of cavalry 
might be in possession of a battery for some time without doing any 
serious harm, and would themselves suffer severe loss. This improve¬ 
ment is supported by such an authority as Sir Garnet Wolseley. 
Mitrailleurs. 
In reflecting on the power of the Field Artillery of the Future, we are Question of 
naturally led to consider the question as to what place mitrailleurs will use ' 
take. It appears that they have been rather too much discredited, owing 
to the ill-success attending their employment in 1870. This result was 
chiefly due to two causes—viz., the inferiority of the weapon itself, and 
the faulty tactics which led the French to pit it at long ranges against 
the German field guns, the result being, in most cases, the total discom¬ 
fiture of the mitrailleur. On the other hand, there is no doubt that it 
often occasioned most terrible slaughter among the Germans. 
