DIRECT AND INDIRECT FIRE. 
233 
ing posts are used, as tlie command “ stand fast ” is the first order 
given. But even if the battery had been originally brought up under 
cover its position would soon be indicated by the six men running 
about 50 yards in front of it to plant their aiming posts as directed. 
Now, although considerable accuracy can be obtained by the use of 
two aiming posts this method is open to many objections and would, 
as a rule, entail a too great separation of the battery C.O. from his 
command, unless he trusted entirely to an observer. In short, it is very 
doubtful whether, as used at present, it would be of much use to Horse 
or Field Artillery. 
The method advocated and described below is a modification of and 
is based on, that employed on the continent. 
The battery C.O. having carefully examined the position and decided 
exactly where he will place his battery (from under cover), brings it 
into the covered position in rear. He then falls out the sectional com¬ 
manders and Nos. 1, and the whole advance until they can just see the 
object over the crest when mounted. Having pointed it out to them 
all, he orders them to extend from the flank or centre, keeping well 
under cover, each taking up a position from which he can just see the 
object over the crest. When all have done this the C.O. dresses them. 
The Nos. i then turn their horses about, so as to face the battery, 
which is advanced at a walk (to avoid dust), each gun halting with the 
leaders heads 6 inches from its No. Fs horse. When all are in position 
the C.O. orders l( Action Front,” and the guns are run up to positions 
of the Nos. 1 (10 or 12 yds.) by hand. The No. 1 of each gun next 
mounts on to the gun and stands with one foot on each axletree box, 
directing it on to the object. As soon as he has directed it the layer 
looking over the sights from the front, directs No. 5 to plant an aiming 
post in rear of the gun and 2 and 3 mark the wheels. 1 Each section 
as soon as ready reports to the C.O. who, when he has received all 
those reports, gives the required elevation and proceeds to range from 
a position in which he can see the target and observe the effect of his fire. 
This method is only advocated at ranges over 1800 yds. 
Two objections to the above may be urged (1) Its inaccuracy; (2) Objections 
the difficulty of obtaining the angle of sight. to method 
We shall now proceed to deal with these objections. 
(1) Place a man to act as target, in front of a gun, with a feature of inaccuracy 
ground in between them, so that the man can only be seen from the gun 
by the No. 1 standing on the axletree seats. Let the gun be carefully 
directed on to the man and its position fixed in the usual way by a picket 
in rear. After two or three rounds (in which the gun is run up or back, 
half a turn of the wheel each time) give “ Stand Fast,” let the gun be 
laid on the post in rear and order the man in front of the gun (the 
target) to place his helmet on the top of a long stick and raise it up 
so that a layer looking over the sights in the ordinary way can see it. 
A little practice will prove that very fair accuracy for direction can be 
obtained by this method, elevation being given by clinometer. For 
1 N.B. Wooden stops with an iron pin are very useful for this purpose, and add much to 
the accuracy of fire. 
