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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
High-angle fire of common shells is used at ranges between 400 and 
1600 yards against troops and guns under cover of the natural ground or 
of intrenchments. This species of fire is frequently employed in mountain 
warfare. With the rifled 3-pr. it promises to give the best results, as the 
probability of a hit with high-angle fire is remarkable. At ranges beyond 
1600 yards low-angle fire should be employed with common shells, because 
the trajectory of that projectile at long ranges is highly curved consequent 
on. the proportionately small charge of the piece. 
Shrapnel shell fire is employed against troops in deep formation or in 
line between 250 or 850 yards, and even up to 1250 yards in cases of 
necessity. It may be successfully employed against troops under low cover 
between these ranges; generally speaking, however, common shells with 
high-angle fire are preferable under such circumstances. 
To get good results from shrapnel fire, accurate estimation of the distance 
and a burst of projectile at a short interval in front of the object, are indis¬ 
pensable : consequently, on the defensive -when the range and deflection, 
and hence the elevation, deflection and length of fuze can be determined 
beforehand, this projectile should be made use of. On the offensive, it 
may be employed when a continuous fire is to be kept up, the distance 
being ascertained by a few rounds of common shell. 
Case shot fire, as with field guns, is chiefly applicable when on the 
defensive, against troops at short distances up to ranges of 250 yards as a 
maximum. 
With reference to the positions to be taken up by mountain guns, the 
following points should be specially attended to :— 
(1) The ground on which the guns stand should as far as possible command 
the country in front, with an uninterrupted view up to 850 yards at least; that 
distance being the limit of the most effective practice. 
(2) The soil on which the wheels and trails rest should be even and not too 
hard, in order to save the carriages; hence, positions on rocky ground should be 
avoided if possible. 
(3) Particular attention should be paid to security from surprise, for in 
mountainous country it is often practicable for an enemy to steal up unseen and 
thus make a sudden attack. Mountain batteries, therefore, should always have a 
tolerably strong escort of infantry detailed to them; part of the escort should 
remain in the immediate neighbourhood of the guns, and the remainder occupy 
the paths or other means of access to the position to the flanks and rear, when the 
paths are not visible from the battery. 
(4) The ammunition mules not wanted in the immediate neighbourhood of the 
guns and which follow in the second line, are placed under cover. Covered positions 
are taken up or thrown up for the guns and mules immediately connected with 
guns; this is often feasible in mountains, especially when the ground is not very 
hard and intrenching tools can be used. 
Observation of the practice, 
31. At practice the distances generally speaking are incorrectly estimated; 
the error is transferred to the laying of the gun and the timing of the fuze; 
further the trajectories of projectiles are modified by variation in condition 
