OKEHAMPTON EXPERIENCES, 1892 . 
141 
tlie limber gunners. The footboard was never designed to accommodate 
two magazines, as well as three pairs of legs. Perhaps the most 
promising suggestion for a way to carry the magazines is that they 
should rest on a shelf in rear of each limber-box. The shelf would 
also be convenient for the service of ammunition. It may be objected 
that this would interfere with the carriage of the gunners* kits, but if 
the shelf, which has been fitted to some wagon-bodies and tried this 
year, is approved, the same objection will apply, and must be over¬ 
come. 
Ammunition. 
It seems probable that a new form of shrapnel will be introduced 
before long, and exhaustive experiments are being made to find the 
best pattern of shell. The common shell also appears doomed, and 
some form of ring or segment shell will perhaps replace it. (Hear, 
hear.) 
The time and percussion fuze is excellent, and every gunner will be 
glad to hear that the difficulty of screwing up the nut without shifting 
the collar has been overcome by a very simple expedient, which 
promises to be successful. It is to be hoped that before long this will 
be our only fuze. (Hear.) 
Cordite was used by the last division in camp, and was in every way 
satisfactory, that is as far as the powder was concerned ; but the vent¬ 
sealing tube has not yet been brought to perfection. 
Practice Reports. 
The common view of the Practice Report is that it is a nuisance, 
though, perhaps, a necessary one. Yet, if made full use of, it may be of 
the greatest assistance in the detection and correction of faults in lay¬ 
ing and fuze setting. Also, it brings home to the Battery Commander 
his own errors of observation and procedure. Every subaltern officer 
should, as soon as possible after the day’s practice, examine the reports 
that he may see how his men are working, and confront the individual 
layer with the evidence of his mistakes. The battery practice book 
and the range report will provide all necessary information if the com¬ 
piled report is not available. More than once the faulty adjustment of 
a Scott’s sight, and, on one occasion, the use of a Mark I. sight with a 
Mark II. carriage, have been detected through the analysis of the 
Practice Report. But it would not be safe to rely on the Staff Officers 
to make such discoveries, nor can they be expected to follow the 
fortunes of each individual layer throughout the practice. 
The method of analysis of the Practice Reports was very clearly 
laid down in the Institution papers of, I think, June, 1892, in a paper 
by Captain White. 
Dress. 
The dress for practice was always serge coats, except for Brigade 
Days, for which Field Day Order was adopted. The helmet is not a 
comfortable head-dress to work in, it interferes greatly with the layers, 
and is very inconvenient for officers, as it has be shifted to the back of 
