Although machine guns have never been used in England, they were employed by the French in 1871 during General Chanzy’s retreat from the Loire to Le Mans with great success, and this campaign is particularly interesting to us because the country greatly resembles England. Dr. Miller Maguire, in his lecture given at the Royal Artillery Institute on this campaign, quotes the German official account as follows: “The entire country is covered with the densest cultivation of long-standing growth, with vineyards, orchards, and vegetable gardens.... Owing to the extensive subdivision of land customary in this country, every property is surrounded by hedges, ditches, and walls. There are, consequently, numerous positions and isolated points at which even moderate troops could defend themselves behind good cover. Although the superior effect of the chassepot here ceased to avail, _the mitrailleuses were in their true element_, and became a dangerous weapon in the narrow passes.” Dr. Maguire remarks: “I do not know how far you will be inclined to apply those remarks to the circumstances of your own country in the event of invasion. It might be a good lesson to try; for the several arms could be handled between Dover and London step by step.” Later on he quotes from a British officer, who says: “In fact, Kent and Surrey combined, with vineyards instead of hop gardens, would be an exact picture of the country through which the Germans were pushing on.” There are numerous instances in this campaign where the mitrailleuse caused great loss to the Germans, and enabled the French to delay their advance and hold on to villages and positions with greatly inferior forces. Remembering that the mitrailleuse of 1870 was a clumsy and primitive weapon, worked by hand and mounted on a field carriage, there is every reason to suppose that the modern automatic machine gun, on its light and mobile tripod, will be still more valuable in fighting in enclosed country. CHAPTER IX MACHINE GUNS IN THE ARMIES OF THE WORLD AMERICA (UNITED STATES) GUN.--At present there are three machine guns in use in the United States, viz.: (_a_) The Gatling. (_b_) The Maxim Automatic. (_c_) The Colt Automatic. (_a_) _The Gatling._--Calibre ·3 in., and takes the service rifle bullet. It has 10 barrels, and is fed by a rotating cylinder. The gun is mounted on a shielded carriage with limber. The rate of fire is about 600 rounds per minute. (_b_) _The Maxim Automatic._--This is similar to the one in use in our own service, and takes the ·3 in. U.S. service ammunition. _Mounting._--For infantry and cavalry, a tripod mounting. For use in fortified works, a two-wheeled shielded carriage. The transport is by means of pack-animals. A complete outfit consists of five packs, _e.g._ the gun and tripod form one pack, and the remaining four packs carry 1,500 rounds of ammunition and accessories for the gun, including water for filling the water-jacket.