SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1879 . 
571 
method would materially decrease the casualties in action of the 
numbers at the gun due to shrapnel or infantry fire. 
Limber .—For the limber a shield could be fitted to the back edges of 
the ammunition boxes, so as to fold down on the top of the boxes, and 
of the same width. This is rendered more feasible by the new method 
(which, I believe, is to be introduced) of opening ammunition boxes 
behind. 
The size of the shield would be about 5 x 2 = 10sq. ft.; weight 
= 10 x 7f = 78 lbs. (about). 
To utilise this cover, limbers in action, in exposed situations, would 
have to be reversed. The protection, perhaps, would not be very 
great, but still, every little tells; the wheelers, at all events, would be 
fairly covered from direct fire. 
With regard to infantry fire, it may be said that batteries rarely 
come into action under this fire except when acting as infantry¬ 
supporting guns; as a rule, they become exposed by the advance of the 
infantry. Under these circumstances, the probability is that the guns 
will have to retire, anS will prepare to do so, even now, by reversing 
their limbers. Consequently there will be little disadvantage, if any, in 
always having limbers reversed when they have to be kept under fire. 
It will also necessitate reversing only once instead of twice, in coming 
into action under fire; and it is whilst reversing that the limbers are 
so dangerously exposed. 
During retiring, the limber gunners will be completely protected 
from fire, and the teams partially. 
We find then that, roughly, the weight of shields required for a gun 
and limber will be 167 + 78 = 245 lbs., or a little over 2 cwt. 
This extra weight, though detracting from the mobility, would, I 
maintain, be more than compensated for by the extra protection 
afforded, and the prolonged maintenance of mobility. 
The increased use of long-range fire also seems to render self- 
contained protection desirable. At Plevna, during the first engage¬ 
ments, the Russians commenced to suffer losses at distances over 2000 
paces.* 
Long-range fire is being rapidly reduced to a system by the chief 
European powers, and there seems great probability of its being 
employed to a considerable extent in future wars.f 
For guns in support of infantry it is desirable to lessen the losses 
as much as possible. At Mars-la-Tour and Gravelotte guns were 
several times used offensively at ranges of 800 or 900 yds. against 
* “Revue Militaire,” No. 432, from an article by Colonel Kouropatkin. 
f In the “Journal des Sciences Militaires,” for the month of March, 1879, which has been 
received since this essay was written, is an article entitled, “ Le tir de l’lnfanterie, et son Influence 
sur l’Emploi de l’Artillerie.” This is translated from a pamphlet by Colonel Grossman, of the 
Austrian service. This deals with long-range infantry fire, and one conclusion drawn is as follows:— 
“Up to the present time, artillery have considered 800paces as the limit to which they could 
advance without taking notice of infantry fire ; but in the present day, this limit must be fixed at 
1600 paces. At this distance artillery will be annoyed by infantry fire, and suffer loss from it.” 
There seems little doubt that long-range infantry fire ’will exercise a considerable influence on 
artillery tactics in the future. 
