EASTERN AND WESTERN VIEWS OF MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY. 445 
informed that it is proposed to secure even greater power of fire from 
a gun requiring only 3 mules for its transportation, without any other 
“velief” than willbe afforded by the ordinary spare mules required for 
the battery, the special allowance for the guns being one each, as, on 
account of the reasonable weight of the loads, relief will only be 
required in case of sickness or death of a mule, to be helped out by 
the aforesaid mules of gunners killed in action. ; 
Commenting on the various forms of shrapnel, Schenck then says, 
“That for the English mountain gun weighs 7°87 lbs. and contains 100 
bullets, 35 to the lb., 70 buck shot, and ten cast iron fragments re- 
quiring, at point of burst, a velocity of not less than 660 f.s. to render 
it effective; it is doubtful whether the buck shot are effective.” 
Now how he arrives at this is not quite clear. We are informed at 
p. 62 of our Field Artillery drill that 400 f.s. striking velocity is 
sufficient, and our 2°5" screw gun gives a striking velocity of over 
600 fs. at 4000 yards—an excessive range for Mountain Artillery 
requirements. 
He then continues, “A 13-pounder shrapnel, equally well designed 
and made, will contain more than 200 bullets and equally effective 
fragments, the bullets being 34 to the lb., which are probably quite as 
small as should be used in shrapnel, the weight of the bullet being 
206 grains. Bullets 34 to the 1b. require a velocity of not less than 
646 f.s. to render them effective. ‘To ensure at a range of 3500 yards, 
a velocity of 646 f.s. for a 2°90", 13 lbs. projectile will require a 
muzzle velocity of 941 fs. with an energy at this point of 79 ft. tons, 
as against 1440 f.s.and 113 ft. tons for the much lighter English 
projectile.” Why? ‘The heavier shrapnel if properly made will 
deliver double the number of effective bullets and fragments, and 
although starting with 34 ft. tons less energy, it will still reach this 
range of 3500 yards with 12 ft. tons greater energy than the ‘high 
velocity,’ but relatively as well as actually, ight 2°5” projectile. Such 
is the penalty enacted by natural laws for neglecting sectional density 
and exceeding a velocity of 970 f.s. for this class of guns, at about 
which velocity the law of atmospheric resistance changes so unfavour- 
ably for the artillerist.” 
All this may be quite correct in theory, but I can safely say that 
the French mountain gun which answers the description most, of this 
ideal gun of Captain Schenck’s, does not on the shooting ground justify 
the above disadvantageous comparison of our screw gun. 
A seventeen years experience of our screw gun equipment has 
convinced our Mountain Artillery officers of the following :— 
(i.) That it is at present the most serviceable and powerful 
mountain gun in the world against personnel. 
(u.) That the projectile is ineffective against “ matériel.” 
(iii.) That in its transport we have arrived at the maximum 
number of animals permissible for the effective mobility 
of the battery. 
(iv.) That the gun has a comparatively short life and requires 
careful handling and treatment. 
(v.) That the impossibility of making use of high angle fire is a 
great defect, 
