ARTILLERY POSITIONS AND SCREENING GUNS. 
91 
the brook and up the opposite slope to within 1000 yards. They can 
fire continuously, taking their own time about it ; and it is claimed 
that in an hour's time they would have played considerable havoc 
among’st the detachments standing to their guns up against the sky on 
“ Holstock.” The artillery at Holstock, on the one hand, maintain 
that no hostile infantry could be got to face the frontal fire of their 60 
guns ; and even if they did so, their own infantry could be sent forward 
to drive out these sharp-shooters. 
The attacking infantry, on the other hand, argue that the Holstock 
artillery commander would not allow any infantry to mask the fire of 
his batteries and to incur the risk of a premature shell bursting 
amongst them, whilst engaged in beating off the sharp-shooters. 
They also say that their volunteers would be practically safe from 
the* fire of the 60 gun^, for the simple reason that the latter would have 
no line or any other visible object on which to lay. A scattered 
advance of 120 men over a front 1200 yards wide, is quite different to 
an advance of a firing line of 1,200 men at one pace interval. Guns 
can range on the latter, but not on the former. 
Example VII.—A natural screen in front of guns :—• 
In 1895, at Aldershot, on the occasion of a tactical field-day, under 
Colonel Wallace, R.H.A, Major Davidson was commanding 8 batteries 
R.H.A. acting in pursuit. 
The enemy’s infantry had just been driven northwards over a ridge 
about Gravel Hill and through a plantation on the far side. They 
were retreating over an underfeature bare of everything but heather 
and were rallying on a couple of batteries distant 600 yards from the 
wooded crest. 
Major Davidson’s instructions were to press the enemy at every 
point. He brought his batteries into action amongst the trees in a 
position from which he could just see the guns and infantry. They 
were also visible to the commanders of batteries, but his own guns were 
mashed. 
His idea was that he must screen his guns from the enemy’s view. 
He said that when the guns were fired, the shell would soon clear 
a way through the tops of the pine trees or pass over them. 
If they were to burst prematurely, it would not matter. The 
shrapnel bullets would carry up to the enemy. His guns would be 
invisible and safe from rifle fire. His detachment horses and gun 
teams would be quite safe during “ limber supply.” 
All the while his cavalry would be holding the northern edge of the 
wood and watching the enemy. 
CONCLUSIONS. 
The conclusions I arrive at after investigating on the ground and in 
plan the various positions taken up by artillery in action are as 
follows :— 
(1.) It is impossible to prove conclusively that, one position is 
preferable to another . Even if dummy batteries were to be fired at in 
various positions on the land ranges in England, Ireland and India, it 
would^greatly depend on the individual skill of the different battery 
How to 
attack the 
artillery. 
VII.—A 
Horse 
Artillery 
pursuit at 
Aldershot in 
1895. 
Conclusions. 
(1.) War the 
true test of 
which is best 
position. 
