7 
However, whatever the real figure of recoil may be, we all know how difficult 
it has been to devise a carriage for this powerful little gun. How then doeft the 
General propose to control more than twice the energy without breaking his 
carriage. 
On the other hand, when the General complains of all existing field carriages 
being too heavy, one can only wish him God speed in any useful experiments he 
may undertake for the purpose of making them lighter. “ It is the general rule, 
whether in the course of experiments or of actual practice,” says the General, 
“ to rest content with the discovery of the weak points and then strengthening 
them. 11 ut it is rare for any one to practically ask himself which parts are too 
strong , and which might be made lighter without inconvenience. If this is not 
done it is obvious that some parts must be too heavy ; for it would be marvellous 
if every part which had stood firm throughout a series of experiments was 
possessed of the precise measure of necessary resistance. No answer can be 
given to that query even if a carriage is to last for ever. In the research of 
extreme solidity and durability, and in the desire to provide for every accident 
which might occur in the course of a campaign to one carriage out of a 1000, 
everything is made too heavy. With this exaggerated prudence the 999 other 
carriages carry at all times a useless and hurtful burden, and with the final result 
that the accident provided for in the thousandth case will occur in a part, of 
which the reinforcement had never previously been shown to be requisite.” 
Captain Modi endorses that, so does the humble writer of these extracts, w r ho 
would wish, like Captain Moch, that they should be printed in capital letters. 
(To be Continued). 
