s rather a remote contingency in the naval
service, and should never be resorted to when opposed by good
infantry, or when the object to be attained would take the seamen too
far from their boats, which should be the base of operations.

57. BOAT-GUNS.--No tackles are required to run out 12-pdrs.; but
24-pdrs. may possibly require them.

58. The hole in the cascabel for reeving a breeching has been
purposely omitted in howitzers, as hitherto the use of a breeching has
not been found necessary. Should one be required, a thimble may be
fitted to the neck of the knob to serve in place of this hole.

With a breeching, the piece may be fired as if on an ordinary
carriage.

59. The recoil is controlled by compressing the slide between the bed
and the lower plate. It is necessary, however, that the surfaces of
the carriage in contact should be plane. If they are not so, dismount
the gun and examine them, and where the wood is worn smooth, remove it
in the slightest manner, and correct the surfaces generally. In making
the surface plane, it is by no means necessary that it should be
rendered smooth. It ought to be as little so as possible for the
present purpose.

[Illustration: IMPROVED SHRAPNEL
SECTION OF 12 PDR. SHRAPNEL
With Bormann Fuze and Filling of Sulphur.
D. Van Nostrand Publisher. Julius Bien, pr.]

60. FIELD-CARRIAGE.--In order to moderate the recoil on smooth ground,
take out the axle or pin of the trail-wheel and turn the wheel up on
the trail.

For using the howitzer on shore, two transporting-boxes are supplied,
placed on a support and lashed to the axle of the field-carriage. When
more than a single piece is landed, it may be found convenient to
secure the trail of one field-carriage to the axle of another, and
then, by means of pieces of stuff, or boat's spars, secured from axle
to axle, to place the ammunition-boxes, provisions, and pouches upon
them.

61. Shrapnel may be effectively used where the dispersion of common
canister becomes too great and its effects feeble. It takes the place
of common shell, to a great extent, when uncovered masses of men are
in view, and is designed to burst in front of troops, at just such a
distance and height as to disperse the balls among them.

62. Similar terms are used in marking the sight and the fuze. Thus, if
the fuze be adjusted to 2 seconds, and the piece elevated by the sight
raised to the line on it marked 2 seconds, then the shrapnel will
burst