177 
MAKING OR BREAKING? 
BY 
LIEUT.-COLONEL D. D. T. O’CALLAGHAN, R.A. 
What may be termed the renaissance of the Garrison Artillery lias 
given rise to the publication of a mass of alarming and disquieting 
literature. The separation of the Regiment is practically accomplished, 
and the two great divisions will each train up their officers with the 
comforting conviction that they will stick to the trades for which they 
have served their apprenticeship. 
With the young Field gunner the work is interesting and appetising. 
He learns, and is expected to know, more gunnery than heretofore, 
but then he has his horse and his spurs. If these last-named acquisi¬ 
tions occupy his attention during his adolescence more than his guns, 
who can blame him ? Before many months have passed he will see 
that older, and considerably smarter officers than himself, devote much 
time and care to the actual shooting of the battery, and that quickness 
and accuracy in this respect receive as much commendation as do the 
most rapid and intricate evolutions performed at best pace on Woolwich 
Common. 
The riding school sets him up, squares his shoulders, and improves 
his appearance ; the gold lace on his uniform and the “ reds ” of his 
trousers pale from rain and dust, but an oil spot need never be found 
on either; and, best of all, from his very beginning he has a very fair 
amount of responsibility vested in him; he is in command of a section. 
Every man, woman, child, and horse in this little command is his own 
special care, and he vies with the other subalterns in the smartness 
and efficiency of his two guns on parade. His stable and his harness 
are his great pride, and his work, as he loves to call it, is more recreation 
than labour. It is true that parades and stables take up some of his 
time, but not to the extent of interfering with his cricket, rackets, and, 
when he can afford it, polo. Added to this, his chances of active service 
are at least as good as those of any other officer in the British service. 
That his brother in the Garrison Artillery is less favoured, is evidenced 
by the fact of our having asked for more pay for him. That he fully 
deserves it, is evidenced by the fact of his having got it. This in¬ 
creased expenditure must, however, be justified in the eyes of the 
country. a You must pay the officers of the Garrison Artillery more 
highly,” we say, “ because they are more scientific than those in the 
other branch, and,” we add under our breath, cc if they are not, they 
have got to be.” Science is the shibboleth of the Garrison Artillery, 
it is their raison d’etre, it is the standard round which they must rally. 
3. VOL. XX. 
