ORGANISATION AND EMPLOYMENT OE SIEGE ARTILLERY. 543 
To the foregoing it need only be added that care in supplying and 
arming batteries of the second position is of even greater importance 
than in the case of those first constructed; for, by reason of their 
proximity to the enemy, the destruction of both guns and batteries 
would almost certainly result from any oversight, and thereby the 
entire siege operations might be seriously delayed. 
As previously stated, for greater convenience, security, and pro- Supply of 
tection against fire and damp, cartridges are issued in metal-lined 
cases. The trench magazines are usually large enough to contain a ma s azmes * 
supply for two days' firing. When bringing up the powder especially, 
care should be taken that the men be as little as possible exposed to 
the enemy's fire. The cartridges must not be removed from the 
metal-lined cases, but these should be stowed in tiers in the magazines, 
in such a manner as to allow of the contents being readily got at. 
Empty powder-cases must be carried away by the relief, on marching 
out. 
The supply of ammunition to the trenches is maintained by the Mainten- 
men forming the new relief bringing with them either a prescribed suppifto 
daily allowance, or an amount regulated according to a report of the trenches * 
expenditure by a preceding relief. 
Reliefs and General Duties in Batteries. 
In regard to the most suitable time for relieving men in the batteries, Time of 
Prince Hohenlohe says :—“ Reliefs must take place while it is dark; relieviug * 
therefore in the evening or early morning. The early morning relief 
has the advantage that the men get the range by day, and on the 
succeeding night have got the necessary information for carrying on 
the fire by night, and also for any extraordinary occurrences. On the 
other hand, it entails the disadvantage that the relief gets a disturbed 
night's rest before it comes on duty for 24 hours. This is especially 
so in winter, and it then comes so hard upon them that the men 
cannot hold out for so long when the cantonments are at any distance. 
Preference should therefore be given in most cases to relieving them 
in the evening. It is not desirable to relieve all the batteries at the 
same hour, as the enemy will soon remark the time at which the fire 
ceases in the evening, and will commence a heavy fire at the time when 
the double number of men gives him a double number of targets." 
As a principle, no greater number of officers or men should be strength 
employed in the batteries (or be permitted to be present whilst firing ofreliefs * 
is going on) than is considered actually necessary for the efficient 
superintending and service of the ordnance; otherwise the losses will 
become very heavy. Therefore, the strength of the relief in officers 
and men is governed by the number and nature of the ordnance to be 
used, together with a proper proportion to fill up any casualties that 
may occur. The detachments must be of full strength to work the 
pieces with facility; the officers sufficient to direct and overlook the 
fire. All extra numbers should be kept close at hand, but in places 
of safety—either out of fire or under bomb-proofs—and they must be 
