DIRECT AND INDIRECT FIRE. 
237 
much since 1870. Troops of all arms moreover have gained great 
skill in taking advantage of cover.” 
The conclusion to be arrived at from the foregoing seems to be, that 
concentration of fire on particular portions of an enemy's line of guns, 
however desirable, will in future be attended by much greater diffi¬ 
culties than formerly. 
Before explaining the method proposed to adopt in firing at moving 
targets from behind cover, we shall start with the following postulates:—• 
(1.) Against rapidly (faster than trot) moving cavalry, little 
effect is produced at long or medium ranges by the regulation method 
of ranging and it is better to trust to magazine fire and case at close 
ranges to repel an attack of this kind. 
(2.) The consideration of compact bodies of troops moving across 
the front of a position, in full view and at a uniform pace, is almost 
unnecessary with the present formations of infantry ; and therefore, this 
description of moving target will not have to be dealt with. 
(3.) The normal moving targets (omitting cavalry dealt with 
in 1.) of the present time are :— 
(a.) Lines of infantry in rank entire, extending over the whole 
front, which do not make a continuous advance in one 
line, but by a series of rapid independent advances of 
numerous small bodies endeavour to establish themselves 
in a thick firing line, at from 500 to 600 yards of the 
position to be assaulted. 
(b.) Batteries or Brigade Divisions, rapidly advancing direct on 
the position attacked against which better results would, 
as a rule, be obtained by attacking them at the moment 
they are coming into action and before they can range, 
than by treating them as moving targets. 
(4.) The regulation method assumes that the attacker will ad¬ 
vance over a level plain aud be visible during the whole advance. This 
will, it is contended, be the exception, not the rule. 
To sum up in one general creed. The moving target, though most 
useful as an exercise at the practice camp, will rarely be able to be 
practised in its entirety on the manoeuvre ground. 
Having had opportunities of hearing the opinions of officers of other 
branches of the service on witnessing our practice at moving targets, 
supposed to represent cavalry and infantry, it must be confessed that 
they were anything but flattering to the imaginary leaders of their 
respective arms with regard to their methods of attacking our bat¬ 
teries. 
We are often so pleased with the doings of our own particular arm 
that we are inclined to forget the saying of a great General, that in 
the consideration of an enemy's probable movements we should always 
give him credit for doing something sensible. Will cavalry attack a 
well posted and otherwise unmolested battery over a mile of clear and 
open ground, by a purely frontal attack, after having given it time to 
pick up the range ? The exercise is a useful one for our practice 
grounds. To hope for such chances in war, in anything but very 
exceptional circumstances, from an arm whose first teaching is to 
Objection 4 
—moving 
targets 
