340 COMMENDED ESSAY, 1896. 
- The rough rule is that with ordinary fire one box (18 rounds) lasts 
half-an-hour, 7.e., 86 rounds lasts one hour. 
Therefore— 
The battery supply lasts 3 hours. 
3 23 23 » As, 
5, 1st Reserve ia 
oy CINGL 9 pe. Ss 
Total ... 7 hours. 
By) soe 8 ” 
It being considered that the average total fired by each gun would 
probably never be as high as 240 rounds in any battle, this supply 
ought to be sufficient, and it is to be remembered that although 
Ammunition Columns are primarily intended for particular troops, 
they are never to refuse a supply to any one in need of it. 
Having thus shown the position a brigade-division commander stands 
in with regard to his own responsibilities, and to the assistance he has 
behind him, I will briefly indicate how an infantry leader of similar 
status is situated. 
Of Lee-Metford rifle small-arm ammunition there are taken into the 
field for each infantry soldier :— 
100 rounds carried by the soldier. 
65  ,, in four §.A.A. carts and on two | 
mules accompanying the bat- | Battalion 
talion. r Reserve. 
20 ,, in the battalion baggage wagon J) 
Total...185 
77 ~~, ~+in the Divisional Ammunition Column. 
60  ,,. in the Ammunition Park. 
Motalesecc 
The officers commanding battalions are responsible for the 185 rounds 
per man in battalion charge. The artillery officers in charge of the 
Column and Park are responsible for the remaining 137. 
The position of the Ammunition Columns and Park are determined 
by General officers commanding divisions and army corps respectively. 
It is the duty of commanding officers, however, to keep themselves 
informed as to the whereabouts of these columns. 
Behind the battalion will usually follow two §.A.A. carts and two 
mules, and they will form a battalion reserve which corresponds to the 
wagons which are placed between guns in action. ‘The remainder of 
S.A.A. carts, that is to say, two per battalion and the battalion baggage 
wagon, will follow the brigade generally, and will constitute a reservoir 
which corresponds with the “wagon line” of a brigade-division of 
