The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 26, 1860.

IOUNTRY APARTMENT S.—To be LET,
N.-/ Furnished, THREE BED ROOMS, a Sitting Room,
and use'of a Kitchen, near a healthy village twelve miles
from London. The house stands in a very, extensive garden
and is close to Bushy Park, at an easy dist nee from two
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To those seeking rural retirement and quiet comfort this ad-
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THE CONSERVATIVE LAND SOCIETY.-
Trustees—Viscount Ranelagh and J. C. Cobbold, Esq.,
M.P. Interest on shares 5 percent. per annum, on Deposits
4 per cent. per annum. No partnership liability, and taking
of land is optional. Prospectuses explanatory of the Share,
Deposit, Borrowing, and Land Departments, free.
CHARLES LEWIS GRUNEISEN. Secretary.
Offices, 33, Norfolk-street, Strand, W.C.

CERTAIN RELIEF for the AFFLICTED.—
Dr. SCOTT'S BILIOUS and LIVER PILLS, pre-
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is. lid. and 2s. 9d. each. Be sure to ask for Dr. Scott's
Bilious and Liver Pills. The genuine are a square green
package, with " William Lambert, 20, Jermyn-street,' en-
graved on the'Government stamp.

ARMSTRONG AND WI ITTFORTir

CANNON.

pears to us, the principal qualities of a field arti'-
lery, independently of considerations of firing.
These qualities are possessed by our artillery, and
in these we may be considered to be in advance of
all our rivals, and it is in these, as we shall see, that
rests true superiority.
As to firing, certain conditions relate to range,
and certain to precision, but with a close connec-
tion between the two.

The range of a gun depends partly on the incli-
n Won given to it; the more this is increased, with-
in certain limits and without any difference to the
charge, the longer is the range, or, in other words,
the greater the distance to which the projectile
will be propelled. We will explain this more fully
presently.
If two guns be directed to the same point, that of
greater precision is that the projectile of which
arrives the nearest to the point in right or straight
line, and the least distant from such right line to
the right hand or to the left. There is, therefore,
precision in length or distance, and precision in
direction.

Precision in direction is of less importance on the
field of battle. The point aimed at, whether in-
fantry, cavalry, or artillery, almost always offers a
front of a certain breadth, and whether the projec-
tile travel a little to the right or left of a right line
is of no great consequence. This precision of direc-
tion is the least difficult to effect.
_ _

Precision in length or distance, or in other words,
so firing that the projectile shall attain the exact
distance of the point aimed at, is the more difficult
problem. On the field of battle one only of the
elements of firing is variable, that is the elevation
of the gun, since the charges being all prepared are
all of the same weight. If the distance of the ob-
ject were exactly known, it would be sufficient to
give the gun the necessary elevation ; but, unfor-
tunately, this distance is almost always unknown.
It cannot be measured, and the most skilful can
only appreciate it by the eye, with large errors,
frequently of many hundred yards in 2,000 or
F 3,000. "At what distaste are we ?" is the first
and general inquiry when the artillery commence
their operations; and as very rarely two opinions
agree, the fire opens at hazard. In a short time, it
is true, they find the range by observation of the
effects of the fire; but the same uncertainty arises
on every change of position, and a great many shots
are consequently thrown away.
Moreover, it is not easy to always observe the
effect of the shot at great distances, besides which
the smoke and other accidental causes frequently
prevent observation. In every point of view the
field of battle and the practice-ground are very
different places.
Some compensation is certainly afforded by the
chance effects of shots falling within or beyond the
object aimed at. .
While on this subject we must notice that it is
most essential in all practical cases, to employ ar-
tillery with the least possible elevation, since the
shots then plough as it were the earth, and destroy
all in their course, and the advantage of this brings
out the disadvantage of artillery with very long
range.
The observation of the effect of the firing, which
is often the only means of rectifying the range, be-
comes more impracticable the more the distance is
increased. Very difficult at 2,000 or 3,000 yards, it
becomes irnmeasureably more so a little further. Of
what practical use is it, then, to have an arm with
an exceptional range of 4,000 yards, for instance P
It is something to talk about, but that something is
full of delusion. The distance is estimated (how ?
we would ask) f-rom the enemy ; the necessary ele-
vation is given, and the gun is fired. What hap-
pens? An error in judging the distance is made,
perhaps of a third. If the enemy is at 3,000 yards,
the projectile passes over his head; if at 5,000, the
ball falls 1,000 yards short. In such a mode of
firing, one shot in a hundred may tell. Moreover,
the elevation being necessarily great, the projectile
falls to the earth like a thunderbolt, in a nearly
vertical line, and at once buries itself without any
ricochet. If it be a ball, it may by chance kill one
man ; if a shell, it may destroy two or three.
Our soldiers at the Crimea nicknamed two of the
_

Russian batteries, by way of derision, "Bilboquet"
and " Gringalet," as, being at a distance of some
3,000 or 4,000 yards, the elevation of the guns was
so great that in several months, though firing night
and day, they did not kill a single man ; and this,
be it remembered, though the exact distance was
known. Contrast with this that at the Battle of
Traktir one 241 b. shot killed 17 Russians formed in
column, the gun being at a low elevation, and the
difference between firing at high elevation at great
distance and with low elevation with a ploughing
shot will readily be seen.
Cannon at long range cannot, therefore, be em-
ployed but in very exceptional cases, if ammuni-
tion be not thrown away. It will also follow that
ordinarily the range in, battle will be limited to

1,500 or 2,000 yards, and if for some special reason
it be deemed necessary to adopt a longer range it
must be limited to 3,000 yards, any further point
beirtg out of the reach of even good telescopes.
It would be erroneous to suppose that by rea-
son of these new cannon battle will be given
hereafter at great distances. Attempts may
doubtless be occasionally made to open a cannonade
at long range, but the necessity of economis-
ing ammunition, the obtainin certain and decisive
results, and the utilizing cavalry ald infantry, will
lead probably to actual fighting at not much greater
distances than heretofore. The rifled cannon, as
effective as the old at short distances, will have a
superiority, as it will render more difficult the for-
mation of cavalry and infantry, and can at greater
distances throw disorder into an enemy's reserves,
harass his retreat, &c.

It was in this manner that our artillery was so
effective in the last campaign, owing, however,
much to
hitnsafacoilis of tyofbeing moved.
All Europe
are, and wisely, de-
sirous of accomplishing the same progress, but the
future will show it is a strange error to attempt it
by an exaggerated length of range.
It certainly is remarkable as an attainment of
gunnery that Armstrong and -Whitworth cannon
s
should, at an angle of 35 deg., throw a projectile
10,000 yards ; but it has no practical value,
indeed, becomes a vice if done at the cost of the
simplicity of the gun.
What deserves more attention is uniformity in
firing, which is more difficult of attainment.
For purposes of warfare the best artillery is such
as is simple at the same time as efficient.
We may be allowed to say that if the various
foreign inventions tend to keep us on the alert they
by no means are cause of apprehension, since at the
present moment we will venture to say that our
artillery has no superior in Europe, and for this
assertion we have the advantage of actual experi-
ence. Its simplicity is extreme.
" The rifled 81b. gun only weighs 6001b5., al-
though in bronze it wears well in service. Four
horses can move it rapidly up an incline apparently
almost inaccessible.

It may be used with good effect at considerable
distances up to 9,000 yards, and even more if it
were desirable. Ic throws an oblong projectile of
81b., which produces all the effects necessary, not
only as regards men and horses, but also other ob-
stacles.

Vv
Its
supply of ammunition is easy and not incon-
veniently weighty, since four horses can draw 100
charges.
The projectile, although hollow, may be used as a
ball ; it mly contain a sufficient quantity of powder
to be used as a shell, for which purpose it is fur-
nished with a metallic fuse adapted to various dis-
tances.

Experiments are now being made to afford a
means of judging distances of a small rocket, with
a percussion apparatus, to be fired from these guns,
so that the point at which the rocket arrives may
b 3 more accurately judged of.
We cannot pass without observation two other
rifled cannon we have for field service. The first is
a mountain 81b gun, in which the same projectile
is used as before mentioned, the gun being of ex-
treme simplicity and so light t 2001 b) as to be
conveyed on the back of a mule, and capable of fol-
lowing infantry everywhere.
its range and precision of fire are equal to those
of the 8 pounder already described. The second is
the 241 b howitzer cannon of the Emperor, rifled
like the others, and capable of not only field, but
siege sere ice. . .

The French artillery, then, has nothing to envy
in the recent inventions of foreign countries.
If the writer's opinion on the inutility of excep-
tional range be well founded, it assuredly opens
questions well worthy attent ion in England whether
our improvements have been altogether in the right
direction, and whether, having obtained a range suf-
ficient for all practical purposes of warfare, other
advantages in simplicity and weight of the arm might
not he attained by abandoning the elements of addi-
tional and useless range. It is too much the fashion
in England to pooh•pooh everything coming from
a foreign source, but he must be of very dense or
very prejudiced mind who does not admit, after
even comparatively little investigation and experi-

ence, that the French are to be received as high
authority in everything connected with military
matters, whether as relates to material, discipline,
or administration.

In France, in military affairs, at all events, will
be found the "right man in the right place." The
writer of the above article has come to his work
with no prejudice and with no preconceived assump-
ti©n of excellence and infallibility, and if he have
asserted that the French artillery is still without a
rival, he has done so in no vaunting or unbecoming
terms, but has evidently arrived at the conclusion,
after due investigation and comparison. There is
nothing to shock the amour propre of the English-
man, but much worthy his attention.
Paris, April 22. T. J. T.

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES.

PACKET AND TELEGRAPH CONTRACTS

This committee re-assembled on Tuesday, when
the following members were present :—Mr. Dun-
lop, chairman ; Mr. Laing, Mr. Hope, Mr. Ellice,
Sir S. Northcote, Mr. Bazley, and Mr. Hubbard.
The Hon. John Ross, of Canada, was examined.
He stated that he had read the evidence given be-
fore this committee by Mr. Lever relative to the
proposed transfer of the Galway line to the Cana-
dian Company, with great surprise. Mr. Lever had
denied that he had entered into any negotiation
for that purpose, but the contrary was the fact, and
in witness's opinion there would have been no diffi-
culty in effecting that transfer, so far as Mr. Lever
was concerned, if the assent of the Government
could have been obtained.

Mr. Allan, of the Canadian Mail Steamship Com-
pany, gave similar evidence. He was introduced
to Mr. Lever by Sir C. Roney, and they entered
into a negotiation, for the transfer of the Galway
line to this company, which would have been car-
ried out if they could have obtained the sanction of
the Government.

By Mr. Hope—The negotiation was for a sale
and purchase of the line outright, and not amalga-
mation.

By Mr. Laing—Our-intention was to make Gal-
way the port at which our ships should stop for 24
hours each voyage, starting from Liverpool, but to
make Galway the starting point once every fort-
night. The Treasury refused to entertain the ques-
tion of the proposed transfer while this committee
was sitting.
At the close of this witness's examination the
committee adjourned.