FIELD ARTILLERY PROGRESS. 
403 
THE NEXT STEP IN FIELD ARTILLERY PROGRESS. 
BY 
LIEUT.-COLONEL EOX STRANGWAYS, R.A. 
Amongst all the subjects wliicli may be treated in these papers, there 
is none of higher interest to us as a corps, or more deserving close 
attention, than that of the part field artillery ought to take in war, and 
the means by which its effect should be prepared in peace. 
Much will be justly expected of us; how are we qualifying ourselves 
for the trust the country reposes in us, and how far are we prepared to 
maintain and advance the reputation our predecessors acquired for us ? 
Let me say, first, I do not intend to discuss questions of materiel. 
I believe our weapons will at least compare with those of our neigh¬ 
bours. Full knowledge and experience are brought to bear on this 
subject, and we are not likely to fall behind in mechanical and manu¬ 
facturing supremacy at present, and in any case it will be time enough 
to complain of our tools when we are quite sure we know how to use 
them. The question of th s personnel is the important one, and I pro¬ 
pose to examine— 
1st. What a well instructed and efficient field artillery ought to be 
able to do. 
2nd. In what respects we fall short of such an ideal. 
3rd. How our weak points can be made good without the sacrifice 
of any perfection we have yet reached. 
The first essential of an efficient field artillery must be to be able to 
shoot well; all else is but a means to an end. Whether we consider the 
points which are equally necessary for all arms of the service—discipline 
(with all that it includes), cleanliness, smartness, appearance under 
arms, good conduct, cheerful ready obedience under all circumstances, 
the high esprit de corps which regards military honour as the first 
of all virtues ; or whether we look at the points which are peculiarly 
the province of the artilleryman—such as the special care of his guns 
and horses, exactness of drill and movement, readiness of resource in 
the varying conditions under which his arm is employed ; all are but 
the first steps to the object for which the service exists. They must 
be made with infinite pains, no trouble is too much to spend on them, 
they are necessary in the highest degree, and they take time. Herein 
is the reason for a permanent force—the reason that a volunteer foi’ce 
