2 
The Militar Wochenblatt at once pointed out that inasmuch as the modifica¬ 
tion of the rifle had eventually reduced the weight of its projectile by one half, 
so, if the General’s assimilation of the two systems were to hold good, should 
we see the weight of our shrapnel reduced from 14 to 7 lbs. Whereas the 
opposite tendency is observed, and rightly so, in field artillery. 
General Wille meets this objection by saying that although the rifle bullet has 
decreased in weight it has increased in transverse density. 
But the General fails to observe that the length of projectile should decrease 
proportionally to the calibre, for he gives to his projectile a higher transverse 
density than is given to pieces of larger calibre, thereby unduly increasing the 
pressures in the bore. 
Without placing undue emphasis on that feature of his system it may here be 
pointed out how very different are the functions assigned respectively to a field 
gun and a rifle on the field of battle. 
A rifle requires the flattest possible trajectory, therefore high muzzle velocity, 
so as to increase the dangerous zone of its fire and to admit of its being fired at 
a certain distance without raising the back sight, and the ideal to be sought in a 
rifle is plainly one of which the height of trajectory should never exceed the 
height of a man. 
But a field gun should at least be enabled to fire over the heads of its own 
infantry, and its essential at all ranges is a high remaining velocity for the effec¬ 
tive delivery of its shrapnel bullets. 
Here however are the General’s figures and proposals :— 
Gun, carriage, limber and wagon, of one and the same model for all 
batteries. 
Calibre, 2*756 inches. 
Length of gun, 40 calibres (9 feet 2 inches). 
Weight of gun, 7 cwt. 3 qrs. 10 lbs. 
Projectiles : common and shrapnel shells with double action fuzes. 
Weight of projectile, 14 lbs. 5 oz. 
„ „ charge, 3 lbs. 5 oz. Nobel powder (approx.) 
„ ,, cartridge, 18 lbs. 12 oz. 
,, ,, carriage, 10 cwt. 3 qrs. 
„ ,, limber with 30 rounds, 16 to 17 cwt. 
Gun weight behind team, 34 to 35 cwt. 
Weight of wagon body with 42 rounds, 17 cwt. 2 qrs. 
Wagon weight behind team, 33 to 34 cwt. 
Muzzle velocity, 2625 f.s. at least. 
Captain Moch points out how much the science of gun making is in advance 
of that of gun carriage construction, and suggests that no one has yet arrived at 
building a field carriage of adequate strength to withstand the shock of dis¬ 
charge of a gun far inferior in energy to that suggested by General Wille. As 
regards the gun itself too, who shall say that with our present explosives and 
metallurgical knowledge it is possible to produce a field gun, having so high a 
velocity, with any of the elements of endurance and capacity to do long con¬ 
tinuous work that we are accustomed to expect from such pieces. Captain 
Moch further insists on the greater importance of remaining velocity at long 
ranges than of muzzle velocity, and clearly sets forth the various conditions 
which make for that result. He then quits the ground of generalities and 
passes to a comparison of the three guns mentioned in the following tables, 
