THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 205 
communication. At ranges under 1,000 the guns should he kept under 
40 yards apart. 
1,000 to 1,600, 40 for choice. 
1,600 to 2,000, 50 „ 
2,000 to 2,500, 60 „ 
2,500 to 3,500, 70 /, 
Do not, however, he put out if the guns come into action at a distance 
different from what is intended, that is of little consequence. 
Sloping ground does not impair the accuracy of the range-finder. 
The task of the officer is not to find the range, but to place his guns 
in a favourable position for finding it. 
When a battery comes into action, whether with or without range¬ 
finders, the Nos. 1 have a most important duty to perform, which is 
especially prescribed in all drill-books, but which I have invariably 
found that they omit. It is simply, before unlimbering, to make sure 
that they can see the enemy they are about to fire on—along their sights. 
On rough ground a 12-pounder gun cannot, when unlimbered, be 
moved far by hand; or, what amounts to the same thing, it is quicker to 
l im ber up and again unlimber. 
Although in war this point is of equal importance, whether range¬ 
finders are used or not, in peace no time is lost if it is forgotten when 
working without instruments, but a great deal of time may be expended 
on repairing this error when working with range-finders. 
There are two points for a No. 1 to remember :— 
1st. When mounted, his eye is 7 feet 6 inches above the ground; 
when laying his gun, only 3 feet 6 inches. 
2nd. That the word “ action” from an officer does not simply mean 
unlimber your gun, but unlimber it where you can use it. 
The rawest set of gunners can be taught in a single day to use the 
range-finders for defensive purposes, or if there is one officer or man in 
the battery who understands the instruments, he can find the ranges 
without the assistance of any skilled labour, at the rate of about one 
distance in three minutes. 
But to enable gunners to use the range-finders offensively, that is, to 
be able to race men who are employing the trial shot system, requires 
some practice. 
When the detachments are perfect in the mechanical process of 
finding the range on easy points, and from easy ground, they must be 
exercised on difficult points against time. 
The best way to do this is to take out the detachments with the 
Nos. 1 mounted, and for the officer to choose the least distinguishable 
features of the surrounding country to work on, while unfavourable 
ground is selected for the position of the guns, and time is counted from 
the word “ action” until the range is called out. 
The N.C.-officer finding the range, should not be fettered as to the 
distance between his guns, or as to their placing, as it is supposed the 
remaining guns of the battery would conform to the range guns. 
