GERMANY. Ill 



be absolutely necessary, determined for every battery by the 

 regimental commander according to tlie degree of training 

 shown and the number of officers to be instructed. The bat- 

 tery chief conducts the school practice. As he knows the 

 problems to be solved he prepares the battery by instruction 

 and practice, the lieutenants commanding in turn. Usually 

 the first practice day is devoted to finding the range by trial 

 shots; to firing at different targets at known distances, and 

 to observing the accuracy and effect of the fire. On succeed- 

 ing days, according to proficiency of the men and officers, 

 instruction in the use of fuses, firing with time shells, delib- 

 erate fire at targets up to 1,500 meters, curved fire, etc., is 

 given, if necessary rejDeating the exercises of the first day. 

 Observation is extended to noting grazing shots, bursting- 

 points in front of and beyond the targets, which should be 

 the effect of design. Instruction in the service of the piece 

 and in laying and pointing is included in the school practice, 

 but is not to interfere with the firing instruction. Deploy- 

 ments are in all cases made as in actual service. Field- 

 howitzer batteries use "exercise shells" against targets that 

 would in actual service be fired at with percussion or fuse 

 shells. This is because the danger from the use of high- 

 explosive shells can not be sufficiently guarded against if fired 

 in practice. 



FIELD PRACTICE. 



This is the most important part of the course and the greater 

 part of the time is devoted to it. 



The exercises are based on simple tactical suppositions, and 

 leaders and troops must not know in advance the problem to 

 be solved. It is given out just before the exercise is to take 

 place. Leaders have the utmost latitude in selecting their 

 positions, new problems are presented by the disappearance 

 of some targets and the appearance of new ones, the changing 

 conditions of a fight being shown by these means and by 

 causing men and officers to fall out as though disabled, etc. 



Most of the field j^ractice is devoted to the battery practice, 

 which is directed by the battalion commander, the batteries 

 are commanded, as prescribed in regimental orders, by their 

 chiefs, or by one of the lieutenants, and the problem given 

 usually assumes their connection or cooperation with other 

 troops. Individual batteries may have more extended prac- 

 tice, for which an increased supply of ammunition is given. 



