FIELD ARTILLERY PROGRESS. 
407 
the brilliancy we have reached, and can let other needs have their 
turn. If it is understood that the reputation of a battery depends in 
some measure on its shooting and its readiness for war from a war 
stand-point, there will soon be improvement in these respects. We 
shall then find sound knowledge extending beyond the level of intel¬ 
ligent Nos. 1 and limber gunners, and a real interest in the work 
taking hold of all. That is always the case when artillery knowledge 
gets beyond the dry details of standing gun drill and catechism. 
It is most necessary that the higher knowledge should be widely 
spread. Every man on a peace establishment is a possible N.C. officer 
or important gun number. In our present circumstances, the act of 
mobilisation on a large scale would cause enormous changes in all 
ranks. Officers, N.C. officers, and men would in many cases be moved 
on promotion and to fill up gaps; and even had we more reserves to 
fill up from, there would be the same necessity for the largest possible 
backbone of trained men. In these days there is no time to supple¬ 
ment deficiencies in training after the campaign opens; the first great 
battle is probably decisive of the campaign, and such as the peace 
training has made a battery it must be in the decisive struggle, 
weighted heavily too by the changes and augmentations on mobilisa¬ 
tion, and the certain loss of valuable men, even in the first weeks, by 
casualties. 
It is much better not to lay down a minute system of instructions. 
The commanding officer of a battery is the proper instructor of his 
battery. He should be held responsible for results without fuss as to 
the manner of his getting them. Let him clearly understand that his 
reputation depends on it, and leave him free. 
I said that if we were of one mind on this subject, the greater part 
of the difficulty would be overcome. Not that we can do all that is 
wanted, as matters stand, though we can do much; but we should soon 
get what more we want if the country clearly understood the necessity 
of what we ask. When the gun drill, laying, ammunition, fixing fuzes, 
and principles of gunnery have all been so taught in the barrack 
square to every man of a battery that he knows them without hesita¬ 
tion, or even thinking about them, then comes the application of his 
knowledge in the field. 
This cannot be satisfactorily carried out with our present means. 
The annual practice may not always be made the most of, but it is at 
the best very unlike reality, and is too limited, even if the practice 
grounds were better. 
The obvious want is to carry out practice on varied and extended 
ground, where the conditions may be made to approach those of service, 
and to imitate them exactly (save in being shot at) where a range can 
be found extending in all directions. But a year ago this was said to 
be impossible; but the practice last summer proved Dartmoor to be 
admirably suited for it. Half-a-dozen more grounds might be found 
in England and Ireland—Salisbury Plain, the Shropshire moors, 
Wicklow, and other places; for artillery practice, with ordinary pre¬ 
caution, is no more dangerous than rifle shooting, the sole element of 
difficulty is in the range of an occasional blind shell. 
53 
