ACTION COMMAND OF A SIEGE DIVISION. 
39 
right and left observers and their positions should be 
marked on the plan by small circles, R.O. stations in red, 
if possible, so as to be easily distinguished and recognised. 
(3.) The means of communication with B.O/s and the Lieut.- 
Colonel's observers would probably be telephonic or 
telegraphic; it is not necessary for the Lieut.-Colonel to 
be in communication with the battery observers, as all 
orders to them would necessarily be through their C.O/s. 
(4.) In order to indicate to B.C/s the direction of the targets 
they are to engage, two things are necessary 
(a.) That the Lieut.-Colonel should be able to ascertain 
definitely the position of the target and com¬ 
municate it as definitely to B.O/s. 
(b.) That B.O/s should be able, by the orders they 
give to their observers, to get them to set the 
instruments as required so as to b© on the spot 
indicated. 
Both of the requirements can easily be obtained by a very simple 
process, viz., by orienting the Lieut.-ColoneTs plan and all observing 
instruments. In the School of Gunnery Report for 1895 it is recom¬ 
mended that observing instruments should be fitted with box compasses 
and no doubt all will shortly so be fitted, the process of orienting them 
will then be a very simple matter, but the need for this will necessitate 
some alteration in our present system of setting these instruments up; 
instead of laying each instrument at zero on the other, we shall have 
to adopt the plan of orienting each instrument at starting and reading 
off the bearing to the target instead of the angle. 1 I do not suppose 
that there will be any difficulty in working the instruments thus; when 
the observers get used to it, it will be as easy aS the present method. 
The Lieut.-ColoneTs plan would, of course, be oriented, but if he is 
to indicate his targets with ease and rapidity, the mere fixing of the 
north point will not be sufficient. His plan will have to be specially 
prepared with this object; no doubt there are several ways of doing 
this, but the method I should advocate is as follows :—■ 
Through the positions on the plan representing the observing 
stations, magnetic north and south lines of sufficient length should be 
drawn. A circular protractor as large as possible, and graduated to 
quarter degrees, should be used in conjunction with a straight-edge 
graduated in 100 yards to the same scale as the plan and constructed 
so that it can be pivoted on a drawing pin at the centre of the 
protractor. 
The method of procedure would be— 
The Lieut.-Colonel having ascertained from a study of his map and 
an actual examination by glasses, or the observing instrument at his 
1 A method of target indicating which requires no alteration in existing method of setting up 
instruments and is, moreover, more accurate .than the one here suggested, has been proposed by 
the Instructor of Gunnery at Lydd and was tried there this year with success. 
Means of 
communi¬ 
cation. 
Require¬ 
ments for 
target 
indicating. 
Orientation 
of instru¬ 
ments and 
plans. 
Orienting 
the plan. 
Method of 
procedure 
