2
4. Although the spades buried themselves deeply, the guns were not at all stable. They jumped" badly, and so gave bad results in the quick-firing tests.
16
5. The barrel of the field gun is too short. It should be at least 28 calibres long, and the muzzle velocity should be at least 500 metres, while the weight of the shell should be 6 kilog * or more.
At short ranges the Vickers-Maxim gan might fire as well as a longer gun, but at long ranges there would be a remarkable difference.
6. The ammunition wagon of the field gun is of an old-fashioned type. Single packing of the ammunition is preferred, because it makes the handling of the ammu- nition more convenient and saves two manipulations, viz. (a), the extraction of the basket from the wagon and (b) the opening of the basket. The baskets on the ground occupy some of the valuable space behind the gun.
The wagon cannot advantageously be put near the gun for convenience of loading, and at the same time to form a protection for the gun crew, because it opens at two sides, and only half the ammunition can be extracted from one side.
The There is no fuze-setting machine attached to the ammunition wagon. fuzes have therefore to be set by hand, which occupies more time and admits of mistakes.
The wagon is not adopted for use for protected observation,
7. The mountain gun saddlery is absolutely unsuitable for Chinese ponies. Captain T. C. Leah, commanding the artillery of the British Legation Guard, who was present at the trials and assisted with a detachment of his men, considered the above criticisms reasonable, with the exception of No. 5, which he thinks hyper- critical as regards muzzle velocity and weight of projectile, which in the Vickers- Maxim guns fell but little short of the figures given. As regards length of barrel the justice or otherwise of the criticism depends on whether Messrs. Vickers-Maxim received due notice of the Chinese requirements.
The attached note "A" by Captain Leah gives the technical aspect of the trial and the details of the guns.
He has sent this note to the "Royal Artillery Institution Journal," and it is probably published in the January number.
Annexure "B"+ gives Captain N. P. Brookes' impression of the trial, and it seems to show that the arrangements for and general management of the trial by the British firm compare unfavourably with those of rival foreign firms, who have spared no trouble to comply with Chinese requirements, and have entered more closely into details, technically assisted as they are by their respective War Departments.
Messrs. Krupp have as a representative in North China, Captain Allers, late of the German artillery. Mr. Jennings on the other hand, an ex-naval 1st class petty officer, employed by Messrs. Vickers-Maxim, though a competent gunner of the non- commissioned class and a skilled mechanic, could hardly be expected to have any practical knowledge of the pack equipment of mountain guns (and, in fact, according to Captain Leah, showed lack of such knowledge, as also of a knowledge of " ranging' and " fuzing" necessary to obtain good results).
Apart, however, from the comparative merits and demerits of the various guns tested by the Chinese Government, there is another factor that may have influenced the delay and obstruction met with by Messrs. Vickers-Maxim, and the bias against them noted by Captain Brooke.
It is hinted that Messrs. Krupp have not been too particular about the method of disposal of the large sums placed in the hands of their agents, and that following recognised Chinese custom, the good will of persons able to have a voice in their favour may have been secured in a very practical manner.
M, E. WILLOUGHBY, Lieutenant-Colonel,
Military Attaché, Peking.
385
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
CHINA RAILWAYS.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[46644]
[December 24.].
SECTION RECO
6486
REGE 4 MAR 10
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 24.)
(No. 202.) (Telegraphic.) P.
Peking, December 24, 1909.
IMPERIAL Northern Railways. With reference to your despatch No. 350 of the 26th November and your telegram No. 198 of the 16th instant, I have to-day obtained from Liang Shih-yi, director- general of railways, a promise that he will consult Mr. Hillier in his capacity of representative of the British and Chinese Corporation when drawing up the terms of Mr. Ricketts' agreement in connection with his appointment as chief engineer. agreement will be signed on Mr. Ricketts' arrival in China.
[2538 aa---2]
The
+ Not printed.
* 13-2 lbs.
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