FIRING AT MOVING OBJECTS. 
473 
“ 1200 yards, rapid fire 33 
+ 
“ Stand fast ” (wliistle) _..... + 
“ 800 yards, rapid fire 33 .. — 
+ 
“ Stand fast 55 (whistle) .. + 
“ Cavalry magazine, rapid fire 35 — 
&c. 
In the above example four rounds fall short 200, 150, 100, and 50 
yards. 
If the time allowed for ordering a change of range could be diminished 
to 10 seconds and the rate of fire increased to one round in five seconds, 
which would be quite possible with percussion shrapnel (that is to say, 
each individual gun fires once in 30 seconds) 1 it would be possible to 
make alterations in range of 300 yards instead of 400 yards. In this 
case 30 seconds would be available for fire, and four rounds would fall 
158, 111, 74, and 37 yards short. 
By the proposed system words of command are reduced to a minimum, 
and from its simplicity the chance of a mistake or of the C.O. losing 
his head at a critical moment is much reduced. The conduct of fire 
can also be taken up by a new commander with a minimum of delay 
as compared with a more complicated method. 
When the enemy is checked, fire continues automatically instead of 
ceasing, as is the case with any system involving a fixed number of 
rounds at each range. 
The rounds + and on graze are a necessary evil, but the latter, at 
any rate in the first example would be burst fairly close up, and as an 
infantry target presents great depth the latter would not necessarily be 
lost. 
If percussion fuze is used against cavalry it relieves the C.O. of all 
necessity for consulting a range card and enables him to devote his 
whole time to observation. There is also a far greater power of rapidly 
opening fire, following an enemy who retreats or changes direction, or 
changing the objective. 
This system stands or falls as regards time shrapnel by the possibility 
of observing bursts as + or —. This ought always to be easy at 
short ranges against a broad object such as would be presented on 
service, and on which effect can Be noticed in addition to observing 
1 It may be noted that with the ordinary method of firing at moving objects, if the ranging 
section fired at the above rate, i.e., each individual gun taking 30 seconds, the enemy would cover 
150 yards between each round. 
