35 
METHODS OE BRINGING GUNS INTO 
ACTION. 
BY 
MAJOR-GENERAL T. B. TYLER. 
Inspector-General Royal Artillery in India. 
THE Horse and Field Artillery seem to revel in controversy. When 
the deliberate method of coming into action was first practised, there 
might be witnessed in the Long Valley, on Woolwich Common, and 
elsewhere, the strange spectacle of officers and gun-layers hurrying to¬ 
wards an imaginary ridge—their brows bent with the frown of resolu¬ 
tion, and their attitudes suggesting secrecy and stealth—waved on by 
Majors, whose high characters and undoubted abilities were a guaran¬ 
tee of their earnestness and their belief in the gravity of the situation. 
But soon a change came over the spirits of men; a cry arose that such 
proceedings savoured of cowardice and timidity, and would demoralize 
the nation. Let the thoughts of cover be flung aside, the direct method 
only is worthy of Britons ! and the deliberate method was laughed to 
scorn. Happily, after much talking and writing, wiser counsels pre¬ 
vailed, and it was recognized that both methods are useful in their places. 
Shortly afterwards the case of “ Concentration v. Distribution 31 
attracted attention; the discussion was continued for a time with con¬ 
siderable fervour, and culminated in a duel between the champions of 
the rival systems, which took place at the Royal Artillery Institution. 
Fortunately it was discovered that both were right, and in time the 
storm passed away. 
At the present time a battle is being fought with great spirit and 
controversial skill, round the question as to whether guns shall, under 
any circumstances, be run into the firing position by hand. To creep, 
or not to creep, that is the question. 
Colonel Turner and Captain Pilcher have ranged themselves on one 
side. Captain Headlam on the other; Major Keir has also joined the fray, 
but I confess I rather agree with Captain Headlam that he has mixed 
up the questions of indirect fire, and fire from behind cover—two very 
different matters. And I cannot quite make out into which scale Major 
May throws the great weight of his opinion; on page 378 of his paper 
in the July Proceedings , he seems to advocate “ creeping,” while on 
pages 379 and 380, he appears to deprecate it, 
1, VOL, XXV, 
