SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1879 . 
573 
as the positions have been selected, the range or ranges will be found 
before the battery is brought up. Fuzes might even be prepared 
before coming into action, so that the battery should suffer the least 
possible exposure during its most vulnerable time—viz., that of coming 
into action. 
Fuzes. 
The 15-secs, and 30-secs, fuzes, lately introduced, have supplied a 
want long felt and constantly represented. 
What is now required is a special time fuze for use against infantry 
or cavalry, at ranges from 400 to 800 yds. This is the weak range of 
guns; that is to say, the value of artillery begins to decrease as that 
of infantry begins to increase. Shrapnel shell with percussion fuzes 
can certainly be used, but their effect is much less than shrapnel with 
time fuzes; for the bullets have an upward tendency, as the shell 
bursts when it is leaving the ground, on graze. Their effect is still less 
on rough or uneven ground. 
To remedy this I would propose a quick-burning time fuze, the 
whole fuze calculated to burn out at 600 yds. It would be marked for 
only two other ranges—300 and 450 yds. As the fuze would be quicker 
burning than the present 5-secs, fuze, the boring-holes would be further 
apart; thus diminishing liability to inaccuracy in boring under fire. 
Inaccuracy would be further avoided by only having two holes which 
it would be possible to bore, instead of a large number. 
The objections to the present fuze for short ranges are :— 
1. Liability of boring-hole to fall against the metal of the bouch, 
and not within the shell. 
2. Liability to inaccuracy of boring. 
3. Liability to breaking up of the composition by hasty boring, 
owing to the small column of it above the boring-hole, resulting in the 
premature bursting of the shell. 
A few fuzes such as I propose could be carried in the axletree boxes, 
so as to keep them entirely separate. 
Pole or Shafts. 
The pole versus shaft controversy is too well known to be revived 
here; but the chief disadvantage of shafts—and one rarely brought 
forward—is the difficulty of extricating a shaft horse when he falls. 
This difficulty is experienced even with an uninjured horse : it would 
be doubly felt with a badly injured or dead one. Now, this is a most 
serious inconvenience under fire, and might cause delay at a critical 
moment. This difficulty is obviated by the use of the pole; for with 
pole draught it is just as easy to extricate your off wheeler as your 
off leader. Shafts, too, have the disadvantage of requiring special 
