¢ 
may be found practicable, but the solution of this question is more likely to be 
found in the use of armoured mountings, such as that made by the Griison firm 
for a 4°58” quick-firing howitzer 18 calibres long, weighing with the howitzer (of 
1100 Ibs.) under 40,000 Ibs. (about 18 tons). Itis in 19 sections, the heaviest of 
which, the cupola, weighs about 4500 Ibs. (about 2 tons). It was found that six 
men including one fitter could put the whole together and mount the gun in a 
little over two hours. 
The comparative mobility of such mountings and the facilities they afford for 
working the gun will render their employment possible not only for the defence 
but also for siege guns, on the other hand their cost (£3600 for the mounting 
mentioned) will prevent their being very generally employed. 
Il].—Tue Arrack. 
Nature of siege-train armament.—The number of different calibres and types 
of ordnance in a siege-train should be restricted as far as possible. Howitzers 
and rifled mortars should have the same calibres as guns so that the same pro- 
jectile might do for both. 
The bulk of the armament should consist of not more than 8 calibres ; those 
adopted by most countries being about 5”, 6” and 8” with two supplementary 
natures, viz. a light gun of 3:7 and a heavy mortar of 10°5” i 
The 5" usually consists of guns only, the 6” of guns and howitzers, the 8” of 
guns, howitzers and mortars. Guns of 8” should be regarded as exceptional 
pieces and only form part of a siege-train for the reduction of works of a very ex- 
ceptional character. 
A siege-train should be organized in sections or échelons, each section comprising 
all the ordnance required for some particular phase of the siege of a first-class 
fortress or for the reduction of a place of minor importance. In France the siege- 
train is divided into six sections of which No. 1 is the light or auxiliary siege-train, 
it is separate from and independent of the siege-train proper—every Continental 
Power has some such organization, supplementary to the siege-train proper—its 
function is to accompany the besieging army—from its mobility it can be brought 
into action at once and would prepare the way for the assault on the advanced 
line. 
The French light train includes 16 howitzers of 6 and 8 mortars of 8:5’! 
throwing shell with a bursting charge of 26°4 lbs. and 67°4 Ibs. respectively (rather 
heavy orduance for a light siege-train !) : 
Sections 2 to 5 comprise the siege-train properly so called, section 6 includes a 
mortar of 10°5" and a gun of 8°5", exceptional pieces only required for the reduc- 
tion of unusually powerful defences. Siege-trains and parks should usually be 
stored in frontier fortresses. The special light siege-train should form part of 
the reserve armament of such fortresses so as to be equally available for offence 
or defence. As to the number of pieces of ordnance required for the reduction of 
a first-class fortress there is a great difference of opinion, the numbers given 
varying from 200 (General Saiier) to 700 (General Brialmont), 400 may be taken 
as amean. While as to the best proportion of different natures of ordnance no 
recent standard has been fixed, the old standard was 55°/, guns, 20°/, howitzers 
and 25°/, mortars. The increased accuracy of curved fire would tend to diminish 
the proportion of guns and increase that of the other two classes. 
Ammunition supply—The weight of ammunition expended at the sieges of the 
undermentioned places was— 
Strasbourg 31 days’ siege ... .., ... 4000 tons. 
Paris 62 by s Booty ont naif OOO eee 
Belfort 73 A pp 600 900 oop. ALSO 
“1A 
