If a '■ range-finder " is used, a mmute and a half is consumed in finding the distance of
the enemy ; if it be not used at any but the shortest distance, the fire is mere guess work,
and may be either good or bad, with a strong presumption in favor of tlie latter. Superior
as our artillery is acknowledged to be, we can scarcely wonder, knowing what we know
of its performances, at the failure of either tlie Austrian or Prussian rifled field services to
influence lai'gely the fate of tlie battles, where botn were so freely and ably made use of
Neither succeeded in any instance, as far as I am aware, in stopping the advance of
infantry, or even in greatly impeding the operations of cavalry in the field, though doubt-
less both were efficient and well served."

In another part of his commnnication, Major Fosbery says : —

" In order to produce these twenty fragments (above alluded to) and lender them eflicient,
many independent (operations must be truly performed, and even then sudden gusts of
wind, or considerable barometric variations may render all of no avail by their influence on
the flight of the projectile, by delaying or accelerating the burning of tlie fuzes. * * *

" The gun must be laid between each discharge, an operation demanding time and care,
necessitating a cleiir view of the object, and all but impossible to get exactly repeated by
the most highly-trained and skilful gunners when on an artillery practice-ground, and
neither greatly pressed for time, nor deprived, iu however small a degree, of lliAt sang f void
which few persons possess completely, when exposed to a lively fire, and endeavoring to
crush it by the rapidity of their own.''

This is the evidence of an Ofiicer who has had the best opportuni-
ties of judging, and whose experience entitles him to speak advisedly
on the subject.
