112 TARGET PRACTICE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



In the practice by battalion, the chief or one of the senior 

 captains may command; in the latter case the regimental 

 commander may charge the battalion commander with the 

 management of the practice, and the batteries be commanded 

 by their chiefs or one of their lieutenants. 



The ordinary ammunition allowance is sufficient for only 

 a few days' practice for each battalion, the battery practice 

 being favored in this respect. Leaders are expected to select 

 problems that will give instructive phases of an action, such 

 as carrying out an artillery attack in different conditions ; 

 opposing an infantry attack; preparing for an attack by 

 friendly infantry ; the use of shells against fortified positions, 

 etc. The course of the action is always to be varied by the 

 battalion commander directing a change of targets, combining 

 the fire of several batteries, etc. By causing the unexpected 

 appearance of horse artillery or other targets at close range, 

 cases are presented where the battery commander has himself 

 to order a change of target. 



The fire of one battery or group of batteries may serve for 

 the instruction of others, and exercises are arranged so that 

 all the officers of a group may assist at the fire of one of its 

 batteries, and all the officers of a regiment at the fire of a 

 group or specially instructive fire of one battery. Similarly, 

 the gunners of a battery are present at all the firings of their 

 own battery, being relieved from all other duty for this 

 purpose. 



Regimental field practice may take place if the supply of 

 ammunition and other conditions permit. 



The allowance of ammunition and the money credits neces- 

 sary to carry on the practice are fixed by the military author- 

 ities and depend on the sum appropriated in the annual 

 budget. This usually permits only a limited supply of am- 

 munition, so that only the more important kinds of firing 

 can be executed, and the expenditure of ammunition has to 

 be carefully watched to prevent waste. Details of the allow- 

 ance and cost of ammunition for the various units are not 

 published except for the information of those concerned in 

 carrying on the practice. The "Armed Strength of the Ger- 

 man Empire," published by the British intelligence division 

 in 1888, states that a sum of money which for Prussia alone 

 amounts to about seven millions of marks (over $1,600,000) 

 is set apart every year for artillery practice, divided up 



