======================+==================================== | THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN Of the Total Number +--------+---------+-------------- of Men Hit | Fatally|Instantly|Incapacitated in Each Case. |injured.|disabled.|for some time. | % | % | % ----------------------+--------+---------+-------------- Flesh wounds 800 m | ---- | 36.4 | 27.3 ----------+ | | produced at 1350 m | ---- | 43.8 | 37.3 ----------------------+--------+---------+-------------- Bones struck 800 m | 20.3 | 79.2 | 75.0 ----------+ | | at 1350 m | 11.1 | 88.9 | 88.9 ----------------------|--------+---------+-------------- Average | 7.97 | 62.07 | 57.12 ----------------------+--------+---------+-------------- 2. THE EFFECT OF “S” BULLETS ON MATERIALS. The following thicknesses of dry pine are pierced by the “S” bullet (rifle model ’98) at the ranges given: 60 cm at 100 m. 80 cm at 400 m. 35 cm at 800 m. 10 cm at 1800 m. In sand and earth the penetration of the “S” bullet amounts to 90 cm. According to experiments, 3 mm. steel plates were pierced at 350 m., while hay stacks afforded protection when 4 m. thick; when of less thickness, the latter caused bullets to tumble. Embankments of frozen snow 1 m. thick, of packed snow 2 m. thick, and of loose snow 3 m. thick, were not pierced even at 250 m. IV. THE EMPLOYMENT OF INFANTRY FIRE. Infantry fire may produce either a stunning and paralyzing effect on the hostile forces, or it may gradually exhaust, wear out, and consume them. The fire will have a stunning and paralyzing effect when it is suddenly concentrated upon a narrow front, thereby producing fear and terror, provided actual losses are added to this moral effect. On the other hand, the fire will gradually exhaust, wear out, and destroy the hostile forces when it is distributed for a prolonged period over an extended front. In this case the material losses suffered and the exhaustion of his physical energies may force the conviction on the enemy that he has no longer a chance to gain the victory. This conviction will cause a suspension of all his energies and consequently of his determination to fight. At =Modder River= (28th November, 1899) the Boers opened fire on the British at 1000 m., although they had intended to hold their fire until the British arrived within 300 m. of the position.[129] [129] General MINARELLI-FITZGERALD, _Die Gefechte in Natal und der Kap-Kolonie_, 1899.