SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1896. 321 
divisions 2 and 4. The three axioms being (1) the two different 
ammunitions being, when possible, in separate sections ; (2) the mobile 
wagons in separate sub-divisions ; (3) the supply wagons altogether in 
one sub-division. 
It will be noticed that no mention of a Cavalry Division Ammuni- 
tion Column has been made. In the event of our needing one it would 
be organized from two Brigade Columns, cutting out one forge and 
spare gun-carriage and the staff of one Column and a few of the sup- 
ply wagons. 
Our Ammunition Park is only intended for service abroad, as at 
home we should always be in touch with the rail at short distances. 
Out of the 16 cadres of Ammunition Columns, now maintained, nine 
are allotted to the divisions of 3 army corps, four to cavalry brigades, 
three for the corps troops of the three corps. 
At present we have no cadres for the Parks, and for an expeditionary 
force mobilize our Ammunition Column cadres as Parks. 
Now that the necessity of being prepared to send a large force to 
protect Canada has been demonstrated, besides being prepared to 
mobilise for home defence, the organization of Park cadres seems of 
considerable importance, so that a Park for one or two army corps 
could be despatched to Canada without using the Ammunition Column 
cadres of the corps remaining at home. 
It will be at once evident that the organization of the British 
Columns and Park on paper practically fulfil all the requirements 
elicited from discussion of the question. 
Tf, however, as the writer ventures to hope, he has noticed most of 
the points bearing on the subject, it is not surprising that this should 
be so, for our present Column and Park organizations have only been 
quite recently compiled, after study of foreign system, our own needs 
and the latest ideas on the subject. It should therefore be hard to 
prove the organization at fault, on entering into all the conditions 
affecting the constitution of such units. 
Tat New ARMAMENT. 
No allusion has as yet been made to the approaching armament of 
our field artillery with a heavier gun. The only effect such a step 
would have would be to increase the number of wagons in each Column 
and Park Sections, or to reduce the number of rounds to be carried in 
the Divisional Columns and corresponding sections. The Cavalry 
Columns would remained unaltered but the Corps Troop Column would 
require reorganization. It would be necessary to have one section in 
this Column for the Field Artillery, and one for the Horse Artillery 
ammunition, the two carts and two wagons carrying small arms am- 
rounition forming one sub-division in the Field Artillery Ammunition 
Section. 
The best way probably of allotting the ammunition for the new gun 
would be to let the supply, actually with the battery, accord with the 
capacity of the present number of wagons, while in the Columns and 
Parks carry the same proportions of ammunition as now, slightly in- 
creasing the number of wagons, ammunition and store per unit, 
Cavalry 
Division 
Ammunition 
Column, 
