ORIGIN OF FIELD GUNS.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 23 June 1915, Page 3

ORIGIN OF FIELD GUNS.

Of all the world's great battles Crecy possesses a unique interest. The English used only three pieces of field ordnance. They were small cannon made of trees, bored, and bound with iron hoops, and the missiles were of stone, scarcely larger'" than cricket balls. Doubtless this rude artillery made far more noise than it effected damage. It was the longbow and the broadsword that won the battle, but nevertheless gunpowder was henceforth to play an ever-increasing part in the strife of nations.

Explosives wrought a vast change in fighting methods on land, for many of the old-time weapons were rendered quite useless in face of death-dealing ball and shot. Warfare afloat, too. would be revolutionized. Hitherto the fighting ships had been largely carriers of soldiers in order to board and fight, as on land; whereas the time was at hand when ships could be riddled with cannon-balls without the crews coming into actual contact.