SPEED IN FIRING WITH GARRISON GUNS. 
113 
responsible post and needs as much training and practice for liis work 
as anybody, for it is astonishing how many opportunities for firing with 
perfect safety a really smart and capable Danger Officer can offer to a 
battery of guns if he feels a confidence that those manning the guns 
will only respond instantly. Being a mere peace-practice official few 
hints are laid down for his guidance, but it repays a 0.0. well to afford 
him every assistance in the shape of trustworthy look outs. When a 
good Danger Officer forecasts that a safe space for fire is likely to occur 
he lets the C.O. know that he will probably be able to raise his flag soon, 
and the latter should at once get all ready by causing range-finding 
operations to re-commence and, as the opportunity seems about to prove 
a good one, by assembling the men on the guns, so that almost at the 
instant that the flag goes up firing may commence. If fire is not always 
opened smartly a Danger Officer is apt to think it is not worth while to 
take advantage of brief openings and fails to raise his flag. 
Keeping men more or less at attention at the guns, for considerable 
periods, when it is manifest that the range is foul is a fruitful source of 
slow firing and slackness. It is far better to dismiss them until they 
are wanted and rely on their being smart in answering to a call, 
encouraging them to enter into such little amusements as can be 
organized close to the guns. Unavoidable pauses during practice often 
afford an excellent opportunity for assembling detachments and criti¬ 
cising their performances up to that point, or for imparting theoretical 
knowledge and classifying gunners. Each Company will pursue its 
own method, but the smartest will be the Company which has managed 
to pitch most shell into the target in the shortest time available for 
actual practice. 
