IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) A Ut % 7a 1.0 I.I Ui 1^ 112.2 '^ 1^ 112.0 IL25 ill 1.4 1.6 )tograpmc Sciences Corporation as WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 m iV iV \ :\ at th« atnmEBY scuool pbebs, cttabbi, qvxbj 1877. EXTRACT PEOM GENERAL ORDERS, 23rd MARCH, 187-7. DOMINION ARTILLERY ASSOCIATION. MEDAL FOR ESSAY. Hi8 Excellency the Earl of Dufferin, K. P., &c., Governor-General ot Canada, has been graciously pleased to express his intention of offering a medal for the best essay on the Supply, Care and Repair of Artillery material, including Small Arms and Ammunition for Canadian Militia, to be competed for by Officers of the Canadian Mihtia Artillery, being membei-s of, or belonging to corps aff ted with the Dominion Artillery Association. Officers or other' ho have served in the Royal, or Royal Marine Artillery to be exck o'™' »'«'"« bo supplied Canadian AfS^Lttarcr^Tdo'l-L^"'^ <«l»ipment required by the some military operation cirried o„ in- '..^ " P"^""'*^"' ^'^'^rsion, v^as principally with that o^lct that . w'' ''"''''^ ^^ "^^•- ^ French to the American colori^I Jn^TYS rT"° ^"^ ^^^"" ^^ *^« The attack may be f ormid« hl« -^ ^ of the Dominion to mee tt ot ■ '' '-eqtnnngall the able bodied me„ It is however obvious f Jia+ «^ i. ««.t doe» not meet a the ablT^nr" °"''*''" ^''" "« '"8-™* '^ay, =.nd that whatever mUt be Zlf"""' '" "" '«' P<>-iblo -"'d be p-aotica, that d^i^t anst'r L'X"; "T """"^ ""^^^^^ «)» wraW rt worA in war f Batisfactonly to the query _ «^-e meant)^ and l.„d attacks rat eth' ! " ^'^ "'"''"^^ """^^« been directed against its posscsZ T,! ^^"^^^^^neously or singly from the French. P«««^«8ors, previous to and after its conquest Past events therefore point out th. euccessful defence; fo^oZTrZLl^^^^^^ ^«r a on inland waters and sea coasts and « '"' ^''^'''''' situated naval and field forces. ' ^'^ ^ ^""^^^ «^^amentforour ow^ let Amorioaii of the latter bo supplied lired hy tho •no of which which that ' attack on ^tod from a 'wer, with a 1 di vers ion y >f war. It ^en hy the odi'ed mou action a 10 bounda- '0 efficient t possible 3f defence query. — hat both e attacks 'v singly conquest ig for ft <>ituated Dur own Oarnean, The war iiuitiriel to bo supplied to tho Canadian Militia must thou comprise all tho different equipments and armaments adopted by great military powers, in a degree of course suitable to tho require- ments of the case. Thus, heavy ordnance for fortresses, forts and gun boats, slogo guns for the attack and defence of fortified posts, camps, lines of entrenchments, &c. ; heavy and light field ordnance for tho armies intended to operate in tho field; all those difteront natures aro necessajy. Economy is also an imiwrtunt question with us. Expensive equip- ments aro therefore to bo avoided as far as consistent with truo efficiency. The equipment now being supplied to tho British army meets all the requirements of modern warfare. To imitate the mother country completely, is out of question. Our finances would not allow even a proportionate investment on a similar footing. But in whatever it may be doomed advisable to imitate her, we can not bo guided by a hotter standard. Wo finil that taught by experience. Great Britain has provided her military establishment with an armament and equipment com- prising natures of ordnance, &c., classified under the following beads : — A, for fortresses. B, for sieges. C, for the field. The reasons which have determined England to adopt the several natures of ordnance mentioned, exist also for us; the conditions of warfare not differing essentially in either case. Fortresses on sea coasts and great inland waters wo have to de- fend, and to provide therefore heavy rifled ordnance, the necessity of which is so tersely expressed in tho following quotation : — •' By tho introduction of iron-clads the power of resistance of men-of-war has been increased to such an extent that tho old guns for coast batteries, at one time so destructive against wooden shijjs, have now become usele: SP. (1) (1) Prussian Heavy Guns and the 9" Woolwich oun, by Captain Monfronl. trans- lated, Lt. D. F. Jones, R. A., Proceedings B. A. Institution, Vol. VIII. "»"■»- fcnco of land fronts « "' ""'P'' *''■. """ «"• ll>o do- l*ats (Iho Americans) woro sunk l"v „!,„,■ ; '""">' "^ ""o" Siegos of more or Ics im„m 2 u"?' "'""' S""»-" (>) '.»a „l.o the defeneeof e, t,"d"n:^ L ""f ' '"'" ^ •"""•'"""kon, of the country. (2) ^ connected with the military history " The season and want of htJavv ^Vrfil?^,.,. cana from making any imm-ZZ .11 P^'^^^"*^ the Ameri- (Si«ge of 1775.) (3) ^P''''''^" "P«» ^^^^ defence, of Quebec." ■' P"nco Menschikoff in his disn^f^k at Inkerman to the English hlvt/ 1.' Tl^- ''*"^"*^« ^'« d^«»-t J)Osition." (4) ^ '"^ P^'^^*^ t^eir «ioge Artillery in '' La position Frahior Mont-Belliard DoIIa ne disposait que de 48 Bataillons 30 vZ.J P«urlaquelle on eampagne,&c h^S du'n t '''^''"'' '' ^26 pieces do plus extreme activite dH-enforcer „ '^^ «» s'occupait avecla dinger nnepartiedes;,^:;::^^^^^^ ^Wrages et d'y a feu dont 16 do 24," [about 61 pr ] ^-g,,''^"^'^ 37 bouches (1) P'-e^'s ofW^Canada^lted, page iZl "" (4) Review of the Crimean War! ra^e IM nu . . rif* a rapid or the do- !ind line of fondod or Biittlo of >i'o placed of their "(1) loKakon, structetl, 1 several histoiy • Amori- ?uebec." 8 defeat llery in lello on >ces do avec la et d'y ouches 3e has led in sd for of a ry and corj)8 (Tarmie mIiouUI be armed with heavy field gunH and guns of position. (1) The proportion of 3 guns per 1,000 men so strongly advocated by military writers, should be adhered to in our Militia. (2) British IIorHo Artillery though provided in some cases with the same nature of gun as the light Field Kutteries, have a special gun of less weight, well adapted to the exigencies of their duties in the field. This branch of the Artillery has within a few years acquired considerable importance, si>ocially since it has been shown in the last great war [1870], to what extent it could bo usetl in combined action with Cavalry, for the purpose of being pushed forward with advance guards, in reconnaissances, &c. (3) But in Canada with the present military system, a difficulty ex- ists of providing elHcient horses and riders, it is difficult to horse, even Field Artillerj'. (4) And would not horise artillery bo limited in its usefulaosB when acting in an enclosed and wooded country like Canada ? " When the allied army made its flank march round Scbastopol, the head of the column marching through an extensive and thick wood, was composed of several Field Butteries. * * * But for the halt of the army it would have touciied not on the rear, but on the flank of the column [Russian,] when a few companies of infantry might with ease and impunity have destroyed great pai't of the Artillery.'* (5) Though the introduction of the new mode of cariying gunners on axle-tree seats and by the Inspector of Artillery, Lt.-Col. T. B. ♦Strange, of carrj'ing gunners in the Canadian Artillery on oft' horses of gun teams, as also the reduction of weight consequent to the adoption of rifled guns, has done much to increase the mobility of Field Artillerj' , still Horse Artillery alone can possess mobility to that degree which increases so much the offensive element of au army. (1) Owen, Modern Artillery, cited, pages 876 and 379. ry. »«i"e 227. Hlr Q. Wolseley's Soldier's Poc let Book: page S7r Owenj Modern ArtUlery; page 373. (8) Strange, Artillery Retrospect, page 39. Capt. Hollist, R. A., Campaign 1870-71, Oerman Artillery in the Battles near Metz, translation, page 68. (4) MUitla Reports 1875-7(1, Passim. (5) Hamley, Operations of War, 3rd edition, page 447. The difficulty of the country being enclosed and therefore limit- ing the bold action of house artillery, might perhaps be met by the organization of mounted Riflemen, who would act as escort, advance guard and reconnoitorers, in which capacity they would be invalua- ble, the very best kind of Cavalry for a country like Canada where it could act in masses, in but a few well cleared districts, and wJiere the greater part of the country itself and of that across the frontier, is still very wooded. On the advantages of thin special kind of Cavalry, Col. Hamley, and other military writers, lay great sti-ess. (1) Thus it may appeur, that an armament and equipment, compri- sing most of the ditforent natures of ordnance and war materiel adopted by military powers, are necessary for an efficient defence of Canada. Section 2. — What system of gum should we adopt— This leads to a subject much controverted. I allude to the controversy of B. L. R., versus M. L. R. guns, which for years has divided the opinions of Artillerists and other Bcientilic men. The first system of rifled guns adopted on a large scale was that of the muzzle loader. Louis Napoleon, shortly befoie 1859, ordered the old bronze S. B. pieces of the French Artillery to be rifled, and he subsequently used them with great effect against the Austrians in Italy. (2) Previous to this, however, a few 8 inch and 6^ pr. S. B. guns had been oval-borod in England and employed at the siege of Sebastopol, but with little effect it appears. As early though as 1854, experiments had been inaugurated with breech-loading rifled guns proposed by Sir William Armstrong, which were subsequently adopted and issued to the Field Artillery, to the Navy, and also to Garrisons, a few are now in possession of the Dominion Government. ■ The Armstrong B. L. guns did good service during the war in China and in New Zealand. Their manufacture has notwithstand- ^ijg . .,^„, ,„,,^.-.,, ,,,,,,, .,!t ,t<. 804, 806> Ac, 10 perial troops, gun boats, &c., a contingency not to bo lost sight of, the supply of ammunition would be greatly facilitated and simplified by its being similar for both imperial and colonial forces. Section 3. — What special calibres of each natures of guns, what equipments and what proportions of them do we require ? Each nature of gun has its special calling, so to say. Though circumstances occur, when certain natures have to be used for purposes other than those they had been designed to fulfil, physical impossibilities however, and other equally sti'enuous objec- tions tend to limit that course. No authority of weight can be adduced when treating this part of the subject, and to determine the proportions of each nature of guns and equipments required for the Militia, some insight in the plans pre- pared for the defence of thd country would be essential — none as a matter of course having been made public, the question will then have to be considered from an abstract point of view: A, for fortresses ; B, for sieges ; C, for the field. FORTRESSES. 1. Ordnance. — To arm sea fronts, no guns inferior to the 7 in. M. L. E. are laid down in the Coi*p8 Equipment; the 7 in. to pierce armour plate of 7*5 in., 9 in. to pierce armour of 9*5 in., 10 in. to pierce 11'25 in. and 12 in. guns to pierce 12*3 in. armour, at ranges of not more than 1,000 yards. (1) For land fronts, guns of a much inferior calibre would suffice — 7 in., 80 pr., 64 pr. and even 40 pr. are sei-viceable weapons in those situations, and sufficiently powei'ful to oppose ordnance that siege trains might bring to bear on land defences, though it would not always be safe to reckon in this manner, especially if railways could be made use of by an adversary, to .aring heavier guns to the invest- ing lines. At the siege of Paris, [1870], the largest guns used were of 6^ inch calibre, and at Strasburg, guns equal to a 61 pr. were brought to bear on the fortress with tolerable success, but the latter siege could hardly be taken as a standard, the ai-tillery action of the besieged having been very weak. (1) Griffith's Manual, page 79. ll sight of, simplified uTis, what ave to be I to fulfil, Dus objec- part of the guns and plans pre- none as a will then r: A, for ) the 7 in. . to pierce , 10 in. to at ranges i suffice — IB in those that siege ivould not rays could i\Q invest- vere of 6 J e brought tter siege on of the Prince Hohenlohe, (1) says, " it may be asserted that a largo fortress favorably situated which has all the resources of art at its disposal and is well defended can only be captured by a regular attack, if the besieger has a Eailway at disposal, because he can by its means alone provide a superiority of materiel over the enemy." Again, " mais le transport [of siege train] ne pouvait commen- cer que quand Toul serait pris et que la ligne de I'Est serait rou- verte," &c. (2) So the contingency of the employment of available Hall- ways, must be provided for, in an armament to oppose ordnance that may be brought up by them. . To determine their armament, fortresses were formerly consi- dered as of the l8t,2nd or 3rd class, according to the number of their bastions and sides. A more modem mode of classification is now used, consequent to the adoption of the polygonal system of fortifica- tion which develops greater power of Ai-tillery fire, the really true defensive element of fortresses in our days. The polygonal is now replacing the bastioned trace, compara- tively so expensive and complicated, more favorable perhaps for near defence, but certainly deficient when distant defence is contemplated, as it limits the effective Artillery fire of the works. Therefore, taking for granted that each gaiTison gun requires a space of 40 feet from it to the next gun on its flank, calculated from centre to centre ; then, length of parapet of the three largest ad- jacent faces of a polygonal system of fortification likely to receive attack, divided by 40, will give the number of pieces of ordnance re- quired, their calibre varying according to the nature of the attack they are intended to meet and the weight of metal, i. e., power of projectile that might be brought against them. (3) The Instruction in fortifications, R. M. A., Woolwich, recom- mends about 50 feet from gun to gun. Very little has been done to supply our fortresses with suitable ordnance, the heaviest rifled guns provided for Quebec and Kingston (l).Pamphlet on sieges, translated by Capt. F. C. H. Clarke, R. A., cited in Owen's (2) Operations des armees Allemandes, 1870, tTanslatlon cited page 52. (8) Capt. A. Parnell, B. K Defensive Reform, page 42, Vol. XIX, Royal Engl- neer 12 being T in. B. L. R, 32-64 prs., and it is believed a few 80 prs. j the latter have been ordered for St. John, New Brunswick. Though, very serviceable guns undoubtedly they all are, still it will be granted that their lack of power to pierce armour-plate renders them, except in very favourable situations, unreliable to defend coasts where serious attacks are apprehended and approachable to iron-clads. (1) Heavier guns mounted on Moncrieff carriages have boon recom- mended by Lt.-Col. Strange, R. A., Dominion Inspector of Artillery, to defend the entrance of the harbour of Quebec. With her light armament, though provided to a certain extent for defence at close quarters, Quebec is sadly deficient if distant de- fence of river fronts is con* .mplatei. Quebecers know, perhaps, that distant defence means comparative safety for their homes and persons, and that it might be advantageous to have a few 9 in. or heavier guns' even at the cost of some thousand pounds, to secure this. The above applies equally to Kingston, exposed to a naval attack that might prove too powerful for her weak armament. It may be useful to remember that gun-boats armed with 150 pr. M. L. R. guns were used during the last American Civil War against Con- federate defences. (2) The United States have recently adopted M. L. R. 8 in. guns, con- verted from 15 in. Hodman's, capable of piercing 8 in. armour-plate. In choice of armament where all is relative, a safe guide to go by is to consider what can be brought against, to determine with what to oppose. Torpedoes though in the British service exclusively in the Eoyal Engineer charge, will in this country it is to be hoped be inti-usted to the Artillery. Our Canadian Engineer force, in any case, is so limited that this can hardly be a matter of choice. Of the efficacy of torpedoes in coast and river defence, the American Civil War has adduced sufficient proof. Sixteen Federal steamers were blown up by them, in endeavouring to force passage in southern harbours and rivers. (3) (1) Toxt-Book, Construction of Rifled Ordnance, pages 18, 14 and 140. (2) Treatise on Coast Defences, Von Schelleha, page 141. (3) Von Schelleha, Coast Defence, cited, chapters 17 and 19. V 80 prs. J the all are, still it armour-plate unreliable to i approachable e boon rccom- r of Artillery, sertain extent if distant do- porhaps, that 8 and persons, heavier guns, is. I to a naval rmament. It 150 pr. M. L. against Con- in. guns, con- armour-plate, guide to go ermine with j^intheEoyal be intrasted Ly case, is so defence, the teen Federal brco passage 10. 14 No battery, it has been proved, hovvo\or heavily armed, is im- passable to iron-clads if torpedoes and other obstructions do not delay the ships under its fire. On the f" \bject of torpedoes, Major-Gencral Lewis remarks :— " Ko battery or batteries, however strong, can stop or prevent ships of war entering harbours, when navigation is free and the course nearly direct." Fired by means of electricity, torpedoes become engines of de- struction at once formidable and well under control, specially so tvhen combined with an efficient mode of interpolating the exact position of the adversary. The harbour of Quebec, offers good facilities for the employment of a torpedoe system of defence in conjunction with shoi-o batteries; the channel being narrow, indirect in its course, and well com- manded from the banks of the river. Torpedoes, combined with the use of even light guns, to prevent parties from dredging and destroying wires, &c., would be a serious obstacle to the approach of iron-clads and ensure comparative safety to harbours, dock yards, &c. Mortai-s have not been mentioned with the natures of ordnance considered, rifled mortars and howitzers have now to an extent replaced thom, and there is, moreover, a good supply of S. B. mortars in possession. The importance of vertical fire has increased since modes of protection from direct fire have been perfected ; in a com- plete system of defence of a fortress, its employment can not, there- fore, be discarded. Though not laid down specially in the Corps Equipment regulations fai'od with open Jover, th« saving by this system 8 on a particular ivos to the gun I Moncrieff pits ■ is secured. being exposed liability to get iages and plat- on than with cd on th« Mon- d by casemates, ligh an^le fire, ips at such high •ieff method of t' advantageous (4) of iron turrets 3rp and Ports- (nsive, and as it nting but only No. LXXrv, page B297. Retrospect, page tncaisses Pendant In certain positions ground platforms and common standing carriages would suffice, not in those situations, however, where it would bo necessary to fire at objects moving at a rapid rate, for then traversing gear would be required to obtain rapidity and accuracy-. On land fronts, for instance, common standing carriages and ground platforms could in a great measm-e be used, as direction of fire does not vary rapidly, the guns being chiefly employed in hindering working parties during a siege, seconding sorties or pro- tecting advanced troops or positions, acting in a manner similar to that adopted with success at Belfort in 1870, (1) or at a later period of the siege in silencing the breaching batteries. "Wood sliding carriages and dwarf traversing platfonns niight also be used to mount guns in salients, viz : M. L. It. 80 pi-, and 7 in B. L. E., [those now in possession]- Iron carriages and platforms would be required for guns of over 6 tons. In those situations on sea fronts sufficiently elevated to give, ipso facto, protection to gun detachments and materiel, the latter description of carriages and platfoi-ms [iron] to mount heavy guns en barbette might be used. Ordnance, at all events, should be disposed so as to do away with embrasures which are funnels for the enemy's shell " Elles forment d'excellentes cibles pour Tartillerie de I'assiegeant." (2) High angle fire and curved fire seem to have giv«n at Paris and at Belfort, fair results for the besiegers and the besiejgfid, .giving opportunities of keeping pereonnel and materiel well under cover, (3) Les pieces retournees tirant sans voir, etonnerent fort les Prus- siens qui recevaient nos projectiles sans savoir oil diriger leurs coups," (4) " Nous preferons egalement I'usage des pieces masquees a tir plongeant dont la garaison de Belfort a tant a eu se louer." (5) Screens of shrubs o • of other material when applicable, could also bo used with advantage when firing en barbette, though a pro- longed fire would destroy them. (6) (1) siege de Belfort, D'Enfert Rochereau, page 100. (2) Forteresses Francaises, cited, page 120. ArtUlery Retrospect, page 57. (8) Artillery Retrospect, page 57. (4) Defense de Belfort, page 168. (5) Forteresses Francaises, cited, page 127. (6) Brialmont, Fortifications Polygonal, pages 252 and 353. I III I to bo provided, as a t'oi „„ ^C^!"™''''' '"^S™^ would alsohavo """' *'» ""O"* economical ^sX w4»M™:rsr'n K "'"'""^ ■"''*«'™ - trees and wheel, ^ ' °'' ^"""^ '^- twneporting axlo- per district. "^ are issued in the proportion of one g«ns!X::f;:^.hf:tihrn,r •^'"•"'^■« ^^ '-po^-^ »«t iron fittiigs '""'«'>'-"™ «"'"g», ^nd of about 4i ton if with stores Led rfh si "5„r*"rf "7 ' *»»"- The detail of Corps Equipment, p^f I S '^''^''"' '^ «"» "* P««' 25, &c., oieifrhe aj-e also sr^fih'tT- ^ ' -j i "n«ut,e, improvised with such LLCkS ^Y^ '"7.^^" ^""^ ^« need not be considered here ' *'^''' ''"^'"^> *^-' ^^^^ (1) Owen, Modern Artillery, page 509. ^fenders to change 2iont. d to mount 40 pr. Spare carriaged »8 would also have likely to be ren- ined to sea coast br the defence of d musketry fire, 8 could easily be f mounting onl- tl materiel and most economical d platform wa- nsporting axlo- ransport heavy )portion of ono r transporting It 4f ton if with 1 12 to 25 tons. The detail of page 25, &c., principal u^ e and common sling wagons iest ordnance, can easily bo ing, &c., they Billies may be useful to transport dwarf traversing platforms, such as are used with 7 in. B. L. R, heavy S. B. or converted guns. Axlo-trcos, square, with wheels, are issued for 13 in., 12 in., 10 in., 9 in. and 7 in. M. L. R. guns, in the proportion of 1 per district, they ai-o used for moving gun carriages ant! platforms. Axle-trccH, round, with wheels, are supplied with B, L. E. equipments available for S. B. and converted ordnance. (I) Appliances for mounting ordnance, stich as sheers, eranes, gyns, skids, lovers, hydraulic jacks, would be required with a varietj'^ of tackle, rope, &c., from the iron chain of 27 ton proof strain to the light drag rope of 1 inch ; from the whip of a working strain of ono ton, to the heavy Bothway capable of sustaining a strain of 18 ton. Special stores are laid down for landing, mounting, and dismount- ing guns of 23 and 25 tons. (2) Other stores for working guns worald have to be provided, viz., shell bearers, bits vent, buckets, drifts, handspikes, lanyai-ds, rammers, sponges, wad hooks, &c,, all for the service of heavy muzzle loading ordnance. (3) Magazine stores woukl also have to be provided. 3. Ammunition. — The term ammunition is comprehensive in its meaning, it includes not only charges of powder and projcetiks used with the different natures of ordnance, but embraces also tubes and other means of firing charges. Projectiles.— The projectiles nsed with heavy natures of 11., L. R. ordnance, viz., 12-5 in., 12 in., 10 ia., 9 in,, 7 in., consist of Shrapnel, common, Palliser shell, and Palliser shot, cor«d ; in addition, the 7 in. M. lu R. is provided with a double shell, the 9 in. and 7 in. with case shot. The detail of 100 rounds for the 12-5 in., 12 in. and 10 in. gnns. 18 :- Common shell , 26 Palliser " 3g Shrapnel " 3 Palliser " cored...,; 35 100 (1) Corps Equlpmetit, page 6. (2) W. O. Circular, 15 [N. S,,] parg. (3) Corps Equipment, pages 1, 3, 3 &^ ^ and passim, pari section L 18 f Those guns being intended for sea front^r are mostly proyidad . han me al [Palllse.-] projectiles, topieree armour plate The detail of 100 rounds for the 9 in. M. L. E. is .-J Common shell, Palliser " cored 30 32 Case shot,^ .3..3...... ^- Shrapnel ** For th« 7 in. Jf. L. B. :— Common shell. Double " . 3 . 3 100 25 6 of thfor gut%''''^ ''' ^^'^^^ ^° «^"^^^- P-P^'«on to those .Un '^^\u"^f- ^'' *?' ^^ P' ' '"^ ^^ P^- M- 1^- K. per 100 round and also for the 1 m. and 40 pr. B. L. E., is :— " *"unu, ana Common shell... Segment " ") Or Shrapnel " J Case shot 60 30 10 100 «« J^^^^^^^'r^^ot or shell is provided for the 80 and 64 pr ^uns as though a first intended to be battering guns they weiTstbse quenly relinquished for that purpose Tc^) in eLnrent I bhoeba-yness they have, howc^^er, proved sufficiently pTerfuI to penetrate iron-clads of the Warrior class powerlul to "Themimber of rounds per gun must obviously vaiy as the quantaty of ammun tion for the defence of a fortress is re^Iiated by ;.^:^^nd^also by the probable duration of the sic^e t^ (1) Corps Equipment, 1873, pages 1 and 18 (2) Text Book, Construction Rifle Ordnance, page 140. 19 arc mostly proridwl ) armour i)lato. E. is:— 30 32^ 32 3 3 100 25 6 proportion to those per 100 round, and 60 30 »•• • • »•■•• • • X(j 100 !0 and 64 pr. guns, thoy were subse- 1 experiments at iontJy powerful to jsly vaiy, as the !ss is regulated by the siege it may " It is generally considered that in ordinary fortresscd no more ammunition should bo stored than that nccosdai-y for a vigorou^ defence." (1) Thonumbor of rounds for land fronts for 7 in., 64 pr. and 40 pr., is 200 round.s when in fortresses abroail. (2) Capt. Piirncll in his paper on '* Defensive reform " recommends, in forts, 300 rounds per heavy gun, and for supploinentary pieces 75 rounds per gun ; in fortresses, 400 rounds per heavy gun, and for Bupplcmentary pieces 100 rounds per gun. But as about § only of the pieces would bo used at the same time, the proportion would bo over 500 rounds per gun actually engaged. This and the practice carried on in France concur. General Ducrot says : " Les munitions etaiont en petite quantito au debut du ei^ge. Les gros calibres etaient a peine a 200 coups par piece, au lieu de I'etre a 500. (3) A large number of rounds in store per gun, was however of less importance in Paris than it might have been in other fortresses, as private enterprise could supply any deficiency. " Lo comite de la defense fit appol a I'industrie privee ; dda la fin de Septombre, la fabrication des obus etait en pleine activity." (4) Therefore the duty of the oiBcer commanding the Artillery of a fortress, might be to ascertain the resources ol private industiy before requisitioning for an excessive quantity of projectiles, &c. Powder.— The powder used in the British service, for the batter- ing charges of heavy guns, is Pellet or Pebble, and also for the service charges of the 125 in. 12 in. and 10 in. guns. Though Kifle L. Gr., and even L. G., is used for 9 in. and lighter calibres of "Woolwich guns, when circumstances render it necessary, still, *' ofiicers to whom the issue [of Service L. G.] is made are to be informed of the circumstance and they will take stops to have the guns with which such ammunition is issued, examined if possible after every 25th round." (5) It may during an action not bo possible to carry out this recom- (1) Corps Equipment, section I. (2) Owen, Modern Artillery, page 507. (3) Defense de Paris, page 156. (4) Ducrot— Defense de Paris, page 156. 45) Notes on Ammunition, part II, 1870, pago 121. 20 An avomgo proportion otthMy'Z,!^^ "'^'"'°"<"' '" »"''''• forall calibre, i, BuLe,,7i„ LJ ' "' I""''"''' P^'' '■'■""d ci..<. above; a «*• Trl^ " i iSr^ 'l^^"'""'" «''"™." charges of .he 40 pr. a„u ii.^Uer /I CeS"'™""'^' ™"" Laboratory Stork*! — p^.,« * u ""^onoe. ongniting charge,tr„-tr:;;;:i^^' '^'""" """ °"- -«- p.JJoT'"''-'^-^'- °«'"-M"«--t.o natures. ti„ea„„ 9 sec. ft,« to every /„,. c^mll^'^ „:; 77;, »"^ ""« ^O »ce. or fuzes being twice that rf i|.e other Z '''*''°"' *'^<'"'"nl'ef ofSaec. ft.zesis,o„ePettmanG. S TorlSliTj ""T';""" •"' P''"'"«i»n and double shell, (1) ^ ^"' Laboratory] fn^o per common are.. '"^ '" "" '* ^™- *'"« ^"^-^^"^ "^ «-s p,r h„nd,«. ™„^, Percussion Royal Laboratoi-v Time 9fi '" \ 60 ,, 20 second o- 9 - ff '• 5 «' f ••••' 25 (2) common or scirmont Hholl «,.,! f ^^' ^' ^^c. fuze per Oso^fu^sbel^gd^tthr'of'ZoThr"'- ''"■^^ ""> -"""'« Of ,;:'-.>.,uic.„„tchpc;sr:i;^:'-»-^^^^ ;2 ;,-^ ?°i^' ^'''■^ ^oulpment, page z 2 O., en's Modern Artillery. paS (3) Corps Equipment, cited. :ht ho advanta^oiiH ^« issue of pmj)or ^IliHOr shell, as well 'ne! shell. arious purpcsos aro reference is made, powder, per round >ofenHivc Keform." mparatively email 00. and other means natures: time and r caJibi-es is, on«9 and one 20 sec. or le number of 9 sec. on of percussion fuze per common f hundiied rounds 60 25 60 25 (2) 'Jsoc. time '7.J ' "<■' iec. fme per the number of cnty per cent, c'l 4 port fires i down for all 21 The old patterns of ^'round and ].ariicliuto light ballH for 8. B. ordnuneo are not yet i-oplaccd except by a HtarNholl, with which the 7 pr. M. L. I{. gun equipment is provided and l»y an electri. light aipj)arHtus, of which only one sample exists, it appears. The importance of diwcovering an enemy's working parties at night, can 4)ot bo overrated In the defence of a fortres". "L'ouverturedes premiers travaux contre Bellevue, donnait A penser que d'autres allaient suivre et il fullait ho jircoccuper dos moyeiis d'eclairer, la nuit, les travaillours onnemis. (I) " The importance of establihhing a good system of ]ij.liting up channels and water approaches By means )f their calcium lights the Federals were enabled to continue evcti during dark nights, the bombardment of Fort Sumter and Battery '\^'agnor, lendoring communication with these points an undertaking n( l with- out danger." (2) " We of the services, are morally bound to employ any agency which will be eflFectivo in prolonging a defence or shortening an attack, and in the Magneto Electric light we have a weajwu we shall be compelled to adopt." (3) Incendiajy projectiles have not yet been adopted for riHed guns. Carcasses and Martin shells are the only incendiary j lo- jectiles in the service. Petroleum has been used to si^-ead flan o but its local action is less powerful than that of carcass compo tion. (4) There is on hand a supply of shot furnaces that might be mad available on an emergency, but no cupolas for melting iron, it i believed, are in possession. In fact no incendiary projectile:?, p'rope-. are in sloj-e in Canada. Telegraph lines and apparatus, though for what reason it is hard to say, are not considered as appertaining to the Artillery, by their usc/ulness to combine the action of ordnance in a system of defence as now adopted, comprising detached forts and batteries distant from each othei-, but which may, however, effectually in certain circunistaiu-es concentrate their fire, would be an important (1) Defense de Belfort, page W, rtted. (2) Treatise on Coast Defence, page 318, cited. In8t?1876'^''*- ^- '^^ ^- '^*'°'^' ^' ^■' P^^*^ ^"' ^'">- ^' -^°- 82- Journal U„Serv. (4) Short Notes on Field Batteries, Capt. C. Orde Brown, part II, page W. 22 adjunct to tho armament of n/- . ™.s, -.iae „,,o fence's :y:rr'"''™ ■■" «» ^tit; „„,^<''°S''''l''iio oommunicntfon »,. f ''"" '"^S" operations. [1870], by ita defondo™. '"" ™' "^^^^ ''"'' advantage at Belfon Deu^p:::;: ss-T;:r="™"« "^ ---» i-^e, .„. tranche pormanont," (i) ' "" ^'""""S * F™„ee et „J olmi, rT rN..o™o,.,t ,.e„,s o„t,.„ e„;:eV:i :: ;rS': .^?aie„t t.C ,, ""i^^^tiers-generaux." (2) --o,et™-„3.heo.„a„eo,a.do.„(|,,„,,„^^,._ "" 20 ■. ZZ 64 Pr. guns. 30 40 " *« 8 in. howitzers. The „umW of piece, !„ ■ ' '"' ™'"'^«'-^- portion of eaol, natiue wo ,w iT "°*° *''"'" '» «'■''"■">- and a n above acale to suit rll^Znu" !"■ 'T '" --''»-" w.-fh^t ™v,g„tio„ could be uL to S: atm?"''^ ''" ""» °' ™"-ay or '~nt, it would bo»„,t„dr„toLt;ro"dr""" '» ""- Of "It may bo asserted timt a r„ ^°°""'"'°so. ^h.eh has ali the resources of art a f i"?"''''" '■"o»™bly situated c«n only be captured by rll; I'* t^"'- and is weiidefend^' at d,sposal, because hcSy its ''!„,*" "^^''^S"' ^as a raS ^^^"^oriaUver the one-ny." ^J^r'"'^ "'o-o, provide a superiX S S"""? ?'^^^. ■ — — assuchbetreatoaas ^ook, page 258, for ; in the defence of he abo^e work, page e siege operations, dvantage at Belfort 'oaveau postes, aux 'ce et au camp re- 5 Pi-ussians round ts etaient telegra- generaux." (2) as follows :— . ?uns. lowitzers. ■aiy, and a pro- >i-dance with the e of railway or 'nee to lines of ra% situated ' well defended,' has a railway 5 a superiority aslatlon cited. F C. H. Clark, 23 In 1859, in addition to Field Artillery, 200 guns and 70 mortars Mere provided by the French, for the siege of Italian fortresses-each piece supplied with an average of 900 rounds of ammunition. (1) But assuming that ordinary roads and horse traction are to be used, and none other, then the above descriptions and proportions of ordnance may be considered as meeting reauirements satisfactorily. The question of eiege trains is generally treated under tferee heads : Personnel, maUriel and transport. The two last only are within our provmce, and under them, the proportions and descriptions of ordnance and ammunition, as also of the different carriages, harness and equipments. 1. Ordnance.— Siege trains as laid down in the Corps Equip- ment, 1873, consisted of breech loading guns, viz., 7 in. of 7ji, cwt 64 prs. of 61 cwt, and 40 prs. of 35 or 32 cwt. Breech-loaders have' It appears, now been replaced by muzzle loaders, and rifled howitzers added to the equipment instead of the S. B. mortars formerly pro- ^^^ '^ ^"^^ ^- 1^- K. shell has greater capacity than that K3f the 64 pr. M. L., an advantage that Major General Lefroy points out (2) as important; the 7 inch shell containing 7 lbs. 10 oz., and the 64 pr shell only 7 lbs. 2 oz. ; but this it seems, is compensated by the lighter weight of the 64 pr., and in our case, by similarity being secured wi£h the armament previously indicated for fortresses, thus rendering the same ordnance available for either pui:pose, garrison or siege, aud Bimplifymgour material. "^ The 40 pr. M. L. E. shell has more capacity than thatof the-40 pr. B L. E. for which it is substituted, the former containing a bursting charge of 2 lbs. 10 oz., the latter only 2 lbs. 4 oz., the adop- tion of the 40 pr. M. L. gun securing moreover a similarity to the ar- mament of fortresses, previously determined, with the same advan- tages as above mentioned. The 8 inch Eifled howitzer is superior to the S. B. 10 in mortar which It has replaced, for both accuracy and weight of projectile, the latter an important point with vertical fhifrj, an"l-i f - 4p --'-'- Of the 10 m. mortar shell, standing to the other in a relative propor- (1) Hamley, Operations of War, 8rd edition, page 10 (2) Hand Book for Meld Service, page 112. 24 t'^rVot/^^' '' '''''^- -'^- ^-ti". ch.,e as . I,. , ., ecu d bo utilised top^ojo'ct %hTalls l' t'' ""^^"'^^ ^^-^^'^ars on trench carts or in G S, wagZ ' ' "^ ^""'^ betransported be wTZ^^o^''^^^^^^^^ carriages would what proportions. ^ ""'^"^"^^ ««^ ammumtion, and in They would be as follows ; 6fpr.M.L.P.gu«c;arriago.... ^y pp. il.L^K. gun carriage.... Q ;»,^i t . limber ... H inch howitzer caiTiage .;; limber... , One per piece and one spare to every 7 can-iages. General service wagons ]^ P ^i„ff ..•en., oart,,, .ego wagol. nnd'.^'j'X.TS..!!"^ -"»--' . iir r General service i ^„ i ' Wagons, J Forge . .'."X' ^ P^^ ^^o pieces of ordnance. (Store "■j 1 per ten " „ not d.,i,.ablo f„ a 3i„„„ ,, " 1 .ri "'""""■ *"' «^- ••«- trench and hand ,,,■(, moStTl/ 7 "''"'''' *''• «■ »■ wagon, o— J --• 1-x., have boen convor^^^ + . '"^"'^ "f iron, but not the 40 pr. M. L. J{. gu^ '"'' *^^" ^^ P^- ^- I^- I?./ (1) 1871, edition, pr.ffe ^58. barge as 5 lbs. 4 02, 10 in. mortar of 18 fojectiles, and iUu- natures of mortars ould be transported it carriages would ^munition, and in ■J One per piece and one spare to every 7 carriages. s, sling wagons, rs: — Jces of ordnance. 'Vn in Lofroy's tired, as well as ' *c. Gjns are us when in use Cr. S. wagons, ds, the former, c'ally fitted up. ^ood Or jj-oji , ' Pi"- B. L. I?. 25 When issued to volunteers in England, the 40 pr. cariuages are fitted with shafts for farmers draught. The new carriages for siege trains are all of wrought iron, the 40 pr. M. L. II. carriage being similar in construction to that of the 9 pr. M. L. li. The system of haying the guns is different in scige batteries, to that followed in other situations ; the elevation is given by means of a quadrant, and the direction, with sights which permit of the gun being laid from under cover. (1) The Bifled Howitzer carriage, is constructed to allow the piece being fired both on or off wheels. The great advantage of wrought-iron carriages is their durability and power of resisting shocks of discharge and strains M-hen travel- ing on rough roads, &c. They also do not deteriorate like wooden . carriages which are liable to decay even when kept in store, well protected. Iron carriages are, however, expensive and on service may perhaps not be so easily repaired as wooden carriages. The limbers for the 64 pr. and 40 pr. carriages are fitted for four horse draught, and might be arranged, it is thought, to allow the use of farmers harness in connection with them, though it would be an advantage to have an organized personnel and matirkl for the trans^ port of a siege train. The limber of the 40 pr. can be used with the 8 in. howitzer carriage. It would probably be found practicable to utilize part of the supplementary armament and equipment mentioned under the head of Garrison in the organization of a ^iege train. On sevei'al occasions siege trains have been supplemented by makeshifts of this nature. In the Crimea, broadside guns from shipping were mounted in breaching batteries. Certain means of transport must however be specially provided. Eailways and water routes may help to bring siege equipment and stores, more or less in proximity to points Avhere they would be re- quired, but transport on ordinary roads would often be unavoidable. The German operations around Paris were much delayed in conse- quence of a want of means to carry on this service, not through neglect, however, of providing ample means of transport, but the (1) List of changes In wp.r materiel, 1st April, 1877.— sec. 8070. I i n ! fJ «'«« a ,>„rt thereof co„M''l,"«w;;r-'"°°"'''" '" ''''■•"•«»«. Idl^i '<'-»^«.^r;„l;™^J;;';;:;;-pp'. Of ...aoapo, „„,,.,^, ^ vehicles may U> used T, „ *"'' " """M not be iraprovieed n f ■* "oavy -n,Lura' °A";^r; r\f' "■" '- *^ .™°;i"t7f ^*"*^ would 1)6 as follows .— different caliba^s i^ Case shot Common shell....'.'..'.* 10 per cen(. Shrapnel shell 60 " 30 " u ^'gJit balls ^^'C'-^ssos 5 per cent, • 80 blocked up with not be forwarded, cans as the country 9 nearest railroad go and come back ^»ot of the proper nnd ammunition, ^<^ and secured, fortresses, and at ™ with th« siege material of any ^'Jsed. Ordinary tbfl transport of igb and broken can resist, such "■eg« trains ha« t calibj^s wHif >er cent. '•ojectifes with T cent, he natures of &c>, towhifili m. 27 The proportions of laboratory and miscellaneous stores are an laid down in the Uand-Book for Field Service, page 458. 1874 edi- tion. o FIELD. Batteries of Position in the British Service are armed wltk 40 pr. and 25 pr. M. L. R. guns, (l) The essentials of guns of Position being weight of projectile and long range, consequently large calibre and increased weight of the gun, mobility has been sacrificed to a certain extent; as they are not so intimately connected with the other arms as lighter guns, their movements may be slower and they can occupy positions for a longer tim?, being from their more extensive range, less liable to be dis- turbed by the fluctuations of the fighting line. Taubert assigns to Artillery of Position, thiee duties : Ui. Support to the Artillery of division in -combat, by detaching single batteries from the reseiwes. 2nd. To defend and attack in defile actions, in the passage of rivers, in local engagements and entrenched positions, with theespe- cial task of engaging the enemy's artillery therein. 3rd. To form masses of Artillery for the decisive struggle of th« action, both in an oifensive and a defensive sense. The 40 pr. M. L. R. gun, as a gun of posifion is well adapted t® fulfill those requireimcBts. Its large shell capacity ^ntures its effici- ency for breaching field works ef the strongest profile, while its long range and heavy projectile, enables it to engage tfceencHaiy's artillery with success. In&tances of the advantageous employment of heavy Artillery against lighter guns are given in Owetfs Modern ArtiiUery (2) " These lightguus, £9 pr. guns and 24 pr. howitzers], being unequally matched against the heavy Russian pieces, Lord Reglan oi-dered up two 18pr8., which were brought into action by Lt.-Col. Dickson R. A." ' •' Todleben remarked that they [18 prs.]) acted with much success till the end of the battle." (1) Owen's Modern Artillery, page 879, Griffiths Manual, page 68. (2) Page4a-«5. .i«^"w>. 28 The 2*^ (I ;^ .h„, „,„., ,„ ^,„ _,^ ^^ ;;» he r^. . , ,0 p..., the,,, weight ia raohilily and can toin^ mm.« „ ' "°^ '"""' """s, CToater "oingae ,h, ,„,„^ .reM „:r':S" '"'"""""^ '"-^ ^^^ l-onchmont,. With this and o her I„n!t"'' '" ''""'"' ^'""g en- St'tuled fo,. the „,.di„a,-y b„ ^t^nf .K ''°"''°'' '^»'''<' >-« •^.b- A much less noivo,-f,il „,. *u „ "*"' ^'"'"- (') over^a thousand y„,-ds,Lge "^ "' "'"'""' ^''«' '" 'hickness, at -n.a;;t:i„';~:»,^;P«';;»Mhteef„, .e. aa .„„,«. g-ns Of position in the field; th y a.f "' f.f ^"«« '™'". «» ieavy '" "•« SM-v-ice, and as thei,- »„., ' "°'' """« "seftl weanon. ^"P'fhem to' all thrlp " o'es'Th"' "'fA* ""^ ^''""'"i ^oT o ;o ^uppoK d.V«ot;l::^r: ^;™o pa,.«c,^ adapted ■lobe b,.„„ght in 8it„„„J where 40 '1 ''^'".'"•"'^'«'"«"owing difficulty, delaying ti,nely sap J, t that !/ ""''' '* P''«^«' with •h" actio,, [Ma,.engo] the fwe'°"'" "»'="''■«» «"ocess. "In d^io,,, which had only ,,3°'™' TT ^"^'""J of Boudef" «• o.™„Lit,.o„, t^ci^::-^-^^ The American 20 pi- pan-nf *i. P'-. on this side of the Atia.n c t /.^t."T'* ^^"^'^^'ent to the 26 1- OuDNANCE.-Tho heivv Uf! • "* ""^ d'stinct. ^^* ^^I^-, the light battoHnHh t'aV^M ?^' ^'^^^ «- ^« K- ti^e Horse Artillery with .9 p. 4 L r ^"' ^' ^' ^" ^^ « cwt, ond s?;rerK.^;;t,^r;^ — - oicj Artillery, translation, page 184. 29 The 16 pr. has replaced the 12 pr. B. L. R., which was found in- efficient against earthworks, its shell having a capacity of only 8 oz. Two calibres of 16 prs. were experimented upon, one of 3-3 inch and another of 3-6 inch, the latter was adopted; it weighs 12 cwt. Two natures of 9 pr. M. L. R. have been issued for field service, one of 8 cwt. and the other of 6 cwt. They were substituted for the 9 pr. B. L. R., to which they were declared superior, by a committee oi Royal Artillery officers, after thorough experimenting. (1) Though British field guns are generally heavier than those of foreign armies, still their superior range and high initial velocity [which gives a flat trajectory, therefore more hitting opportunities,] compensate for this disadvantage. The 9 pr. of 8 cwt. has an initial velocity of 1,380 feet, that of the Prussian 4 pr. [corresponding to the 9 pr.,] is of 1,210 feet, and their range at 12 => of elevation is 3,605 yards for the former, and 3,50t yards for the latter. (2) The 9 pr. compares also favourably with the American 10 pr. Parrot weighing 8 cwt. which though projecting a heavier shell is at a manifest disadvantage at such a u^pful range as 1500 yards, which is obtained with the British gun firing at throe degrees of elevation, while the 10 pr. Parrot requires nearly four degrees, the flatter tra- jectory of the 9 pr. securing more hits. It therefore appears judicious to have chosen the 9 pr. M. L. R. to arm the Canadian Militia Batteries, though the lighter 9 pr. of 6 cwt., would perhaps have answered the purpose better as it is not in- ferior to the 9 pr. of 8 cwt. in any respect whilst an advantage would have been secured by its adoption, in facilitating thereby if found advisable, che conversion of Field Batteries into Horse Artillery Batteries armed as lightly as those of the Imperial Service. (3) The present ai-mament of four guns per battery is similar to the Swiss mode of armament. Why the similarity exists must be con- jectured. The E.'itish batteries are ai-med with 6 guns, and foreign Artilleries are provided with G or 8 guns per batteiy. (1) Text-Book, Constractlon of Rifled Ordnance, page 11. (2) Griffith's Artillerist Manual, page 81. Re^r^Sm!- ®*'*°8«'« ^^^^ dated fllst December, IftTS. Appendix No. 3; Militia 11 !!; ' 1 ' .1'; 30 J-i flU increase ofihn u W"g it up to the p,.oiK,rtrr„ 3 °2r """ "om^mrum so „, ,0 «»»od,- tho increato might ;t,,C' """"' ""="' *'l«" ca-iage !^6.. ^" '''«'* ^- ^''''y- l^P- Heavy P. ArtV Ammunition wagon.3..:.::::;::: t ■■:-^^ otore cart ■« o ^ 1... e General .Pave n\ in « , , ^ the disadvantage of hirgfonsH 'T™"^ ^"''"'''od, points out munition wagons attacS^r " X'T ""^^^''^ '^O™ at this as the principal cause Tf ^L t ^M^^'eries. He giC »»»gu™tc on the nth August ISM "" ^""'' ««»» ""-gS S •81 fn. Hr!f *^h'' MM*!^'' I'T ^"^"^"'^ition wagons havo not been horsed for dr.ll wrth Mihtm Field Batteries. Till lately, they had been a useless encumberanco, as they were fitted for S. B. gun ammunition. 1 he few that are in the country havo been altered to suit tho rifled gun ammumtton. Two per battery should be the least proportion on a peace establishment, while one per gun is required to complete tho equipment, espec.ally if of the old pattern, which when altered, would not contain all the ammunition laid down for tho first lino. Tho^mode of attaching spare wheels could possibly boimproved 80 as to do away with the inconvenience of unlimbering to remove them from the axle-trees on the perches. A Madras pattern wheel would require to be carried as spare, instead of tho O. P. wheel now provided, which is not suitable to the present equipment. ^l.fT't' ""'^ "^'f!'' ^'"'^^ *^ '"^^^^ fi^'^ ^^"«"«« during wmtei-thx^ee sleighs being required to carry the gun and its supply of ammunition. No special sleighs have been provided for the K L. R. field ordnance. A few 12 pr. B. L. K gun sleighs, left behind by the Imperial roops, have been utilized for the above purpose, by altering the brackets, cap Squares and elevating screw gear. The alterations of these, as well as of a number o?0. P. ammunition tl?7''rr''"''r.'^^*^ ^ '"^^^ ^^P^"^^ *^ Government in the B Battery work-shops, which have been established, and are maintained notwithstanding gi-eat difficulties due to a very small establishment already burdened with excessive Garrison, Instruc tional and other duties, and to a stinted allowance in money for nur- chasing raw matejial, &c. ^ It is stated in the Hand-Book for Field Service, page 56, that on an emergency summer carriages could be secured on sleighs, but like all makeshifts the arrangement would not perhaps be ver^ effi- «fni T^'^^K T ^""^ ^^ '''""'^^^ ^^ ^^ P^- ^***«^'^«« ^eigh 42 cwt. 8t 11 those batteries are provided with only 6 horses per gun-the total of horses being 74 draught, stronger and heavTerlban the ordinary type of artillery horses. Mountain BATTEHiEs.-Though the proper establishment and he equipment of mountain batteries have not yet been decided upon n the British service, still, armameni* and equipments were sevem^ times laid down for them, and some batteries have been tempo^r Ly 82 organized, one battoiy for Abyssinia was armed with ? pr. M. L. E. steel guns. (1) The steel 7 pr. M. L. E- of 150 lbs., is at present the mountain gun of the British service. (2) A battery of 7 pr. bronze mountain guns was provided for the Red River expedition of 1870, temporary carriages having been made in addition to the ordinaiy ones to allow the gans being used for boat service on the water route. Four of those guns were subse- quently issued to the [late] Beauce Battery of Artillery, Province of Quebec, and limbers provided for them. They formed a very efficient battery Mhich couM take position in the most rugged terrain, specially when horsed with the small hardy horses of the lower section of the St. Lawrence. 3k Ammunition. — The gi-and total of ani.nunition to be provided for Field Artillery is laid down at 600 rounds por gun, (3) transported and apportioned as follows : — Ist. The ammunition contained in the limbers, atamunitiob WBgons and general service wagons of batteries j 2nd. That, carried in the divisional reserve column, [Ist r6- «er\'e] ; Sru. Such ammunition as is caniod in the corps ammunition resei've column, [2nd reserve] ; 4th. The supply in charge of the controller land put in the Field •arsenal, [Sixl reserve] ; 5th. And finally the quantity contained in the gmnd depot, at the base of operations and intermediate reserve ^ The ammunition to bb brought Up by batteries in the field is : fdr the 9 pr. 300 rounds, and for the 16 pr. 280 roimds. ^ The proportions of the different projectiles of the supply cfliTJed with the batteries are : — 9 pr. 16 pr. Caseshot 4 4 Common shell.. 48 34 Shrapnel " 96 62 (1) Owen's Modern Artlllefy, page 386. (2) Griffith's ArtlUerist's Manual, page 65. (3) IVolseley'fl Soldier's Pocket-Book, page 53. The above proportions, apply also to the remainder of tlie amwunition. Batteries of 40 pr. M. L. E. guns take Into the field a total of 160 rounds, which divided between the four guns of a battery give 40 rounds per gun. The expenditure of gun amnounition in different battles of the war of 1870, varied considerably, the lowest average being 14J^ rounds per gun, and the highest 126 rounds per gun, per engagement. (1) The French Artillery was provided in Ist line with 400 rounds per gun, and the Prussian Artillery with 277 ronnds for the 4 pr. [equal to our 9 pr.,] and 251 rounds for the 6 pr. (2) Reference is made for a detail of stores, &c., of the 9 and IG pr. batteries, to Griffith's Artillerist's Manual, pages 82 and 86. Section 4. Small Arms anb Ammunixion.— The supply of small arms and ammunition will now be referred to. The Canadian Militia i'.i at present armed with the Snider-Enfield I'iflo of -577 inch bore, number of grooves 3, spiral one turn in 6-5 fee*. Both long and short rifles have been issued to Infantry and Garrison Artillery corps. The Snider-Enfield is the Enfield rifle musket adopted in 1853, and subsequently converted into a breech-loader. The advantages gained by the adoption of the breech-loading system are, amo'ng others, ease and rapidity of loading, and consequent rapidity of fire. It has been found from careful experiments, that the converted En- field may be loaded and fired with good aim at the rate of 10 shot* in 1 minute 44 seconds; the average time of the Enfield which it replaced, was 10 shots in 4 minutes, 46 seconds, the conversion thus quadrupled thofiring capacity of the weapon without affecting its accuracy or range. Though the Snider-Enfield hfts been superseded by the Martini- Henry rifle, the small bore of which renders its projectile loss liable to be affected by the resistance of the air, and gives it a flatter tra- jectory, still the Snider is u sufficiently accurate and far- ranging weapon for the ordinary circumstances of war-fare, at useful ranges'. Some corps d'6lite armed with a long ranging rifle as the Martini- (1) Owen's Modern ArtiUery, page 382. (2) Fave, L'armee Francalse depUls la Qaeire, page 59. It ?.l7'r"^'' ""'Joubtedly in certain occafiions be useftil but fn the Inftrry as forlwMl "•^"'""'""'y '" "»« ™P«ct, hold good for B.tir:^r-ta";^;r:''faT^"^™"'"'-"'»'^^ Infantry, 1000; C.val^, soo, other Corp., 260, distributed thus : ' In possession of troops TO 1 xtogimerital resen'e 30 Field reserve with 7 let. res. 40 ) ^ Artillery J 2nd. res. 40 ) Control reserve & j Field arsenal ... j 3rd. res. Infantjy. Cavalry. ^''^'Uery and other corpse 100 80 50 230 20 10 20 60 Control reserve grand depot and ) ^ intermediate reserve. f '"^O 450 Total 1,000 500 20 10 2& 65 196 250 ;.;; IT,T I"^^^"'"''^ "^St^--^^ 1875, page 21 and 35. (2) Militia Report, 1875, page XVII. (3) W^olseley's Pocket-Book, page 51 and 52. 86 T1.0 quantity of ammunition now in possession of the Canadian Mihtrn does not it appears, exceed 150 rounds per stand of arms ; a quite too limited supply. ' rarme blanche can no more replace infantry fire in action, dofi- ciency of ammunition moans defeat or forced retreat The French, taught by disaster, have laid down strict regula- tions and a special drill to impress on the minds of their iafantry the value of ammunition; so direful has been for them the result ofdeficiencyin that raspect. Each rmn during a drill parade is questioned at diflTerent periods after firing, as to the number of rounds remaining in his knapsack, pouch, «&c. (1) The Regimental reserve is earned in carts permanently attached to regiments. The now pattoni ammunition carts wil) carry 28 800 rounds of Xfartini-IIenry, or 26,880 of Snider-Enfield ammunitioi. . »,n fT ?t^,f "^ ^'^'^ '''''''^''^ ^^«'"^" "^"^ ammunition are in charge of the Artillery. The officers commanding the batteries to which the wagons containing the first reserve are attached, requisi- tion direct from the officers in charge of the second reserve who, in thetr turn requisition to complete from the third resei-ve in charge ot the controller. ° ta f hi F- n'p'!!''^' '?"^'^'^ "^ "^- ^- ««^"^""itio« wagons, attached a the Field Batteries, is unuor all circumstances to be at hand so that no delay shall arise in issuing to corps who's supplies are ex- hausted. This first reserve is under the control of the Divisional Commanding officer of Artillery. The second reserve conveyed by the A rtillery, in service wagons or in other vehicles as circumstances require, is always to be up with the army, but kept as far as prac- ticable from under fire. This reserve is also under the control of the Divisional Commanding Officer of Artillery. Before issuing the boxes containing S. A. ammunition to the 2nd reserve ; the screws securing the lids of the ammunition boxes are to be removed in the presence of the Artillery officer orN.C officer to whom the boxes are to be delivered. ' The third reserve, in charge of the Control Department, should not be more than two days march in rear of the army and may be advanced at the discretion of the Commander of the Forces (1) No. 412-414, Instruction du Soldat Reglement du 12 Juln, 1575. 36 The grand depot should not be more than two marches in rear f«ither to the rear, then intermediate depots are to be formed. II; MODES OF SUPPLY, CARD AND REPAIR. ^,J^^';lj^^^^^f^'o far to determine the Artillery materiel Te ta^ed '"^^^ ^' """" ^"^ ^^P"'" of the above will now Section I — Our sources of supply. Taking for granted that the mtnaiaent and equipment of the I npenal so>.v,ce, are the standard, tiat guide us in provTding b! Cana ,anM, h.,a; tVom what sources of supply will he de vel tt Artillery material, &c., required.— Governments supply themselves with war materiel, by mmn- fivctunng or purchasing. ' ^ mamn- the stirt''"'' 'I '"''"^ "." '^ *^° ®*^*^' «^^ «"^«^- '^' control of the btate, by private jjarties for the State. Purchases are made from private parties in the State, or fo-om foreign [government or private] manufacturing establishments Qf . ..^i ' ,^^""^«c*"^« i« carried on almost Entirely by the State, at heKoyal gun or other factories, as regards ArtilW amt zi :m:\"r"^' ^'" ^"^^" ^"^ '™^"^^^^"' ^-^ ^^^ ^^^^ StnfJ'l^T'" -^T'^' "" combined system of manufacture, by the State, and by p-ivatepartie.forthe State, und^r its<.antrol. Thus he manufacture of iron and steel for the construction of w^rmatlel with the manufacture of projectiles, are carried on by pvivaTeW controlled by Artillery Officers. The manufacture of rfles a ™^ blanches and other arms, under the head ofarmesportativesXc^rZ on by contract ; the contractor signing contracts for 15 ani 20 yea^ ^Z^ S™^^^^ '-"-' *^^ --' - -■- - eon^tion^ (2) Vauchelle,Cour8d'admlnl8traUonMllltalre. Vol.j7^^elZ-2l5. Powders are manufactured by the State ; also guns for gai-risott and other branches of the service. (1) Carriages and Artillery Equipments are manufactured by tho State in Artillery arsenals, properly called arsenaux de construc- tion. (2) Turkey, Egypt, Italy, Denmark, the South American Eopublics and Japan, have purchased guns from Sir W. Armstrong, & Co., Elswick. (3) Prussia is supplied \nth ordnance by the great firm- of Herr Krupp, who's oxteasivo works had already in 1867 turned out 3,500 guns. Eussia has been supplied from the same source, though it has a;lso- its own manufacturing establishments. (4) The United States have been supplied with Artillery materiel by contractors under the control of the Ordnance corps, composed of oflScials, who, though possessed of high theoretical qualifications, lack the practical knowledge that comes of serving in the field with the weapons they are called upon to modify or construct. " Ctvnnon for tho United States are made by private founders, the material and product are under the supervision of an Ordnance Officer, who receives the piece only when it ha« satisfied all the conditions im- posed by the regulations of the service," (5) The proof of United States ordnance is carried on under tho aupevvision of the ordnance corps, as follows r Guirs, Howitzers and Columbiads, are fired three times mth solid shot, and a charge of powder somewhat greater than the service charge, (G) This mode of jH^oving ordnance, seems supoi-ficial, when com- pared with that of proving British ordnance, " steel tubes for heavy guns, are now subjected after toughening, to a water pressure in the interior of 8000 lbs, per square inch which is sufficient it is thought* to detect any latent cracks." (7) ( 1) Vauchelle, Vol. I, page 221. (2) YaucheUfi, vol. F, pivgo 201, (3) Footnote, page 4, Text-Book, Construction of Rifled Ordnance. yMJwen's Modern Artillery, appendix. Text-Book, Construction Ordnance, (5) Benton, Ordnance and Gunnery of the United States. (6) Bonton, cited, page 206. (7) Text-Book, Construction of Rifled Ordnance, page 19, 38 All guns are minutely examined before pro6f, and gutta-percha mpressxons taken of the whole length of the boi-o l^o rounds of U he highest service [battering] charge with a service projectile, ar! bo e onVu rf *'' ^'^"^ "'^ "^'''^ ^^ -^^- VroLe ii tie boie, of 120 lbs on the square inch. Gutta-percha impressions are again taken and if any defect should then appear of which there s the slightest doubt, the gun is subjected to five more rounds with service charges; if after that, the defect does not appear to We increased, the gun is passed. (1) ^^ t" nave .iv.n^tirr'^i'\^^""'''' "' ^'^ ""^^"^^'^ ^«'*^'^' f«^- ''^^'^^^ ^li-eady gn en, should adopt an armament similar to that of the main force with which It IS intended to operate. To ensure this similarity, the ernluy'dXf ""^^ '' ^'^ ^^'"^"^^ ^ '' ^^^^^^ -«' -t a co^nf i"^ -"r '^'^f" '"^ '^''' "^*^^ ^"^^«^ ^'"^y^ necessitates a costly, special and extensive plmt (2) With our means and present demands, the manuf^icture of wiough1.iron oi-dnance cannot in Canada be successfully undertaken. War materiel, no more than other manufactui-ed objects, is produced cheaply, in small quantities; therefore the outlay to maie the rZ^ V ely few guns, &c., required, would tend to iucrease the cost thereof m an enormous ratio. "wicui, Cast-iron Eifled Ordnance, could bo more easily and cheaply made not wanting the long and difficult process tL attendTI manufactm-e of wrought-iron guns, but it is thought at the expense of ix^al efficiency: Firstly, because similarity with the ImLial equipments, would thereby be sacrificed with consequent seriou unrtaW^"^ Numerous instances of the uncertainty of cast iron, or even cast steel ordnance are on record. "In the attack on Fort Fisher all the PaiTot guns feast iron hooped nfledj in the fleet burst. By the bursting of thes glrat the first bombardment, 45 persons Mere killed and wonnded.'LrKe- port on Ordnance, United States Senate. 2Rf.h F«Woj.„ lopn A? (!) Text-Book, Construct. Ordnance, page 112 (2) Text-Book, Construct. Ordnance, cbapter'a (3) Text-Book, cited, foot note, paye 27. 39 "In 1868 an 8 m. Krupp gun [cast steel] burst on board a Russian frigate, very destructivolj ; killing and wrounding in all 12 men." (1) Cast iron rifled guns, hooped, arc used in France, they are fired with charges of slow burning powder, and Considerable windage is givon to reduce the strain ; low initial velocity and high ti-aioctorv are the results. o j j ^Kodman guns [S. B. cast iron] in the United Statesare not to be fired with battering charges except on service. Officers of the United States Artillery have stated that these guns wore not to be trusted when fired with battering charges. They are, however, being rapidly converted into trustworthy rifles, by the insertion of irrought-iron tubes on Sir W. Palliser's principle. Bronze, formerly used in the construction of guns, has now been ^erally abandooed— the metal being soft, wears out quickly, pro- ducvng inaccuracy, but an Austrian process of casting bronze is said to be successful. (2) " Th© main merit of our guns [wi-ottght-iron rifled] is their non- liability to burst explosively, and tb*t if a gun fails at all it will, in all probability, give timely warning to the gun detachment" (3) The effect produced on gun detachments manning inferior ord, iiartce is most undesirable, when, confined in gun pits or casemates the men feel that not only are they exposed to the enemy's pro- jectiles, but to be destroyed at^very round, by their own guns. Thus, wrought-iron ordnance should be adopted, concurrently perhaps to an extent with east iron S. a guns, converted on the Palhser principle, into rifled ordnance, by means of a linino- of coiled wrought-iron, grooved. None of the latter guns are intended to be used as battering guns. Experiment has proved, however, that • " These 64 pr. rifles are perfect guns for defensive purposes. ' They are much more powerful than the 64 jr. Krupp guns in the siege of Paris; Firstly, because the shell contains 6 lbs. [7 lb. 2 oz?] of powder against 4 lbs. ; Secondly, because the powder charge for the gun can be increased with perfect safety-, to 14 lbs., when the ^^un ranges with ease 8,000 yards." ' ' ^ ' (1) Idem, page 28. (2) Strange, Artillery Retrospect, page 11. (3) Text Book, Construction of Klfled Ordnance, foot note, page 28. 40- '^Tho Ordnance Select Committee in England, tested a converted 64 pr. against two Woohvich, or built-up guns. The first of the latter burst into 38 pieces with great violence at the 2,270th round. The second Woolwich gun burst into two pieces at the 2,2nth round. The Palhser gun tii-ed 2,280 rounds, when the Ordnance Select Com- mittee ordered the firing to stop." "The first twenty-four rounds, fired from this gun, were with 16 lbs. powder and 86 lbs. Palliser shot, at Shoeburyness where it penetrated the Warrior target. (1) The last 100 rounds 'were fired with 14 Ids. charges and 64 lbs shell, a tremendous ordeal." As to the alternative of obtaining supplies by contract with nri- vnte firms, manm^icturing for the State, under its control, noneof the- requisites to favor the a^loption of this mode of supply, are to be- found in Canada, except, perhaps, for the conversion of our stock of Old iron S. B. guns into rifles on the Palliser principle, provided tho manufacture is watched and the proof conducted by an Artillei-v Onicer. •' Largo manufacturing establishments, capable of adapting their ijZanf, to the construction of wrought-iron ordnance, could perhap* uo induced to do so, if as already submitted, our demand was likely to be considerable, but not it is believed, under the present circum- stances, at least, not at economical conditions, moreover, to control operation.,. Artillery Officers of great practical ability, and technical knowledge, would be required. Experience hiw often pofntcil out the disadvantages of employ- ing private firms for the above jmrpose. . " Le 3 Decembre, les premieres pieces de 7, fabriqu^es par I'in- dustrie privee, furent livrees. * * * La premiere visite montra que les rayures n'avaient pas ete j^olies, kc. " Trois canons sur quatre presentoront des fissures dans la chambre, au quatrieme coup. " Ces observations portaient sur des defauts d'ajustage, dont les ingenieurs n'avaient pas primitivementcomprisFimportance, &c. (2) , (1) 4i inch iron plate on an 18 incli tealc backing, and with a j inch Iron skin. (2) Ducrot, Siege de Paris, 1870, page 147. 7f /I :41 Sir W, Armstrong & Co., and other private manufacturing- establishments in England, have it is time, succeeded in making good ordnance, but they had special advantages in being assisted by retired Artillery officers of great merit, and guided by official experi- inonts, costly and of the most searching kind. They were, more- over, fostered by large orders from Government, and benefited by military experience acquired on service or otherwise. And finally, if, to supply ourselves, instead of taking advantage of the Royal Gun and other factories in England, opened to Canada as a purchaser, we preferred dealing with foreign manufacturers, it would only be discarding British guns adopted in the Imperial ser- vice, proved by experiments and competitive trials with the best guns of foreign manufacture, to be not inferior in power, range -accuracy, and superior in all other respects. (1) ' ' The above, apply equally to the modes of supplying small aims. The number of rifles on hand is given to be 80,000 stand oi' Smd-r-Enfield, (2) 50,000 of which are in possossiMiof Militia corps. It has boeft expressed by high mil itary authority, that it would be undersirabla to increase the number on hand, in view of a future re-armament with Martini-Henry rifles. No inci-ease that would produce, a, mixture of the, two rifles is advisable, as it involves the use of two kinds of cartridges. For the same reason, a change in armament sh«uld, when decided upon, be complete and uninter- rupted. (3) Ifconditions are adverse to the manufacture of small arms in this country, not so with their ammunition; it has already been recommended by Lt.-Col. Strange, R. A., Inspector of Artillery, and by Lt.-Col. French [late .inspector] ; both advocated the inception of this manufacture, even if it was only on a small scale. It is worth considering even the advisability of collecting the shells of fired cartridges with a view to the experiment of refilling. The relatively large expenditure of S. A. ammunition at target practice, &c., the low state of our reserve, 150 rounds per stand ; added to the fact that the process of manufactm-e is not very com- (2) MlUUa Reports.. 1875,oM^or-General Commanding, page xvU» (3) Idem, page xvil. 42 plicated and allows unskilled and cheap kbor to be employed, sliould be sufficient reasons to act upon the above recommendations. Powder of certain grades could, perhaps, be made in powder mills of the country. It would undoubtedly be advantageous to have It in our power to supplement ordinary supplies of a substance, the transport of which from England might be delayed by adventi- tious circumstance, and cause serious complications. The following tests would in that case have to be made : On the charcoal used to see that it is free from sand, and an excessive quantity of ashes, that it is thorouglily carbonized ; On the sulphur to ascertain that it is free from sand and other impurity : On the saltpetsi* to identify it and to test its purity, to test if it contains chlorides, lime, sulphates, nitrite of potassa. The chemical analysis of the -gun powder produced TOight also "be performed apart of the above tests. The manufacture of a certain class of projectiles, viz : cTiilled shot and common shell for heavy guns, could be attempted; a good iron for the purpose is obtained m the country. The Radnor and St. Maurice iron deposits have been utilized, in the manufacture T(f chilled iron E. B. car wheels that have, given satisfaction. In m5, our neighbours used this ii-on for casting projectiles to batter the walls of Quebec. (1) ' War materiel and stores of certain descriptions, are manufac- tured in India, the same miUtary reasons, viz.: distance from the sources of supply, render this course advisable in Canada. Carriages, gun stores and a variety of other materiel in the construction of which wood the staple produce of the country enters largely, could also be advantageously manufactured here. Under all circumstances, the control and supervision of their minufacture should be exercised by officers possessed of sound technical know- ledge. A commencement might be made in the work-shops of " A" and ''B" Batteries j usmg the iron work of old unsei-viccable carriages. HisKTD^.?^f^fr"' P^«' ^- ^"^''^'•y '^"'^ ^^t^'l^^lSoc^ cd, sliould 18. n powder us to have mbstance, T adventi- i, and an .dj vnd ©thor 3 test if it ight also i: cTiilled mpted; a ) Eadnor tiufactnre 1. •ojectiles, manufao- Ei'om the >1 in the •y enters Under ufacture il know- of " A" ■viceable 8rd series. 48 Section 2.— Intimately connected with our subject is that of ArEonals. They ai-e of tho Ist. class, if established for purposes of con- struction ind repairs, storage, distribution of war materiel. Of the 2nd class, if their operations are confined to repairinff storing and distributing. And of the 3rd class, if for storing and distribution only. To whatever class they belong, their first qualification should bo security again^ attack as far as consistent with a second, their situation being such as to render transport to and from them, and distribution, as efficient as possible. The proper balance of those essentials is the main point in tho establislmient ©fan arsenal. Pro- ximity to sources of supply of raw material and skilled labour, should also be considered, specijiHy in the case of a 1st. class arsenal. The topography of the country and the site chosen may give security, ani a weR devised system of fortification add thereto. To facilitate its operations, an arsenal must be placed in a cen- tral position relatively to that part of the country it is intended to supply ; at the meeting point of great. arteries of commuriication. Arsenals were formerly established ©n the frontiers of States Traffic was then slow and difficult, and though railways have notdone away with intermediate depots, still great arsenals may now bo placed in more remote positions, transport being carried on by rail and water with sufficient facility, while additional security is obtained in placing them out of the enemy's immediate reach. The opinions of military writers in England, have, for some time been strongly expressed in that sense, with regard to Woolwich. ' *' The magazines were in the front line of danger." fAlludinff to the French arsenals in 1870.] (1) As a consequence, when Metz and Strasburg surrendered to the ennemy, the French armies were thereby deprived of large quantities of war materiel, and of other means, to protiact the defence of the territory, T\iQ personnel of an arsenal may consist of a director or superin- tendant, a sub-director or asssistant-superintendant, and of a certain (1} Staft Collage, Prize Essny, 1870. Lt. ^. H, H. Collen. aninnberdf officers, employees and artificei-s to canyon the adminr stration and the work of the arsenal. (1) ^ "'' fro Jff' f'T Tl'^"^ "'' *^"* ^" ^^-^^^-^ '^'■^ f"'«H«d that come .luthonty The director of the arsenal, assisted by the sub-diictor would see- that ead. officer or employee does his 'duty II Cd etrmandroV"''"?^ ''" ^'^ ^""""^ «^ *^'« establishmenr^ eon^manders of cot-ps , have, to enforce discipline and Oi-der, to imn.H wistruction and insure efficiency. u«i , lo impaift Under his oixiersthe «mb-director would sui^w-vise and direct nt? ::^^^r''''' ' '^^^'^- ^^^ ^^^-"^ «^-- :rs,trif r,^ J-*"? ''''^"•^*^^' ^«"^d ^^'<> l>e present at the reception of raT^r matermls and superintend their storage and employment ^eein. thaT -tnct accounts thereof are kept. He would V responsTbb tha d^«eiphnary and other regulations are strictly adhered L The officers employed at the arsenal, and under them the chiefs- or conductors, the sub-Chiefs or sub-conductors, and Z arL. I^I carry out th. « service^' of the arsenal, divided 'under tr hefd":!: .1. Approvisiotting. 2.. Gonstructing, 3.. Adiainisteiing.. 4. Instruetipg, Under the first head: Firstly, the Peception, storing and <^ve >0f woods, u-on-and other. metals, coals, tools, and ^therarLesne^ th?d-r-.*'r ^^"f-«*^- -^ -pan. of w^r materiel Ir^r the distnbu&on of those materials. oeconaiy, JThe construetion. would be exclusively entrusted to the corns <»f " .a..taficers The officers commaiiding these artificers woud have the supemsjon of the construction, assisted therein by theirsil a^d heads of workshops. They would also have to test th^oual tv of the raw material provided for the work, and.be responsible thS^ he. articles manufactured are according to pattern and nrfaulty fl construction or fitting. (2) i«uiiy m ,p It""^'''"' i" f::^' !"' '^' ^^-^fi^-'-^' keep correct account of ah mattci.. uy whi ch^ ncur responsibil ity. The appix)vi6ioning, m Vauchelle, Cours d'admlnistratlon MlUtalre Vol T r,«cr„ ono (2) Vauohelle, VOL L pages i05» 206.and m ' ^^® ^^ he ad mini^ that come receive hi.s r superior lb-director, lie would ahpient as , to impaift 1 direct all squads pf 3n of i-a^v 3eing that 3iblo that the chiefs- artificers^ heads: — and <^ve les necos- Jecondly,. corps !(|f have the >>balterus s quality ble that *ul ty in. iount of ieioning, 49 in raw material, is done by calling for tenders, or by contracts, which are in all cases to be submitted to the Minister of War before final apprv^val. Thoaccounts of an arsenal, are based upon the annual inventories and stock taking, the store ledgers and other records of receipt issue and expenditure, of the different branches of the administration. The audit of those accounts is made by officials appointed under the authority of the Minister of War and in the War Department. (1) Lieut. E. n. H. Collen, E. A., in a lecture entitled, " Military Transport and Supply in India," read at the United Service Institu- tion m 1870, has dealt with the subject of arsenals in India, as follows :— In India, arsenals are controlled by an Ordnance Depart- ment. That dopai'tment has charge of aU warlike and military stores including small arms, material f«r their repair, tools en.i neers stores, harness, saddlery, accoutrements, camp oquipagi &c m fact all the equipments and military stores required for an army.'' ^ In addition, the Department has charge of all kinds of raw ma- terial required for military purposes. In each Presidency in India, there is a District Oi-dnance De- partment with an Inspector General of Ordnance at its head. He is the administering chief and adviser of Government, andtheComman- der-in-Chief, on all questions of war material ; he resides at the seat of Government. ^ Subordinate to him are : the Deputy Inspector General and Commissaries of Ordnance, and subordinate to those, are Wan-ant Officers styled Commissioners, Deputy, and Deputy Assistant Com- missioners. Conductors and Sub-Conductors, and further the non- commissioned class or sergeants. The remainder of the Ordnance Department personnel, consists of clerks, artificers and labourers. The commissioned officei^ or commissaries, are drawn exclu- sively from the Artillery They have to pass an examination in technical knowledge, and the conduct of the business of an arsenal before being definately appointed.-Tbis very rational and proper course, of choosiiig Artillery officers for the above duties, is not being followed in the British service proper. (2) " Sir W. Mansfield (1) Vauchelle, vol. I, page 205. (2) Since this essay was in manuscript the control svstpm woo f^,,.,^ fn^^'T'' ""*^ expensive a failure that it hae^^been abandoned CoJeaTBrlteVn'^hf? faoiUa descensus, not so easy to rise again: vested Intprpsta in a^i^f^^^ 55'* '"• "*"' malce it difficult to return td one of common sense . ^^^"^^^ *° »" ^"sa^® system wIU 46 calls tho British control a system of uneducating generals, and I would add, Artillery officers, who are scientifically and practically msti-ucted in tho manufacture, care and repair of war material, and yet you take from them the most important part of their duties, to be handed over to civilians." (1) Control officers themselves, com- perfo,-m (2)"^ '"^''''^'^ '^'^^ ^""^'"^ ^^'^ ^'^ ""^^ ^"^"^^ **^ Lord Strathnairn's committee, pronounced themselves most emphatically in favour of entrusting the care and repair of war matonal, to " Artillery officei-s who receive a special education which particularly suits them for this service." -In Indian arsenals, the Warrant officers are appointed from tho non-commissioned ranks, which can be recruited ft^mall branches of the service the merits of the candidates being determined by exami- nations. Thoee 8electerganisa- r. "The rywork, Marshal pctix, les issuing lenished an Store tute,,M70. 4Y Department, or by manufacture, local purchase, or occasionally fi'om other Departments. Arsenals in India, are of all classes, they are designated as arsenals proper, magazines and depots ; they are all in charge of Artillery officers, and under the control as already said, of Inspec- tors General of Oi*dnanco. Arsenals of the 1st class and to an extent those of the 2nd, consist of issue and receipt departments, pattern rooms, armouries and armoury workshops, harness and saddlerj' stores, accoutrements stores, foundries, tools, tent, raw and unservi- ceable material stores. The Park contains the siege trains and Artillery heavy materiel, laboratory, magazines and workshops. The 3rd class arsenals are mainly for storing, having no work- shops attached, and containing those articles only most required by the tro ps. — It is submitted that the above organisation, would in some mea- sure be suitable to the requirements of Canada. The business of the Indian arsenals would in Canada, for reasons above adduced, be confined to the manufacture of such material, as could be economi- cally constructed in the country, and to the care and repair of Artil- lery material and small arms. As Arsenals of the second class, they would be provided with the necessary personnel and workshops to carry on the repair of guns, small arms, of guns carriages, harness and war material generally. Laboratories would have to be established there to prepare car- tridges, both cannon and small arm and other laboratoiy stores, also large magazines of proper construction and disposition to store ex- plosives with safety. Two principal points are attended to in connection with the storage of gun powder. A. Place the magazine, so, that in the event of, an accident occurring, the effect will be limited to the magazine. B. Construct it and conduct the storage therein, so that the risk of an acciu. nt be reduced to a minimum. To meet the first requisite, a site is selected remote from dwell- ings, roads, rivers, railroads, canals and public thoroughfares generally or if near such, then screens or mounds of earth are erected around the magazine. 48 Powdor magazines BhouUl not bo placed at loss than 1,000 yards from inhabited localities. (1) -a *• To moot tho second, observance of precaution must bo enforced, to guard against two classes of risks to which magazines are ox- posed, viz : — 1st. Risks from without; 2nd. Risks from within. From without : Adjacent conflagrations or explosions, sparks sometimes carried ft-om a distance. Wilful incendiarism; lightning. Risks from within : Fire from matches, lighted candles, pipes breech-loading rifle cartridges, percussion caps, fuzos, fulminates, «v'c' Fire from spontaneous combustion of oiled rags, cotton wast«' chemical substances, &c. ' Fire from sparks struck from iron or steel. In fact, heat may be developed sufficiently by pomission or friction to cause ignition without sparks or flame appearing. Soft surfaces being the most off-ective preventative against this class of risks, magazines should properly always be lined and floored with wood. No grit should be allowed to penetrate into tins magaziaes, and no barrels opened there, in any case, with nothing but wooden or gun metal implements; even friction of wood against wood is dangerous, if violent. Regulations exist for guidance in the removal of fuzos and emptying of sholls, and also foj- th-o performance of laboratory operations. (2) The rules laid down fur the ventilatron of magazines, -would hav« to be adhered to. (3) Observations with tho wet and dry bulb ther- mometer, have given very favorable results in Quebec; they were inaugurated there by Lt.-Col. Strange, R. A., Dominion Inspector of Artillery, and have been carried on for several years. Parks to place reserves of heavy guns, would hav« to be formed. &c., (2) Notes on Animunltion, 1873, page 127. (3) Notes on ammunition, page 112, 49 Great attention must bo paid tothoprosoi'vationofironai'dnftnce when in depot or on service, to prevent the irropuiruble injury guns fiustain fiom rust and corrosion. As a generaf rule, guns when mounted require laoqnoriiig and painting every two years, and if on eea fronts every year. For this operation the first stop to he taken is to scrape the rust and dirt from the bores and exterior of the guns with special instruments, then lacquer the inside, and give a coat of Pulford's magtiotic paint to the outside. The recesses of sights, Ac, arc plugged with tallow and tow, and the fittings, if bronzed or blued, not burnished but oiled. Guns on service would require to bo examined as follows : — 9 inch and heavier natures after every 50 rounds, 8 inch and 7 inch after every 100 rounds, 64 pr. and smaller guns after every 150 rounds; defects, if any, and also the sentence should be recorded in a regular register of examination. (1) Artillery projectiles are piled if possible under eover on dry and firm gi-ound slightly elevated above the general level ; a g©od base, if such does not exist naturally, would have to bo formed with small stones, sand, &c., and overlaid with unserviceable projectiles. When exposed to bad weathoi- fht - should bo lacquered; coal tar i.i used for that purpose in f Jnitod States and in Franoe. (2) With project ilea for rifled guns, great care should be taken not to dent the soft metal coating or studs, which must be tupped or filed smooth when dented. This- is particularly important with M. L. B. projectiles, n , when thoir studs are damaged, they are likely to jam in the bore iu being rammed home, causing delay and much incon- venieni e, at the best. Stores are required to put perishable articles, spare gun car- riages, fittings, &c., and small stores of all kind^ under cover. Militia Field Batteries keep on charge their service equipment, as far as completed, they are often deficient of very important por- tions of it. A limited Eeserve, not only of ammunition, but of other material might be obtained aud kept in store for an emergency. A lost or damaged tangent scale, if none other is at band to replace it, imnairs the ofliciencv of a cun, the same oan be said fnv nfiiAi» ai^ni>aq (1) Text-Book, Constructionof Rifled Ordnance, pages 113 and 178, Ac. .,., <^} ®,*i!?'* ^^" S2"" special a I'usu^e des pelotous d'instructton des regiment d'ar- tlUerle, 1872, page 23. " A hand to mouth policy in this respect can not tend to the good of the service. The following return of daniages, sustained in a single action, by the German Artillery, in 1870, though they wore opposed by ati inferior advei-sary, points out the necessity of having reserves. 1st. Bat'y, [Heavy] III corps, a gun wheel. ^"^- ]] " " center limber box. flh" !! t^^g^*] " several poles and lid of limber box. t ' J' . " " 2 gun wheels and elevating screw. 2nd. Horse Art'y. Bt'y., - a limber box shell passed through. 1st. Light Battery, X coi-ps, a limber and gun wheel. ^"^' " " •* a gun wheel and gun carriage. (1) Even during peace, deficiencies due to neglect or inexperience are constantly occuring in Militia Batteries, and cannot be made good without importing across the Atlantic after months, perhaps years of delay, some trifling part of the equipment which neverthe- less renders useless a gun, a battery, or perhaps the whole armament ol a fortress. Transport carriages would also have to be put under cover and proper care. This subject as well as the examination and repair of Artillery carriages, platforms, &c., have been comprehensively treated by Major L. Griffiths, E. A., (2) reference is made to his work. Small ai-ms when in reserve are kept in armouries provided with racks into which the rifles are placed, kept well oiled and often cleaned. S. A. armouries should be dry and each stand of arms there- in easily reached by the care takers, to ascertain its state and keep it in order. ^ , The care of arms, /. e., those in possession of Militia corps has often left much to be desired. (3) The military organization of the country is unfavourable to the enforcement of regulations tending to make each Militia man re- ponsible for the care of his own weapon. The short auimul trainings (1) HolUst's German Artillery, campaign 1870, page 858. (3) Orlfflth's Artillerists Maniiaf, 11th Edit., pajreDSk C^ ^ (3) Report of the Major-Qcneral to command, 1874, page xl. 51 afford^ no opportunitioa of imparting to the rank and file a know- ledge of the rules laid down for that purpose in the " Musketry Instruction." The practical knowledge of those entrusted with the instruction of Militia Infantry in this and other duties is often insufficient. Eecommondations bearing on the subject of care of arms, have been made by the General Officer in command of the Militia. (1) A reserve of 60,000 rifles has been recommended to be procured, the storage of this inci-ease to the number already in possession would immediately necessitate large annouries which could not well be situated elsewhere than in areenals, under military guard and protection. Small arm ammunition, containing its own moans of ignition, is under no pretence to be placed in ordinary powder magazines along with other ammunition, special magazines would have to be used. A supply of, at least, 800 rounds per stand of arms, has been deemed necessary to meet the exigencies of the service. (2) As it is intended to bring the number of rifles in Canada to a total of 120,000 stand, the supply of ammunition would consequently require to be proportionately increased, and considerable magazine space provided for the storage thereof. The above supply, not leaving a single round in reserve, would still be infi9rior to the regulated quantity to bo brought in the field, by about 200 rounds per stand. In connection with magazines and stores, may be mentioned here, the different means provided in fortresses for sheltering, pre- serving and facilitating the supply of diflPerent descriptions of Artil- lery materiel : 1st. Side arm store, to contain side arms, tackle, blocks, bearers, buckets, wads, &c., for every eight guns or at the most twelve. 2nd. Artillery small store, to contain the stores [in use] for eight and at the most twelve guns. 3rd. General Artillery store, for the reception of the spare or ge- neral stores of 24 gunts. 4th. Expense shell store, for every 2 or at the most 4 guns, with a lobby in which shells can be fuzed if necessary. (1) Report of the Major-General In command, 1874, pages zi and xil. (2) Idem, page xli. \.,l 62 5th. Expense magazine, for the service of 4 guns to contain 25 rounds per gun, and if not easily replenished at feastVo ^Xer 6th ^am shell store, for the purpose of storing loaded shells JMam ma^a^me. with shifting rooms and cartridge filling rooms separate from the magazines, but conveniently near them All these different dispositions a^-e mostly applicable to heavy M. LB. guns The main points would be: as direct and weU covered communications as circumstances admitted, between gun nit rr T^"!r"' *'%'''''^ '' '' '" *^* ^-^ -t-tionf, ?„ point of security and ease of access. Main magazines should ;iso possess the above advantages, the stores of ;owder suffictn ly divided to render risks as small as practicable, and all doors and openings m the best direction to ensure the greatest possible security under hre. And finally the shell rooms and shell rLsses Ms Tie i^ui.Tr "" '''''"' '" ''" "'^' "^^^^ ^' "^^'^ Third class arsenals being only depots of stoics, would, as a rule contain but a limited quantity of war materiel, especially iV exposal to attack and in any case only sufficient to provideVor the immS wants of troops oi)orating within their zone of supply "'™'^'^^' These depots would be established at strategical points, and if m well chosen situations need not be numei-ous. The organization and arrangement, except workshops, previous- ly dwelt upon m connection with second class arsenals, a^ply Xo but in a less degree, to those of the third class or depots .hnf ^"*'^'^"f ^*f ^^P^*« «^« formed during a campaign, in order that the supply to an army in its advance may be Icsf m^car ou« and exposed to the many contingencies of a long tran 7 The depots would generally be formed at the junction of Important lines of railways, or other main lines of communication. A large denofc wa. formed in 1870 by the Germans at Remilly supplies were forwarded there from the great magazines T the (1) Paper XI, Profcf^slonal Papers B. E. [1871], vol. XIX. 53 Rhino. Two other depots were subsequently estaWished near Metz, one at Courcelles, the other at Noveant. (1) ^ Field arsenals belong to the 3rd class, the storage would have to be improvised by utilizing such buildings as might be found on the site selected, or by constructing Field Magazines, &c. These arsenals are established out of range of Artillery, in the neighbor- hood of an invested fortress, to contain reserves of guns, ammuni- tion, carriages, stores of all kinds, and in charge of the principal Buperintendant of stores, who has to keep up the supply by drawing frOm the depots in rear. '^ The Harbors of Kamiesch and Balaclava were depots of the allied armies in front of Sebastopol. Supplies were stored there and after\yafds ought up to the Field Arsenals and Batteries. fnctbti 3.— -Location of om- Ai-senals and Depots. vunnidering that it is more advantageous, both in a financial and military point of view, to maintain good and efficient arsenals at strategical points than to multiply those bases of supply, and thereby, the dangerous points to bo protected ; it may appear that two, at the most three, 2nd class arsenals should be established in Quebec, Ontario and the Maritime Provinces. At present five military store depots of importance exist in Canada undor Dominion control: at Quebec, Montreal, Kingston Toronto and London. ' The establishment of extensive permanent fortifications and ample storage at Quebec and Kingston significantly points out that they have been considered by the Imperial military authorities as two positions where means of defence should be concentrated. Though both have till now been— under Dominion control— depots only, condi^ tio?s, political and others, having been altered, it may now' appear tha^t they should be organized as arsenals. Montreal, by its central poait'oi:, offers, great aRacilities of sup- ply [distribution], but its situation wonld perhaps be considered objectionable. " Convenience and security of the base, the posi- tion of the enemy's forces, the facility in the shape of good and practicable roads for reaching the object, the proximity of the object, the fitness of the topographical charocter of tbo theatre to (1) Hamley's Operations of War, cited, pige 40. 64 r the army destined to operate in it," (1) are all considerations that gOYQm in the selection of a theatre of war. Those conditions would induce an invader from the South to at 7k Montreal. History points out to such a course. (2) Montreal is therefore in a relatively exposed position to become a depot of considerable quantities of war materiel and means of con- struction and repair, such as are collected in 2nd class arsenals "II serait imprudent d'accumuler trop de ressources pour ahmenter la guerre, sur des points que I'ennemi pent depassor do prime abord." (3) i i u Of what avail were to France the large constructing establish- ments of Metz after the investment of that fortress by the Germans ? Quebec does not perhaps offer the same facility for the distri bution of supplies, as it is.not in a central position, relatively to the densely populated parts of the two old Provinces of Canada More over If Montreal was invested the lines of communication between Quebec and Ontario would temporarily be blocked, and permanently so If Montreal surrendered; but, it may appear in further remarks that means could be adopted to palliate the effect of tho«e events Still, if the main source of supply was England, and Great Britain mamtained its present naval supremacy no more favorable situation for an arsenal might be found in the country In fact Quebec could become the general receiving arsenal or ma..azine' from whence supplies would be forwarded westward As time and distance are two great elements in warfare, when a country Las depth of territory, arsenals can be placed iJv out of reach and are then proportionately secure; not so with our lon^r narrow belt of inhabited country; it may appear, however, thS Quebec is a sufficiently secure strategic point for an arsenal, not only by the natural and artificial strength of its site and fortifications but also by its topographic situation. ' ' Serious attack can not, it is thought, be directed against it from the Maine frontier opposite ; the country, on both sides of the line 18 most unfavorable to military operations of imi,ortancc Th.'t portion of the Slate of Maine form imporl ng a salient north of the 45th (1) Hamley's Operations of War, page 55. (2) Precis of Ware In Canada, cited, page 88. (8) Vergnlaud, Art Mllltalre, page 119 65 parallel, towards and opposite Quebec, averages less than two inhabitants per square mile, and is consequently uncleared. The Chaudicre River is shallow, full of rocks, perfectly unnaviga- ble. There is no railway communication through the Maine fron- tier to Quebec, and the most northward railroad in that State passes on the south bank of the Penobscott River, at Lincoln. The small area of cultivated land — hardly 40 acres per square mile — and the small returns of agricultural production, about $450 per square mile, for more than half of Maine, indicate that intercourse and the consequent establishment of railway communication and other facilities of transport on that part of the frontier, are likely to bo slow in their progress. (1) Arnold's advance by the Kennebec route, in 11*75, practically proved the unfeasablo character of a scheme of invasion from that point of the frontier, and the conditions of the case have not been much altered since then. An attack against Quebec, if confined to the south shore of the St. Lawrence would therefore have to be made from another direc- tion,— perhaps the Lake Champlain line,— and could be met by a defensive force in several prepai-cd positions — Sorel fortified and properly held \\ould make the enterprise more hazai'dous. Tsle-aux- Noix is already fortified, but without armament or garrison. Quebec therefore by the nature of the frontier opposite would possess to an extent the advantages conferred by depth of ten-itory, fio desirable for prolonged defence, whilst it could provide its defen- sive force with abundant supplies of material of all descriptions, by water and by the Railways on both sides of the St, Lawrence, It is true that if Montreal was captured, supplies could no longer be forwarded westward from Quebec ; l)ut the disastrous effect of that event might be palliated, by establishing at Ottawa one of the above mentioned second class arsenals. This scheme of locating at Ottawa a grand depot of war material, has been recommended by high military authority. By its I'ciirod position, Ottawa is comparatively ssic. More- over, the chances of success of an attacking force directed against it, would be precarious, at least, as long as two strong holds, Kingston and Montreal [fortified] held out, engaged as the enemy would be (1) Walker's Statistical Atlas of tlie United States, part II, 1874. witli forces taving ttiroo important fbrtr««™ „„»-i u operat ons. These «/!•■,•■,».» , '"""*«"»■ available as pivots of woAs would nieotte™?:';"'' T"'^ ^°™<^ «>•»"■» »''«»"h- depo. or seoonTZ°lrs»al 'i^'*i"' ""' -'""-^ent of a largo treal by the Ottawa riwT^'d th! iT^ ''"■"™»»io«tion with M». «• E.; with KingstoXCt!. *'™"'<»'' 0"»« a^d Occidental cott aid Grand SSl^anl".*'''"'' »'"' *" ™ «'« ">ePres. mediately wanted there, co„oentr"™"rottowa tief "'" ™- :rar™dt.'^;tt:^:tr:ri^°*'^'— ^ heavieS„ator,'kt:rr^:aT1,;tl^ of naval inferioritv on the Lakes ZIoT*^' ^ '° **^^ ^^"^ ton from lx,mba..iment and per^ "^^^^^^^^^^^^ "^ '' P^^?««* ^-gB* would thus have been kept L uTanT^l / m f 1' ^"*^*^ "^ «*«^-«^ operations. ^ ''''^ available fbr farther defensive depots. London might JrhaDstt^ m ^'1 ''"'' "^^^"«'« ^^ cientdegi-eeforthepuLsr T "°* ^ ^.^^^^^^^^d secure in a suffi. as very muchTdvan Tand J'^^T'.^r'"'''^'''^ Vauthorities period';>f the cam^^^^^^^ Ire "f-, ' 't'' '^ '^ ^"* ^^^^^ -"'^^ expense that neithS Z^I^fZ^ '"^T '" '^ ''^^'^^^^^ ^" tance, perhaps at present wa^^nt' ''"^"^^^^^^' ^^^ P°"«^«l i^por- have?ort:rd:tL'^^^^^^^^^^ ^.^n-^-'^ ^-^ -^ - whilst, if superiority onZ^-^- - ''"^"^ '"'"''" ^^^''''^^'* from the frontiers Iders it ttlw.' T'"'' ^'^ ^^"^^^ P^^^^-" theforcesentrustedwit th detoeofLtTe"; ' '.T ^^ ^"^^^^ Montreal, though liable toaZl n " ""^'^^ I>ominion. become a 3rd class arsenal its «t.ot' T^^ "^^^'-t^eless have to K.^^^ ^-...;^ , , «|^enai, its strategical importnnrn r,cco-''-«- -f Oviiig lurulied, and this heaw hut n«o,r^- 1 i 'ecc-miatua its made to serve two purposes ''"^^^'^^'^ expenditure, would bo The investment of that pifxr i^«„+ • might be made a very aX? Jj, ^''.* '" .^ ^-^P«' «*^*« of defence,^ anlsland formed bX wide a^^^^^^^^ "*"".*'" '' ^''''''''' '«' «» «u oy l^, o wide and rapid rivers, difficult to bridge over. »Y , The storage, &c., of war material for the force employed in its de- fence, necessitates at Montreal the establishment of a depot or 3rd class arsenal— utilizing for that pm-pose the buildings, shops, &c., already existing. Halifax might perhaps become a 2nd class arsefial for the Militia of the Maratime Provinces, without its efficiency as a naval station being impaired thereby. Fredericton, though near the fron- tier, could be made sufficiently secure for a depot or 3rd class arsenal. St. John's, it has bepn said, when in a thorough state of defence will add materially to the security of Fredericton, The importance of "Vancouver Island as a station for the Im- perial Navy in the Pacific— it is to be trusted— will secure to it, from proper quarters, adequate protection at no distant date, ^his however, may not prevent the Dominion providing the Militia force of British Columbia with means of action to co-operate in the defence of the future terminus cf our Canadian Pacific Eailway. The necessary armament and equipment might be provided and stored up at Victoria or Esquimalt, where important dockyards and naval stores exist, and would have to be adequately protected by heavily armed and well garrisoned fortifications. Thus, three 2rd class arsenals [including Halifax], might, it may appear, be advantageously established to supply, take care of and repair the warlike stores, and especially the Artillery material, small arms and ammunition required by the Canadian Militia, and four third class arsenals, viz., at Toronto, Kingston [naval], Mon- treal and Fredericton, the latter confining their operations to receiv- ing, taking care of, and distributing the material supplied, making only such urgent repairs of damages thereto, as could be carried on with the limited personnel and material at hand. In utilizing the existing military depots as arsenals of the 2nd or 3rd class, little more, it may appear, has to be done but i-e-estab- lish therein, under Dominion control, a personnel and the materials withdrawn a few years ago by the Imperial authorities, and to an ex- tent only, sufficient to meet the wants of our military oiganization. The above remarks have therefore been made with the object of recalling to notice a mode of utilizing the means actually at hand in the shape of storage, buildings, workshops, &c., in u great measure as previously done under Imperial administration. m^nf^l'H°'t.'''^'7j*^*P'^P^'' ^"" cared for armamentand equip, n^nt and staunch hearte to utilize them in our defence; let Vl ^^>^,' Ml degperandum auspice deo." ^ F0S8AMBAULT, 28th July, 1877. ,^ /^-^K^^-^A-**^ (Vf^-^^Ctl J