OKEHAMPTON EXPERIENCES, 1892 . 
133 
yards to 700 yards called forth a good deal of criticism from officers of 
other arms who visited the camp—“ It is very well to advance against 
100 dummies, hut on service you would never get within 800 yards with 
infantry firing volleys at you.” This was a common form of remark, 
due no doubt to the unavoidable absence from the practice ground of 
the troops in support of whom the guns were advanced. The possi¬ 
bility of getting to an even shorter range has been shown more than 
once, notably in 1870, when batteries came up into the fighting line 
hardly noticed by the enemy till they opened fire. 
Now that there is some leaning to excessive deliberation in taking 
up positions, it is important to accustom batteries to the principle that 
they will on occasion be called on to fight at short ranges where rapidity 
will be obligatory. 
The necessity for practice at short ranges was shown by the fact that 
fire at ranges of 1500 to 1200 was usually more effective than at ranges 
under 1000 yards. 
Practice at artillery targets was usually limited at each series to 24 
rounds. At infantry targets a time limit was given, varying from 
8 mins, at the beginning of practice to 4 mins, in the later series. A 
four-gun battery was always allowed an extra minute to enable it to 
fire the same number of rounds as a six-gun battery. This was purely 
tentative, but seemed to answer fairly well. With regard to the method 
of coming into action, batteries always took up a preparatory position 
previous to opening fire at a long range, and on the conclusion of the 
series, the command i( prepare to limber up for action ” having been 
given, the Commanding Officer went ahead with his range-takers to 
reconnoitre, and the battery advanced with loaded guns to the second 
position. The Captain remained with the wagons and the senior 
Subaltern brought on the battery and, if conditions of ground, range, 
and target were suitable, halted under cover till called up by the Battery 
Commander. Perhaps it is not practical to employ range-takers at an 
infantry target, but they must have their share of the practice. 
The third position was occupied as laid down for advanced positions, 
though, as the nature of the ground often rendered a long advance 
difficult, there was not always time for the Major to call out his Section 
Commanders and point out the target before the battery came on to the 
•position. 
One day was given up to practice at a moving target and to firing 
by auxiliary marks, both of which had also been practised during 
“ Elementary.” The results of shooting from under cover and laying 
by clinometer were usually good, and when once started the fire was as 
rapid as when the target was in view, but most batteries were slow in 
getting their pickets planted and opening fire. The general opinion 
seems to be that indirect laying will very rarely be resorted to, and 
most officers have a great objection to the idea of hiding behind cover 
to shoot, when by moving to the front the target would come into view. 
However, it is easy to imagine a case in which such an advance would 
be impossible, in the face of a much superior force of artillery, and if, 
from under cover of a friendly hill, it is possible to deliver an effective 
fire on the enemy’s position and so assist our own infantry, then such 
