AUSTRIAN FIELD ARTILLERY SERVICE PRACTICE. 
657 
subalterns with N.-C. officers and men. These are placed so as to 
observe the strike of shots and action of fuzes, and they keep the range 
report. To this latter it is well to attach a sketch of the object and of 
the positions of the batteries, showing also the relative heights. 
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The tactical idea governing any practice is to be imparted to the 
battery commanders shortly before its commencement. These, then, 
acquaint their subordinates with its outlines. Immediately thereupon 
the battery is ordered to move to the ground which the superintending 
officer has reconnoitred for it. The object to be fired at is indicated 
to the battery commander, either immediately before the march to the 
place were it will be formed, or during the march, and when the 
battery has reached a suitable point whence it can take up its position. 
After this the battery is left to the sole management of its commander, 
who proceeds according to regulations. 
Nos. 1 take as their mark the middle of the object. With a column, 
it is the leading portion of it which is laid upon. When troops in close 
order have skirmishers in front, it is not these, but those in close order 
which should be fired at. 
The first shots are trial shots. They must be watched with peculiar 
care, in order that the proper corrections may be made and the range 
be picked up rapidly. As a leading principle, trial shots should be 
short rather than over. The officer charged with observing the shot 
should have a simple method of signalling his observations to the 
battery, so that they may be used in correcting elevations, and be not 
capable of being misunderstood. 
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It may be arranged that batteries, after firing at one object, should 
suddenly turn their fire on Another, supposed to be threatening them, 
but generally this should not be done unless there has been a marked 
success in the firing at the first object. 
At the close of the firing, the whole of the men engaged should be 
taken to see the result on the object, and be instructed as to their 
success, or its absence, and its causes. 
In the above practice, the ranges should, in general, not exceed 2000 
paces, in order to accustom the batteries to regard the shorter ranges 
as those used for decisive action, and the longer as exceptional. 
The officers, N.-C. officers and men of batteries not engaged are to 
witness the practice of the other batteries; they are to be placed as near 
as may be to the object, so as to give them an opportunity of acquiring, 
by their own observation, correct ideas and experience as to the use 
and effect of their weapon; their commanders and officers giving them 
suitable instruction, and commenting on the progress and result of the 
practice. 
[The Form of Record of Practice is annexed.'] 
