14th and 25th, and were organized by equally dividing the number of
members in what was formerly known as Light Battery "C" of the 7th
Artillery.

The two Batteries were given their authorized strength of 120 men each
by transferring the additional number of men required from the Coast
Artillery.

They were not organized, however, until Sept. 23, 1901. About one month
later they were fully equipped as "Mountain Batteries," and on April 1,
1902, the 25th Battery, under command of Captain W. S. McNair, was
ordered to the Island of Mindanao, where trouble with the Moros had long
been expected.

The 25th Battery of Field Artillery is equipped with four guns, which
are known as the Vickers-Maxim 75 mm. quick firing mountain guns.

This calibre, 75 mm., or 2.9 inches, will be seen to be a very little
less than that of the field gun in use in our service viz., 3.2 inches,
but the power of this gun is much less than that of the field gun, for
the following reasons:

It is necessary to make a carriage and gun whose parts shall all be
within suitable limits of weight for packing on mules. This limit,
placed on the weight, limits the strength that can be obtained, and also
the length of the gun itself. Therefore the amount of powder used in
these guns is much less than the amount used in the field guns, and the
velocity of the shot when it leaves the gun is much less (about
one-half) than it is for the field gun. The Vickers-Maxim gun is mounted
in a cradle which has on either side a cylinder of oil, through which
the gun draws a plunger in recoiling, and by this device the force of
the recoil is taken up gradually and the carriage does not run back
several feet as it would otherwise do, so that it is at once ready to
load and fire again after each discharge.

The loading of the piece is very simple. The gunner grasps a lever which
he pulls around to the right, thereby bringing out the breech-block and
withdrawing the empty cartridge shell last fired. The new round is
pushed into the gun, the gunner moves the lever in the opposite
direction, or to his left, and the gun is ready to fire.

When the gun is to be moved it is taken in parts for packing as follows:
The gun itself, the cradle, the trail, and the wheels and axle, each of
which is a load for one mule.

The men get expert at this maneuver, and pack up the guns at command in
a period of a little less than one minute, while they unpack and set up
the gun ready for