40 
A SHORT SUMMARY OF THE COVER QUESTION. 
The second division,, representing its supporters, consists of a number 
of officers who endeavour to keep themselves up to date with regard to 
service matters, by the study of the latest continental literature, and 
visits to foreign manoeuvres and modern battle-fields. These hold it 
as their opinion that the high training of the 'personnel and the improve¬ 
ment in artillery materiel, render the study of ground and the skilful 
handling of artillery at long ranges, subjects of greater importance, 
than in the days, when the extreme range of guns was limited to a few. 
hundred yards, time shrapnel was undeveloped and smokeless powder 
unheard of; and therefore concur in the continental opinion that cover 
has now become an important consideration for artillery officers. 
As neither side can claim practical experience, the verdict of time 
can alone decide who is right. There is, however, this to be said. 
That the tactics so clearly laid down in our drill-book for Horse and 
Field Artillery are only applicable to contests between European 
armies, and cannot be said to apply to savage or semi-savage warfare. 
To enter upon a European campaign with almost a contempt for the 
practical study of the latest continental methods of warfare, would 
savour of that narrow-minded self-satisfaction, which is generally 
regarded as an effectual bar to real progress. 
The following are my replies to Captain Headlam’s principal 
comments. 
All references are to Yol. XXIY., No. 7., July 1897, “ Proceedings ” 
E.A.I. 
Page 390, line 11. 
“ And yet anyone reading Major KeiPs paper would think that 
“ ‘ indirect fire ? and f fire from behind cover 9 were synonymous 
“ terms.” 
“ I am sorry if I have not made myself clear on this point, but f fire 
“ from behind cover * implies the use of f indirect fire/ ;; 
Page 390, line 37 to line 12, page 391. 
—It is very rare to find ground where you can carry on the 
practice with more than a single battery . 
“ No doubt positions can be found easily enough when firing blank, 
“but when the question of the shell clearing the crest of the cover has 
“to be taken into account difficulties crop up. That this point is not 
“attended to when firing blank is proved by the frequency with which 
“batteries do take up such positions at Okehampton, and are only 
“stopped from firing into the covering ground in front by the Comman- 
“dant interfering. At manoeuvres such positions would often be much 
“admired. 
“More than this, every gunner will admit that to get any effect from 
“our fire the battery commander must be able both to observe his fire 
“and to command his battery. The ground must, therefore, afford a 
“position for him close to his battery from which he can see the target. 
“ This is frequently a difficulty with a single battery. What are you 
“going to do in the case of the centre battery of a brigade division? 
