GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1897 . 
337 
Where Forcing a Passage is a possible form of attack the use of 
“ running past points ” should not be neglected, either in the practice 
battery or in the works themselves. For this very quick targets are 
a necessity, and two very light marks representing the bow and centre 
of a ship, towed with coir rope by a powerful tug, should be employed. 
A battery commander should never at any practice be hampered 
with responsibility for the safety of the range if it can be avoided. He 
cannot attend properly to this and efficiently direct his fire at the same 
time. Every effort should be made to detail a special safety officer to 
each battery command. 
The above proposals are put forward in the belief that they afford 
the only real solution of the most serious difficulties attending practice 
from heavy guns, and would lead to a better understanding of what 
are service conditions, and to greater smartness and rapidity of fire— 
results much to be desired. One thing is certain, ordinary practice 
with constant long interruptions between each few rounds has often a 
most evil influence on even the best men, and leads to slovenly habits 
and general slackness. 
Aiming rifles should be supplied, where heavy guns are mounted, 
not singly but by groups, and if possible to all the groups of at least 
one battery command, for choice that which has the clearest range. 
Where no battery command has a clear range they should be supplied 
for all the guns of the practice battery. In either case the frequent 
use of them by all the artillery in the command should be facilitated 
as much as possible. With the 1-inch rifle observation of fire is fairly 
easy over moderately smooth water up to about 2,000 yards, and with 
the ‘45-inch to about 1,000 yards. These distances permit the use of 
range-finders or position-finders in the ordinary manner, and for all 
cases of laying, with the exception that the ‘45-inch rifle, not being 
adapted for electric firing, precludes the use of P.F. case III. As 
however this is only furnished for R.B.L. guns, B.L. guns below 
6-inch and R.M.L. guns below 9-inch, no inconvenience results. 
When using case I. a range table for the ammunition in use is required, 
by the help of which in conjunction with the range table for the service 
charge the correct graduation at which to set the sights can be 
obtained. It would be better, however, to have removable range strips 
properly graduated for the rifle ammunition. When using case II. or 
III. a scale of quadrant elevation must be worked out, from the range 
table for rifle ammunition, in the ordinary way and temporarily attached 
to the mounting. The target should be, as recommended for quick- 
firing guns, and for the same reason, a small one at comparatively short 
ranges. Owing to the small dangerous distance of the ammunition, 
practice is little liable to interruption from a foul range. Fire direction 
and fire discipline of a battery command can thus be practised under 
conditions which will allow of very valuable experience being gained 
by battery commanders, position-finding and depression range-finding 
operators, gun group commanders, gun captains and layers, and 
accustom all these to working together. 
The use of aiming tubes (‘23-inch calibre) may be possible in some 
situations, and if so they should be taken advantage of to train 
