GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1897 . 
339 
be obtained by very careful selection of the smartest officers and men 
in the company which is charged with furnishing them. 
In companies, or parts of companies, told off to the other guns it 
would consist in the case of high angle fire guns of practice from the 
guns themselves ; in the case of the direct fire guns of the practice 
from the practice battery for the reasons already stated. In all 
practice under this heading every attempt should be made to approach 
service conditions. Some definite tactical idea, based on the forms of 
attack to which the defences are liable, should be followed. Casualties 
to men and material should be frequently practised. The practice 
should never be interrupted to correct errors of drill, unless waste 
of ammunition is likely to ensue. They should be noted and pointed 
out afterwards, except when they occur frequently, in which case 
practice should be stopped altogether, and drill substituted. Every 
endeavour should be made to obtain continuous, rapid and accurate 
service of the guns. 
Competitive practice should be included in this class, and carried out 
with the same regard to service conditions. In view of the immense 
importance of Q.F. practice it would be well that, in each alternate 
year at least, it should take place from quick-firing guns. This would 
perhaps be difficult at present, but the difficulties will decrease as the 
guns for which money has been voted in this year’s supplementary 
estimates become available. 
At other times the practice batteries which have been advocated 
should be used, or, failing these, practice should take place from the 
guns having the clearest range. 
The above procedure would help to assimilate the conditions of 
practice at different stations, and might render possible a comparison 
of companies on a much larger scale than is practicable at present, a 
result which would greatly increase the keenness of all ranks, and tend 
to further emulation and improvement. With a view to this, and also 
to approaching more nearly to service conditions, a battery command¬ 
er at competitive practice should be given a certain number of rounds 
and allowed a certain fixed time, only barely sufficient, in which to 
expend them, and should not be hampered by being tied down to 
particular ct orders of fire,” but allowed to use his judgment in the 
selection of these, one of his most critical functions in action which is 
put to no test under the present scheme. This originated before the 
word “ ranging ” was uttered in connection with heavy guns, and as it 
stands is rather too artificial, tending to cramp a good battery 
commander and a smart company, who gain no credit for quick rang¬ 
ing and rapid fire.* The system proposed has worked thoroughly 
satisfactorily in the Field Artillery, and steadly increased its rate of fire. 
It apparently has no inherent drawback preventing its application to 
Coast Artillery. 
* The modifications in “ Instructions for Practice Seawards, 1897,” (published since 
this was written) corroborate the views expressed as to allowance of time and ammuni¬ 
tion. The compulsory use, however, of certain “orders of fire ” is still ordained, so 
that a B.C. is precluded from proceeding to “ salvo fire ” (which should rightly be used 
as soon as ranging is completed) until after his eighth round. Such a limitation is 
opposed to war conditions. 
