£65 
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MILITIA ARTILLERY COMPETITIVE PRACTICE, 
CORK DISTRICT, 1896. 
BY 
COLONEL H. TORKINGTON, R . A. 
cc Some said c John print it,’ others said 'not so,’ 
Some said ' it might do good,’ others said * no.’ ”—John Banyan. 
THE OBJECT OF COMPETITION. 
The study of gun drill and practice requires much steady, solid 
plodding ; it is tiresome, undoubtedly tedious, and from the great 
variety of detail even difficult to properly acquire. At annual in¬ 
spections it has ntt been the custom to see a regiment of artillery 
working as a whole at fortress drill so the main work of artillery 
militia has always suffered in comparison with the more easily ac¬ 
quired but more showy infantry battalion movement of marching past 
aud the numerous minor drills of a company's parade. The adjutants 
have reported the difficulty they all experienced in getting the officers 
to acquire a knowledge of gun practice (the horses though regularly 
brought to the water would not drink !). 
There was not sufficient interest : it did not appear to them to be 
much good when they had learnt it, etc. Why ? because practice was 
conducted in such a desultory manner, that little knowledge on the 
part of the officers was necessary and, as they took any amount of time 
over it, perfection of drill on the part of the men was not necessary 
either. No body of men can shoot accurately and quickly unless 
thoroughly taught and drilled. Moreover, there must be a tangible 
result and something to compare it with. 
Modern fortress drill is like all our games, inasmuch as the individuals 
are posted at different points, but all are relying each on the other to 
6. YOL, xxiv. 
