8 
MINUTES OE PROCEEDINGS Of 
not be overlooked, namely, that with Shrapnel the fuze has to be regulated 
for a particular range, which is not the case with grape and case. But 
according to the present system, the operation of preparing the shell is of 
that simple character, that any man could, with proper instruction, be made 
thoroughly expert in a very short time, as compared with that which it is 
considered necessary to devote to far less important matters; and , moreover, 
the rapidity with which this operation can be performed , with properly 
instructed men, is so great, that shells may be fired successfully as quichly as 
round shot, if it be considered desirable to do so. 
“ There is a point of much importance, which has been well established by 
the results of the experiments lately carried on with Diaphragm shells at 
Woolwich, namely, that if the elevation be correct, it matters little whether 
the shell burst at 100 yds., or 20 yds., from the object fired at, so that, when 
the corresponding lengths of fuze and elevations have been determined by 
experiment, the practice with Shrapnel will become very simple.”* 
It will probably, however, always be a moot point as to whether the 
physical effects of Shrapnel fire are very great, and shells, of this class 
will probably always have their opponents,—but mainly, I believe, from 
the reason that men are apt to draw their conclusions hurriedly, and 
without perfectly knowing or sufficiently weighing all the circumstances 
of the cases on which these conclusions are founded.t Bor my own 
part, I must say that the solution of the question which a careful and 
dispassionate examination of the available data upon the subject has 
afforded me, is that which the foregoing pages have indicated, and which 
admits of a concise and general expression in the following terms: Certain 
conditions are necessary to the proper development of the efficiency of every 
missile; doubtless these conditions are somewhat more numerous in the case 
of Shrapnel shells than of other projectiles, but with the improvements 
which have been effected in these shells and their fuzes they are far from 
being impracticable or even difficult of fulfilment—while the effects, both 
physical and moral, of the shells are, under favourable conditions, probably 
greater than those of any other projectile. 
* Colonel Boxer’s Remarks on Diaphragm Shrapnel Shells , pp. 42-44. 
f As a proof that opinions are sometimes formed and expressed before the bearings of the 
subject have been sufficiently considered, I may mention that I have heard Shrapnel shell condemned 
and Armstrong’s segment shells extolled in the same breath; now, it appears to me that whatever 
objections may be urged against Shrapnel shell, apply with increased force to Armstrong Segment 
Shells: where the velocity is the same it must be evident that the balance of disadvantages will be 
on the side of the segment shells. If spherical leaden bullets strike with insufficient force to inflict 
dangerous wounds, irregular shaped iron “ segments,” which from their shape and inferior density 
lose their velocity much more rapidly, will strike with even less force, and the wounds which they 
inflict will be even less formidable; if the dispersion of the bullets of Shrapnel shell is great enough 
to affect injuriously the efficiency of the projectile, how much greater must the dispersion necessarily 
be where the bursting charge is situated in the centre of the segments and where the centrifugal 
force to which the fragments of a rotating projectile are subjected tends to give to those fragments 
an increased lateral spread! I merely adduce this instance, without attempting to exhaust the 
instruction which may be derived from it, in support of my statement that condemnatory opinions 
respecting the efficiency of Shrapnel shells are sometimes advanced before the subject has been really 
studied, or even much thought over. 
