226 
GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1880 . 
mean burst of the latter has to be obtained and can most readily be 
found from tbe known range, as basis, by trial shell.* * * § At the same 
time, as we have seen, in all cases the mean trajectory should be raised 
slightly above that of the common shell—an alteration which should 
be effected by means of the sights. 
When it is desired, as it may be from a near position, to employ 
time shrapnel at once on coming into action, we would still advocate 
ascertaining the range correctly with the assistance of percussion 
common shell, and proceeding as above, because of the great difficulty 
of otherwise hitting off the correct range, height of trajectory, and 
distance of burst at once, due to the difficulty of accurately judging 
the point of burst of time shrapnel; while the power of the shell being 
restricted by the cover, there is the more need for its being burst at 
the most suitable point. 
In carrying out the foregoing programme of firing, after taking 
up position for action, the effect will, in the main, depend upon the 
ready and correct use of the range-finder in the first instance, then 
upon the commanding officers correctness of judgment and obser¬ 
vation and finally upon the divisional officers and Nos. 1 carrying out his 
orders strictly and with intelligence. 
We have already, in Part I., adverted to the necessity for these 
latter being practised in firing at entrenchments, in view of accurate 
shooting on service; we would now further advocate the same on the 
ground that they might be able, from their own individual technical 
knowledge, fully to grasp and hence, without doubt or hesitation, 
carry out their orders. And even much beyond this we would go, and 
insist upon the practical training of the commanding officer in such 
firing; that he, upon whom so much depends, might be fully equal to 
the occasion. Of late years much has been done in the right direction 
in providing land ranges for some of the field artillery annual practice ; 
but, we believe, there is still too much adherence to the time-honored 
6' x 6' target,! and too little approach in dummies{ placed in entrench¬ 
ments (also behind natural cover and in the open) to service conditions, 
while the officer commanding the battery never has the opportunity of 
applying and ordering the fire of his battery, as he would have to do 
on service. As part of the annual practice of a battery, it should be 
brought into action against dummy guns and gunners in gun-pits,* 
dummy infantry, lying down, firing, &c., in trenches and behind 
breastworks, § at unknown ranges, without any communication with a 
range-party and fire a certain number of rounds of each kind of shell, 
when the result should be carefully examined and noted by an umpire. || 
* See “Manual of Siege and Garrison Artillery,” 1879, p. 31. 
! Such is, of course, necessary for first training. 
X Dummies should always be painted the correct colours; not white, or left plain, which renders 
them more conspicuous than true. 
§ Also dummies behind natural cover and in the open. 
|| The results of this firing of the different batteries—taken, as far as possible, by the same 
umpire—should be tabulated and published in regimental orders. The figures would represent the 
bond fide value of the batteries in one of the highest qualities necessary for service. 
