134 
OKEHAMPTQN EXPERIENCES, 1892 . 
help is not to be despised—of course, there would be no finality in such 
a position, and the earliest opportunity would be taken to advance. But 
such occasions may arise, and we ought all to know how to make the 
best of them. 
Moving Object. 
Shooting at a moving object is at Okebampton unfortunately re¬ 
stricted to a range of about 900 yards, as there is so little ground on 
which a target can be worked. Accordingly the only drill practised was 
that laid down for defence against cavalry at 1000 yards and under. 
The battery was brought into action against a distant target, and dur¬ 
ing the practice the cavalry target was started by bugle sound and 
advanced obliquely on the battery at a rate of about miles an hour. 
During its journey of about 700 yards, which was done in rather under 
2 minutes, it was found possible to fire about four rounds per gun, 
and this rate of fire would no doubt be improved on, but that the 
target has to be stopped just as it is within case range. On a dry day, 
when the bullets strike up a little dust and effect can be estimated, 
the fire certainly appears overwhelming. Lookers-on occasionally 
expressed some disappointment at the small number of hits on the 
target, which was a 3 ft. by 2 ft. screen mounted on an old sugar 
barrel. It was apparently forgotten that the target represented but a 
very small part of the front of an attacking squadron, and that the 
object of the practice was not so much to hit the target as to train the 
battery to deliver a rapid and effective fire over a constantly decreas¬ 
ing range. 
Examinations. 
The result of examinations in laying and in setting Scott’s sights 
and fuzes, as also the greater uniformity in drill and fire discipline 
show some improvement on last year. 
I propose now to touch on a few questions connected with the drill— 
not in the least with the intention of pointing out the faults of batteries, 
but merely to bring into notice points which during the season’s 
practice have been remarked on and criticised. 
Taking up Positions. 
What may be called the deliberate method of taking up positions is 
taken exception to by many, and has always been the subject of much 
comment by officers of other arms attending the camp. It so happens 
that the only positions allowing a good view of the operations of Brigade 
Practice are unvariably higher than both batteries and targets, so that 
the number of men and horses who are the forerunners of a brigade 
coming into a long range position was exceptionally apparent, and it 
was sometimes forgotten that from the position of the target the same 
crowd would not be so visible. However, there was no doubt a leaning 
toward the deliberate method, even when conditions of range and 
target pointed to the need of more speedy action. To a great extent 
this may be attributed to anxiety to obtain good effects on the target, 
and to the unreal circumstances of the practice ground. The tendency 
