THE BATTLE OF THE VELOCITIES. 
425 
We will now examine the truth of these assertions. 
Taking (1) and (2) together, a reference to Column IV. of the table 
shows that the supposed disparity in bullet velocity is far less than 
« cl 2 ” 
might be supposed. The high —- of shrapnel bullets is a greafc 
leveller. It is rather a surprise then, on referring to Columns VI.- 
VIII., to find that the claim of a greatly superior zone of effect is 
justified by the figures. Selecting a conspicuous case, we see that a 
shrapnel burst 25 yards short at 2500 yards gives an effective zone of 
331 yards for the high velocity against 74 yards for the lower one. 
This is due to the fact that the sharp angle of descent given by the 
1500 f.s. M.V. causes the bullets to bury themselves before reaching 
the limit of effective velocity. 
3. No data as to ricochet being available, I have been unable to 
work this out. Personally, I do not believe in the effective ricochet of 
shrapnel bullets at all, except, perhaps, on rock or shingle. 
4. Here, again, we find that the supposed disparity is practically 
non-existent. The effective range of the furthest case-shot bullet is 
482 yards for the high velocity, against 436 yards for the lower one. 
The angles of elevation being nearly the same, there is little difference 
in ricochet effect. 
5. The accuracy given by the 1500 f.s. M.V. is quite good enough 
for shrapnel fire, and the cases where its range would be insufficient 
would, on service, be rare indeed. 
6. Moral effect. This may at first sight appear trivial, but in 
these days of civilisation, short service, and short wars, the percentage 
of nervous-men in the ranks will be much higher than heretofore, and 
considerations of this nature must not be altogether neglected. Colonel 
Maitland gives an instance of the importance of this point, taken 
from the Russo-Turkish War, at page 114 of the Text-Book of 
Gunnery. 
7. 8, 9. These points resolve themselves into a question of carriage 
construction. The new buffer carriage has recently been tried in 
India on a much larger scale and under conditions more nearly ap¬ 
proaching to service than is possible in England. It was found that 
while several of the fittings of the carriage—the traversing gear, the 
brake, and especially the long elevating screw—proved unserviceable, 
yet the main feature of the carriage, the hydraulic buffer, worked 
well. It is hoped, then, that the new carriage will fully meet the 
objections as to breaking up and variable jump, and partly that as to 
excessive recoil. As for the brake, we shall probably come back to 
the old check-rope in the end. If a spring can be fitted to the trail- 
eye, so as to combine the functions of an elastic connection between 
gun and limber and of a point of attachment for the check-ropes, we 
shall have made a step in advance. 
One objection—as to weight of gun and carriage—remains un¬ 
answered. We can hardly expect a M.V. of 2000 f.s. from a 5 cwt. 
gun, and a recoil carriage, however perfect, must be a heavy one. It 
