108 
SPEED IN FIRING WITH GARRISON GUNS. 
them on the level of the gun or, when convenient, slightly above it. 
(4) All loading, traversing and elevating arrangements are simplified 
by low mountings, such as are met with in Naval use. Mountings 
which require a gun to be traversed round to a fixed loading place are 
slow and should be avoided whenever possible. To get really quick 
work the layer must be able to, at anyrate roughly, follow the ship 
during the process of loading and be ready to fire directly it is com¬ 
pleted. Loading and laying should, in fact, be simultaneous acts. This 
principle is admitted by the introduction of Q.F. guns, and it is trying 
to the Garrison Gunner to see new emplacements constructed from 
which truly effective fire can never be obtained from a non-recognition 
of the importance of this aid to speed in firing but, leaving modern 
constructions alone, there is no reason that somewhat older types should 
not be rendered far more easily worked with rapidity than they now 
are and, by comparatively cheap alterations, be rendered doubly effec¬ 
tive. The shorter the time the ammunition is in the gun after the first 
round of a series the more even is the shooting of the cartridge. 
Traversing gear requires to be just sufficiently quick to enable the 
gun to easily follow the bow of a rapid vessel, moving across the gun 
at the closest likely range. Too rapid traversing gear is apt to make a 
heavy gun, on a heavy mounting, overrun and to convert it into a slow 
shooter. A traversing and elevating gear which can be, at anyrate 
partially, controlled by the layer is a desideratum. Above all things 
everything must work evenly, without jerks ; jerks are the bane of the 
layer and detract from speed. 
(5) Bad or defective communications lead to uncertainty, disappoint¬ 
ment, and slow work. The fewer communications there are, as a rule, 
the less the delay, while the most successful guns are those which 
require the fewest communications. A gun on high ground, with an 
automatic sight, finding its own range, needs exceedingly few accessories. 
The C.O. should be able to check its fire at his will ; to cause it to 
support other guns, or to aid it with warning and advice, but the fewer 
the messages sent the more rapidly is effective fire obtained. It follows 
that the communication should be the best obtainable, for indifferent 
methods of transmission tend to multiplication of messages, irritation 
and confusion. As a general rule after general permission to engage is 
given, no further message should be necessary until the progress of the 
action induces a weighty reason for switching fire. Slow fire at practice 
has often been largely due to the adoption of telephones which, as a 
sole method of communicating, have proved slow and uncertain for 
Garrison Artillery purposes. A recording telegraph capable of standing 
the shock of gun fire would save scores of messages and much delay. 
But telephones are installed so generally that they cannot be ignored ; 
what is required to supplement them is a loud continuously-vibrating 
electric bell close to each gun, which once set a going by the F.O., or 
B.C., shall continue to sound until switched off by the G.G.C., or G.C., 
who would at once stop firing and report. This would afford instant 
control and dissipate much anxiety, while the slower telephone would 
be looked to for explanation and instructions. Such a bell could be 
made capable of conveying more messages than one, with great rapidity. 
Badly-sited guns and the more antiquated emplacements require, in 
most cases, more communications. Each must be taken on its merits, 
