ORGANISATION AND EMPLOYMENT OE SIEGE ARTILLERY. 
541 
at mounting the ordnance until the ditch in rear is completed; thus 
their time for working becomes contracted. 
Lastly, the operations have to be carried on in more confined 
spaces, giving the men less freedom of movement: the suppression 
of all noise is more important:'* the approaches to the batteries will 
generally be fewer in number, and not so good. 
The foregoing considerations, together with the shorter range, 
suggest that the lighter natures of ordnance—viz., 40-prs., 25-prs., 
and 6‘3-in. howitzers—whose weight enables them to be moved with 
comparative ease, should generally be placed in batteries of the second 
artillery position, f 
The French say, “ Owing to the difficulty of getting up guns to 
the second position, the lighter natures—such as the 4‘7-in. and short 
5‘9-in. (15 cm )—will be used. The use of heavy guns is exceptional; 
for instance, in case iron defences have to be breached.” 
Judging from recent changes made in the Prussian siege train, 
after lessons learnt from their last war, and experiments carefully 
carried out since, the pieces above named would appear sufficiently 
powerful for the duties demanded of them. For instance : the German 
short 15 cm with a double shell was very favourably reported on for 
indirect fire; and although their 12 cm gun (shell 30 lbs.) did not in 
the late sieges realise what was expected from it as a piece for dis¬ 
mounting purposes, yet it was considered very suitable in respect to 
mobility, and the gun has now been newly constructed, the range and 
accuracy considerably increased, to fit it for dismounting guns, and a 
double shell introduced, for greater penetration and effect against 
masonry. 
The projectiles to be used in these batteries will be common, 
shrapnel, battering, and double shell, star, and case shot. The pro¬ 
portion of each must be based on similar considerations to those 
named in regard to ammunition for the first artillery position. 
As a rule the arming has to be done during the night preceding 
opening fire , and the batteries must be cleared ready for action by early 
dawn. 
In all cases the officers who have to perform and superintend the 
actual duties of arming should be informed previously of the exact 
description of ordnance and carriages, together with the nature and 
amount of ammunition to be placed in each battery or trench maga¬ 
zine ; whilst drawings and the situations of the works should be shown 
them, that they may decide on what are the best means of approach, 
General 
considera- 
tion of 
ordnance 
suited for 
second 
position. 
Suitability 
of the 
lighter 
natures. 
Projectiles 
for bat- 
teries of 
second 
position. 
Time of 
arming. 
General 
directions 
regarding 
the arming 
of batteries. 
* Prince Hohenlohe says, in regard to armament of the first artillery position:—“ If the wind 
is favourable, we may reckon with certainty that the enemy’s outposts will hear nothing at 1000 
or 1600 paces. Even if they remark anything, it is always questionable whether they correctly 
interpret the meaning of the noise. The enemy can only disturb the works with artillery fire, 
which fire has to be carried on by night, without the range having been determined by day, and 
directed upon points about the position of which nothing definite is known. Such a fire at 
2500 or 4000 paces can neither disturb the construction of the batteries nor the armament.” 
f As 64-prs. and 8-in. howitzers perform any work in a considerably shorter time than these 
lighter natures, probably when the artillery fire is somewhat subdued, especial batteries may be 
constructed for such pieces, more particularly for breaching purposes, where time is of importance. 
