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MAKING OR BREAKING. 
Now if, for the sake of argument, we suppose that this view be' 
generally accepted, would it be thought dangerous and subversive were 
a suggestion put forward to help the impecunious garrison subaltern in 
the maintenance of a beast, to which the only drawback is a craving 
for food ? 
In the Garrison Artillery the little army of specialists is daily gather¬ 
ing strength. In addition to the Gunnery Instructor, there are officers 
in charge of range and position-finding and signalling, who do not draw 
forage for a horse. To argue gravely that holding one of these 
appointments constituted any real claim for forage allowance, would be 
absurd, and such a method of approach would be met by a prompt, and 
probably very curt, refusal. There is no question of right, it is simply 
one of expediency, and, in a minor degree, of expenditure. We most 
certainly wish to popularise the Garrison Artillery. Extra pay has not 
done very much towards doing so, and the struggle for Field or Moun¬ 
tain Artillery is as fierce as of yore. Forage is not very costly, and 
perhaps some reduction might be made in the case of horses which 
need not be passed as chargers. Three ponies, and in extreme cases 
four, can be kept going, with good, careful management, on the forage 
for two horses. There is no need for any special pleading. The extra 
cost would, I feel confident, be repaid a hundredfold, and the magic 
word a forage,” would be an incentive to work, and to excel in some 
particular line, superior in power to many gold medals, and even to the 
sparsely sown commendations of Inspecting Officers. Such is the crude 
suggestion. It may possibly meet with a certain amount of ridicule, 
but, by some readers, it may be deemed worthy of thought. To the 
latter I commend it. 
Those who trouble to criticise this little paper will perhaps accuse me 
of siding too much with the “ wide ranger,” to the detriment of the good 
boy. Well, to that I plead guilty ; but who is not, in their heart of 
hearts, of my way of thinking ? Which requires most assistance ? Life 
presents comparatively few difficulties to the boy whom its temptations 
do not attract, but to the lad who inherits a taste for enjoyment, life is 
made up of pit-falls. Possibly it is their very frequency that makes us 
overlook the delinquencies of the one, while we are made uneasy, and 
are unjustly irritated by the methodical indiscretions of the other. 
The two natures demand widely different methods of management, and 
it is the power to appreciate this, that is so often lacking in Com¬ 
manding Officers. 
I have been tempted, I fear, to wander very frequently from the 
point, but my object in putting forward these heterodox views is to 
endeavour to impress on others, convictions that are very strong in my 
own mind. If we want a smart, zealous, active stamp of subaltern in 
the Garrison Artillery we must train him, and train him assiduously; 
but of all things, we must guard against making him a gun-shy !” 
