The Royal Engineers Journal. PUBLISHED QUARTERLY. -·IEs---7?r·""- VOL. XXXIX. No. 1. MARCH, 1925. CHATHAM: THE INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. TELEPHONE: CHATHAM, 669. AGENTS: W. & J. MACKAY & Co. LTD. LONDON: ,W, All Corresp INSTITUTION OF RE OFFICE COPY MANAG DO NOT REMOVE . ..- . ------...- 1 ri r~ W. p W.-- 1i W.. 1 1 11 M The CELEBRATED WHITE UNDERCOATING. One coat transforms Black into White. Ready for use In five minutes. Can be second coated In a few hours. "MURALINE." THE PERFECT WATER PAINT. Sanitary, Artistic, Durable. Requires only the addition of water to make ready for use. In 40 shades. Sold in a dry powder. Pure Liquid Paint. Non-Poisonous. Ready for Use. Specially manufactured for the finest interior and exterior decoration. Extensively used by Corporations, District Councils and Unions throughout the United Kingdom. In over 50 colours. " VITROLITE." A DECORATIVE WHITE PAINT. Superior to white lead in colour, covering SHE1 power and durability. Specially suitable for Glasshouse painting and all interior and exterior work. Patterns,Prices, and full particularspost free. WALTER CARSON &SONS, GROVE WORKS, BATTERSEA, LONDON, ENGLAND. Irish Depot: BACHELORS WALK, DUBLIN. Telephones: Cables: "Carsons, London." Battersea 1630 (2 lines). Codes: A.B.C. 4th & 5th Editions. A D ERTISEMENTS. Work of the Royal Engineers in the European War, 1914-1919. For sale in the office of the Secretary, Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham. COMIPRISING TIIE FOLLOWING VOLUMES:- Bridging.-With 3 maps, 59 photographs and 31 plates. Price I2s. (to members, 6s.). Military Mining.-With 25 photographs and 62 plates. Price I2s. 6d. (to members, 7s. 6d.). Geological Work on the Western Front. With 19 plates and 9 photographs. Limited to 500 copies. Price I5s. (to members, Ios.). Signal Service in the European War, 1914 to 1918, The.-(By special arrangement with the Signals Association.) R. E. Priestley, MI.C., B.A. (late Major, R.E.). With 2 photos and 20 plates. Price 12s. 6d. (to members, Ios. 6d.). Supply of Engineer Stores and Equipment.-Price 7s. (to members, 3s. 6d.). Water Supply (Egypt and Palestine).--With 7 maps, 6 photos, io plates, and 20 sketches in the text. Price 8s. (to members, 5s.). Water Supply (France).-With io maps, 37 photographs and 41 plates. Price 25s. (to members, I2s. 6d.). " A simply invaluable compendium of the work done in this vital respect on the Western Front."-Spectator. Work under the Director of Works (France).--With 6 maps and 71 plates. Price 21s. (to members, 145. 6d.). DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNTS OF FOREIGN STATIONS.-The following pamphlets have been revised and reprinted and are now available, price to members, is. each:- Bermuda, Ceylon, Egypt, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, India (to accompany Notes for Officers Proceeding to India), Mauritius, Singapore and Sierra Leone. STUDIES OF GERMAN DEFENCES NEAR LILLE.-A limited number of copies of this Report by Major B. T. Wilson, D.S.O. (with 35 maps and plans and 24 photos) are available for free issue to those members who apply for them to the Secretary. The price of the Report to the general public is five shillings. AN OUTLINE OF TIlE EGYPTIAN AND PALESTINE CAMPAIGNS, 1914 TO 1918. By Major-General Sir M. G. E. Bowman-Manifold, I.B.E., c.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., p.s.c., late R.E. Second Edition, I923. With 17 maps and sketches. Price 4s. HISTORY OF THE CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. Vols. I and II, by Major-General Whitworth Porter, R.E. Vol. III, by Colonel Sir Charles M. Watson, K.C.M.G., C.B., M.A., late R.E. 3 vols., £I Ios. (to members, i2s. 6d.). HISTORY OF SUBMARINE MINING IN THE BRITISI AR.MY. By Brigadier- General W. Baker Brown, c.B. (late R.E.). Price 5s. (to members, 3s. 4 d.). W AD VERTISEMENTS. Telephone: Telegrams:c Hop. e AAFI Navarmbord 6060. w Lamb, London. Navy AArny &AirrceInstitutes "ALWAYS AT THE SERVICE OF THE SERVICES." TrHE progress and success of the N.A.A.F.I. is due largely to an intimate and sympathetic understanding of the re- quirements of H.M. Forces-Sea, Land and Air-based on actual experience and knowledge. To supply the exact thing at the right price has become the natural and satisfactory way of dealing with all transactions. For all kinds of Athletic Goods, Institutes' Supplies, Catering, Printing and Stationery, and General Equipment, the Corporation has gained a high reputation. Complete and Sectional Catalogues are sent out at frequent intervals. Copies can always be obtained from the local Institute, or from the following address:- Headquarters: IMPERIAL COURT, UPPER KENNINGTON LANE, LONDON, S.E. 11. THE INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. All communications for the Institution should be addressed to - The Secretary, The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham. CONTENTS. PAGE I. SOME FACTORS AFFECTING RAILWAY PROJECTS IN UNDEVELOPED TERRITORIES. A Lecture delivered at the S.M.E., Chatham on 13th November, 1924, by J. W. Spiller, Esq., M.INST.C.E. ... ... I 2. THIE ROYAL BOMBAY SAPPERS AND MINERS. UNVEILING CEREMIONY OF THE VAR MEMIORIAL AT KIRKEE. (With Photos) ... ... ... 23 3. THE EARLY YEARS OF THE ORDNANCE SURVEY (continued). By Colonel Sir Charles F. Close, K.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., F.R.S. (With Photos) ... 25 4. THE QUANTITY OF WATER IN CONCRETE. ... ... ... ... ... 43 5. TlHE CHEMICAL WEAPON. Precis of an Article in V'oina i Mlir No. 13, by Lieut.-Colonel A. H. Bell, D.S.O., O.B.E., R.E.... ... ... .. 44 6. NOTES ON TIIE DESIGN OF T BEAMS IN REINFORCED CONCRETE. By Captain W. A. Fitz G. Kerrich, D.S.O., M.C., R.E. .... .. .. 51 7 MODERN SCIlEnME OF WATER SUPPLY FOR A LARGE CANTONMENT IN THE TROPICS. Arthur ffolliott Garrett Prize Essay, 1924. By " Sigma" (Major A. P. Sayer, D.S.O., R.E.) ... ... ... ... ... ... 55 8. WATER SUPPLY GIBRALTAR. By Major H. E. Coad, A.r.INST.C.E., S.R .E .S. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 70 9. TIlE WORK OF TIIE ROYAL ENGINEERS IN TIlE EUROPEAN WAR, 1914-I9. EXPERIMENTAL SECTION (conti nued). (With Photos and Plates) 73 o1. SURVEY GRIDS AND M3AIP REFERENCES. By Colonel H. St.J. L. Winterbotham, C.Ml.G., D.S.O. ... ... ... ... SI 11. A FERRY IN NORTHERN IRAQ. By Major R. Hamilton, O.B.E., IR.E. (with Photos) ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... 89 I2. NOTES ON CEMIENT CONCRETE W\ORK IN TIIE FIELD. 3y Lieut.-Colonel D. K. Edgar, D.S.O., R.E. ... ... ... ... ... ... 91 13. SOME REFLECTIONS ON FRONTIER WARFARE. By L.D.G. ... ... 96 14. THE SIEGES OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT. By Colonel J. F. C. Fuller, D.S.O. (Vith Plate) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Io3 I5. NOTES ON TIE ELECTRICAL AND MECIIANICAL COURSE. By Lieut. J. T. Godfrey, R.E. ... .. ... ... ... .... ... I 16. HISTORY OF TIIE I2T1I COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS (continued). By Lieut. M. R. Caldlwell, R.E. (With Miaps) ... ... ... ... 115 17. PROFESSIONAL NOTES ... ... ... ... ... ... 125 Reinforced Concrete Roads. By W. A. FitzG.K. World's Shortage of Lead. By D.M.F.H. 18. IE OIRS ... ... ...... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I3 Colonel Henry Davison Love. (With Photo) Colonel Frank Peveril Rundle, C.M.G., D.S.O. (With Photo) 19. BOOKS ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 134 La Bataille de l'Yser. (Colonel C. M3erzbach) J.E.E. The Military Uses of Astronomy (Major F. C. Molesworth, R.E., F.R.A.S.), C.F.C. Mathematics for Technical Students (E. R. Verity, B.SC., A.R.C.SC.) Lieut.-Colonel J. M. Wade, n.SC., (London.) Some Aspects of Imperial Communications (Major A. V. T. Wakely, M.C., R.E.) W.A.J.O'M. Regulation of Rivers Without Embankments (F. A. Leete) D.K.E. The War Effort of New Zealand. Vol. IV. (Edited by Lieut. H. T. B. Drew, N.Z.E.F.) F.E.G.S. Le Combat de l'Infanterie (Colonel Allehaut). L.V.B. The Testing of High Speed Internal Combustion Engines (Arthur W. Judge). G.C.G. 1 CONTENTS. PAGE Du Ilaut de la Tour de Babel (Lieut.-General de Salliers de Moran- ville). F.E.G.S. ImperialMAilitary Geography (Captain D. H. Cole, M.B.E., A.E.C). R. '.P.-W. Notice Summaire surl'Emploi des Explosifs. (Major R. Deguent and Captain F. Van den Berghe). E.H.K. Charts for Battle Landscape Targets (Captain D. P. J. Ielly, M.c., A.E.C.) I.S.O.P. Manuel Pratique de Tir et d'Appreciation des Distances (Captain A. Villedieu). I.S.O.P. 20. IAGAZINES ... ... ... ... ... ...... ... 145 Revue Mliiaire Genedrale. A.R.R Revue Mlilitaire Suisse. W.A.J.O'M. Bulletin Belge de Scieinccs Militaires. W.A.J.O'M. Mlilitar TVochenblatt. E.G.W. licerestcchlnik. H. St.J.L.W. Mlilitarzvissensschaftliche und Technische Mittcilltngce . II.St.J.L.VW. VIoina i Mir. A.H.B. The Military Engineer. R.I.M. Coast Artillery Journal. D.M.F.H. Infantry Journal. F.E.G.S. Sodtr. F.E.G.S. 21. CORRESPONDENCE ... ... ... ... ... 70 XVarming and Cooking for Small Houses. Colonel E. N. Stockley, D.S.O. Military Terms. Brig. General J. E. Edmonds, C.B., C.s.G. The History of Subamarine Miningg. Brig. General V. Baker Brown, C.B. New Zealand. Authors alone are responsible for the stateimenrts made and the opinions expressed in their papers. COUNCIL OF THE INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. (Incorporatedby Royal Cha,ter, 2th February, 1923.) Patron:--11.M. THLE KING. President. Maj.-Gen. Sir William A. Liddell, K.C...O., c. ................... 1923 I'ice-Presidents. Maj.-Gen. 11. F. Thuillicr, c.B., C.M5.G.(D.F.IV.) ........... .. 1923 Col. W. I'itt, C.Mr.G., J.P .. ... ................... 1924 Elected. Ex-Oficio. I.t.-Col. W. A. J. O'Meara, C.M.G ............