GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1897 . 
335 
which to continue it. In this case their positions could be plotted on 
the chart of the position-finder, and fire maintained with the same ease 
as by day. 
High angle fire guns do not suffer from foul ranges in the same 
degree as direct fire guns (reference to which will be made presently), 
owing to the sites in which they are usually placed, their long ranges, 
and the absence of ricochet. There is also less necessity for quick 
continuous fire from them. No aiming rifle has yet been introduced 
for them, but such an apparatus, on similar lines to the Italian “ tube- 
cannon” of 2*78 inches calibre, would be of advantage if of suitable 
design and firing cheap ammunition with a variable powder charge. 
DIRECT EIRE GUNS. 
These are of so many different natures, so variously mounted, sited, 
and grouped, that practice from them can be only very generally dealt 
with. There are however certain principles which are of universal 
application, or nearly so. Local arrangements should be based on 
these. 
The heavier guns are primarily intended to resist deliberate attack, 
but their use in the case of desultory bombardment or forcing a passage 
must be contemplated. In many places they form the sole means of 
defence against bombardment. It has been shown however that each 
of these latter forms of attack is unlikely for different reasons, and 
that deliberate attack could not take place in the early stages of a 
war, or even afterwards unless command of the sea was lost to the 
defenders. It is therefore in assisting to man these guns, at which 
the details will probably have plenty of time after mobilization to 
settle down and become accustomed to their duties, that auxiliary 
artillery can be of the greatest service. But in order that there may 
be no unpreparedness for emergencies, a few of the most powerful 
guns, at any place which is liable to bombardment at the beginning 
of a war, should be manned by regular artillerymen. This is 
especially desirable if no high-angle fire guns are mounted. If well 
served they would be quite sufficient to deter an enemy not thoroughly 
prepared for this form of attack, which at such an early stage is 
impossible, from prosecuting it with any vigour. Similar precautions 
are necessary in the case of defences liable to the third form of 
attack, but in this case the guns capable of the most rapid service 
would be those most wanted. It seems therefore that both the 
regular and auxiliary artillery should train and consequently practice 
with these guns, the former in addition to all other guns, the latter 
exclusively. 
That curse of Coast Artillery practice, foul ranges, is more felt 
with these guns than with any others, on account of their large 
danger zones, due to possible ricochets. No other service, when 
practising the use of its own weapons, suffers in a similar way. It is 
as though a battalion of infantry at field firiug were compelled to 
await pauses in the traffic of a thoroughfare which the military 
authorities were powerless to close. No practice can possibly be 
