THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
203 
The officer himself, or a sergeant, will note down the distances on a 
card. This can be leisurely done in 20 minutes. 
When these are taken, they should be re-measured with a greater 
distance between the guns; where any discrepancies occur the distances 
should be taken a third time. 
Ten points being thus established, if time allows, others may be 
added, if not, their distances should be guessed, and the guessed dis¬ 
tance placed upon a card. Should there be any point immediately in 
front, or near to which the guns may afterwards be removed, its distance 
should be taken, so that in an advance or retreat the ranges of some of 
the original points may be known without fresh observations. 
The officer should consider what points the enemy are likely to advance 
on. The Nos. 1 should copy the card, or at least learn the ranges 
of the principal points, and the lengths of fuze should be marked oppo¬ 
site the ranges. 
If the commander has had abundance of time, he will know certain 
points under 2,000 yds. almost exactly, while at 4,000 his probable error 
should be under 50 yds. 
If the enemy is advancing in deep formation, masses of columns, or of 
batteries, the guns should open fire as soon as possible, even at 3,500 
yds. 
At this distance, when brigades are massed, and are passing over ob¬ 
served points, 20 per cent, of the projectiles ought to strike. It is need¬ 
less to point out that great care should be exercised in laying the guns, 
allowing for wind, and levelling the wheels at such ranges. 
Upon being fired at, the enemy may be expected to break up into 
shallower columns, probably not more than two companies deep. When 
these thin columns are actually standing abound observed points, they may 
be fired at up to 2,500 yds., but when in movement, or standing between 
points, so that there is a probable error of 50 yds. in the range, they ought 
not to be fired at over 2,000 yds. 
If the enemy form line, 1,700 yds. should be the limit of fire. 
Very good practice can be made at skirmishers up to 1,500 yds., 
but skirmishers should only be fired at by artillery when ammunition 
abounds, as one good shell in a column is worth 20 good shells at 
skirmishers. 
Troops lying down in line may be fired at up to 1,500 yds., but very 
deliberately. Cavalry in line may be fired on up to 2,000 yds. 
It may be assumed that artillery will advance at full interval, and in 
line ; if so, they should be fired on up to 2,500 yds. But once unlim¬ 
bered, if their horses are sent away, and their guns are at all sheltered 
by the ground, it will be difficult to do them much harm at distances over 
2,000 yds. 
In firing at artillery, if it seems probable that little damage is being 
done by either party, a fresh observation should be taken on one of the 
wheels of the enemy’s guns ; generally choose the windward gun to take 
the range. 
About 1,500 to 1,700 yds. would be the most favourable distance to 
choose in firing at guns, trusting to trial shots, as much under 1,300 
there would not be sufficient disparity in the effects produced, and as 
over 2,000 nothing decisive could be counted on. 
