GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1896, 295 
In large wars, where large masses of troops will be engaged, we Dia 
have arranged that with the army there shall be an Ammunition tionColumns 
Column to each division and one to the corps troops of each army *™* Ps. 
corps while there is also one to each cavalry brigade. ‘There are at 
present the nuclei of four Cavalry Brigade Ammunition Columns, nine 
Division Ammunition Columns, and three Corps Troops Ammunition 
Columns. These Ammunition Columns, which form the 2nd reserve 
of ammunition, carry 77 rounds per rifle, and 74 per gun and 24 per 
pistol in the army corps, and a reserve of 20 rounds per carbine to the 
cavalry attached to the divisions. Behind these there marches after 
each army corps a 3rd reserve of ammunition, which is called the 
Ammunition Park; this is divided into five sections, the first three 
being for the supply of the three divisions, the 4th for the corps troops 
and the 5th for the cavalry brigade. The Ammunition Park carries 
60 rounds per rifle, and 72 rounds per gun in the army corps. 
The general principle which is laid down for the supply of ammu- ne 
nition in the field is that the firing man or gun is supplied by the Ist “supply. 
or regimental reserve as far as possible at the beginning of an action, 
so that they may be able to retain their personal supply intact as long 
as possible. This Ist reserve is for the infantry, the regimental small- 
arm ammunition carts and mules, for the artillery, the battery ammu- 
nition wagons, for cavalry the regimental ammunition wagons. As 
soon as this reserve has expended any ammunition it should supply 
the loss from the Ammunition Columns, these in turn obtaining what 
they expend from the Ammunition Park. The Ammunition Park will 
be kept full from the Ordnance Store Depot, which will in all Huropean 
countries be closely connected with some railway. 
The next point which we must notice is one which is stated in our Positions of 
regulations, or perhaps more correctly in the books that are printed dstummescd 
for the instruction of officers; it is that the Ammunition Columns ,,p" 
move a mile or so behind the divisions or army corps, and the Ammu- 
nition Park nearly a day’s march behind these, say about nine or ten 
miles. As to how the supply is to be actually carried out these books are 
silent, probably for the very good reason that there is no experience 
to guide them, and that in the ever varying conditions of war there 
are so many possibilities that it is better to trust to the common sense 
and initiative of the men on the spot, than to hamper them with orders 
which it would probably be impossible to execute, and which might be 
the very worst for the actual case in point. 
The first principle of supply which we have stated is clear enough. Wigs: BS ie 
The fighting unit must have full pouches and boxes, the Ist reserve generally, 
must see to this, while each reserve in rear supplies the deficiencies of 
those in front. There is no hidden secret as to how this is to be 
managed, but clear heads will be necessary to prevent waste of force, 
and what is equally important, waste of time. 
Having thus emphasised the general duties of the Ammunition Constitution 
Columns and Parks, it may be well to give in the form of a table their A" 
constitution, and also to state what they carry, before we go into the Columnsand 
details of supply in the field. This will, to a certain extent, help us to 
show what they will have to supply and what they will probably have 
to send away during an action. 
