189 
ARTILLERY AND MUSKETRY FIRE, 
COMPARISON OF EFFECT PRODUCED IN A GIVEN TIME AND 
BY EQUAL WEIGHT OF AMMUNITION. 
BY 
CAPTAIN P. J. R. CRAMPTON, R.A. 
Tz maximum effect which can be produced by any kind of projectile, 
be the conditions what they may, must eventually be governed by the 
amount of ammunition at hand, and as the weights which can be. cars 
ried into the field, either on men’s backs or in carriages, are limited, 
it is of interest to see what sort of ammunition ig most effective at 
different ranges. 
A considerable reduction in the weight of small-arm cartridges has 
recently been made. This lead will soon be followed by the artil- 
lery, as the introduction of cordite instead of black powder will reduce 
the weight of each round by nearly one-fifth. o 
However, there is no use trying to dip into the future; so any com- 
parison must be made between the new Lee-Metford small-arm—and the 
present old pattern 12-pr.—ammunition propelled by black powder. 
Every change in armament is naturally followed by assertions that 
the tactics of the future must be revolutionised. 
Small-arm bullets are now said to be capable of killing at ranges of 
2,000 yards and over: at artillery ranges in fact, and gunners are told 
that they must modify their tactics accordingly. 
We are told that it will be impossible in future to bring guns into 
action at decisive ranges—at ranges of a mile and under—without 
such a sacrifice, in horses at anyrate, as will destroy all further useful 
ness as a mobile arm ; that guns on the move at similar ranges will be 
exposed to an equal risk, even further; that musketry is now capable 
of breaking down the morale of infantry in a defensive position and of 
preparing and covering an infantry attack. i 5408 
That the Lee-Metford and similar bullets are capable of killing even 
~ 
& VOL, XXIII. 
