80 
THE FRENCH MANOEUVRES OF 1891 . 
as they seemed in the matter of the really essential parts of their duties 
to be thoroughly at home, and to have no hesitation in carrying out 
any part of their work. Under the three years’ system of enlistment 
now universal in every branch of the French army, there is not time 
for everything, so the niceties of detail as to smartness have to be fore¬ 
gone in favour of the more important gunner’s duties; the extent to 
which “spit and polish” is carried out in our Regiments is a cause of 
much jeering amongst outsiders, but they very often overlook how 
great are the disciplinary benefits which accrue from our somewhat 
excessive cleanliness, and what beneficial effects habits of neatness 
have on the class of men from whom our ranks are filled, men who, in 
their youth, are in no way trained to order or obedience. 
A horse blanket is carried under the saddle in place of our numnah, 
an arrangement formerly in use with us, and one to which we might 
return with advantage, great care is, of course, necessary in folding the 
blanket to avoid all inequalities of folds under the saddle, but with due 
care this should be possible. Pole draught seemed to work very well, the 
carriages were turned and managed easily, though the driving was a long 
way inferior to that of our men. The bitting of the hand horses is very 
simple, being only an ordinary jointed snaffle, it seemed quite sufficient 
for the control of the horses, who, after their fortnight’s manoeuvring, 
showed no tendency or desire to run away, and might have been led 
by a thread. Neither side nor bearing reins were to be seen. Breast 
harness is entirely used, it would seem to act very well, and no horses 
showed signs of being galled about the points of the shoulders. The 
traces very much resembled those which were issued this year to the 
66th Field Battery as an experiment. The piped end of the trace which 
lies against the horse’s side is of pliant flat leather, and the rope 
ends are made of two light ropes, the lead traces can be shortened so 
as to be used for the wheel, so that but one pattern of trace is required. 
A set of French harness is lighter by a good many pounds than an 
English set, such heavy leather, as is used for our breechings and back- 
bands, being never seen. The girths are made of twisted string and 
look very neat. Wallets very much resembled our own pattern, but 
some batteries were equipped with saddle bags, which were slung across 
the horse behind the saddle. 
The Horse Artillery gun has a calibre of 80 millimetres and fires a 
12 lb. shell, the gun and carriage weighs about 31 cwt., but in march¬ 
ing order it is heavier than this. The Field Batteries are armed with 
a gun of 90 millimetres calibre, firing a shell of 8 kilogrammes, or 
about 17 lbs. The charge of powder used with the 90 millimetre gun 
is in proportion to the calibre smaller than that of the 80 millimetre 
gun, the latter gun consequently gives a considerably higher muzzle 
velocity. There is also a gun of position of 95 millimetres, the shoot¬ 
ing of which is said to be very good; French artillerists say that this 
is the best gun in Europe. Several howitzer batteries were also 
equipped, their shells are supposed to be loaded with melinite or other 
high explosive, but everything connected with these batteries was kept 
a profound secret, and it was difficult to obtain any information regard¬ 
ing them. 
