554 
OKEHAMPTON EXPERIMENTS. 
it, at these distances, much time and ammunition are wasted. But there are 
occasions when the range-finder is not likely to be used at all. For example, 
in coming suddenly and rapidly into action at comparatively short ranges, to 
check the advance of troops moving quickly, and perhaps across the front; 
or, with horse artillery advancing with cavalry, to give a finishing blow to a 
wavering body of troops; or in actively pursuing a retiring enemy at con¬ 
stantly changing distances. These are three instances when the range-finder 
would not, in all probability, be employed. But its use would nevertheless 
be very desirable on many occasions—all. the more since the increased 
ranges of field artillery minimise the movements of batteries, and allow a 
certain amount of deliberation and opportunity for taking the range of 
prominent points within the zone of fire. The range-finder would also be a 
valuable aid in teaching the judging of distances, up to 2,000 yds., as, by 
checking the estimates formed, it would gradually educate the eye. For 
these reasons the Committee concur with the Special Committee in recom¬ 
mending the issue of a range-finding instrument to every battery, the instru¬ 
ments being used on tripods instead of on guns; but, at the same time, they 
wish to state that this recommendation is contingent on the recognition by 
the authorities of the absolute necessity of maintaining a thoroughly well- 
organised establishment of trained men and horses for the proper care and 
use of these instruments. The Committee are confident that if this be not 
done, the strain on the establishment of a battery which will be caused by 
drawing from it men and horses for range-finding duties will be such as to 
make the work distasteful, and lead to its being imperfectly performed. 
The Committee cannot too strongly urge the importance of making the 
annual practice of batteries more a trial of skill in accuracy of shooting than 
it is at present. The introduction of Nolan's range-finder will be a step in 
this direction; but more would be done by introducing some system of field 
artillery gun practice, such as exists in Germany and Austria, and is 
described in “B.A. Institution Papers," No. 1, Yol. YIIL, “ Translations." 
The great drawback now is the use of <se^-ranges, over which the annual 
practice of batteries is to a very great extent carried on, and which give an 
unreality to the fire and use of field artillery. This unreality—this difference 
from the conditions of service—diminishes the interest in the practice, and 
by absence of adequate results leads to a wasteful expenditure of ammunition. 
The use of land ranges, as was emphatically shewn at Okehampton, would 
also admit of valuable instruction and practice in driving. The Committee 
therefore trust that every effort will be made to secure suitable land ranges 
in different parts of the United Kingdom, where batteries could be assembled 
and practice carried on in a way approaching to the conditions of actual 
service. The greater part of the annual allowance of ammunition should be 
expended at targets placed at a variety of unknown distances, the position of 
the battery being changed as soon as the range is found. The value and 
importance of every single round of ammunition should be strongly impressed 
on the young soldier. The Committee would also recommend (with 
reference more especially to the recent mobilization scheme) that occasionally, 
as in India, batteries should be conveyed to the practice-grounds by rail, to 
give officers and men an idea of the method of conveyance which would be 
employed in the event of the rapid concentration of an army corps. 
There is another means of improving the accuracy of artillery shooting, 
