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COAST ARTILLERY PRACTICE; 
HOW BEST TO CONDUCT IT WITH A VIEW TO THE 
REQUIREMENTS OF ACTUAL WARFARE. 
LIEUTENANT C. G. VEREKER, R.A. 
“THE SIMPLER THE BETTER.” 
COMMENDED ESSAY, 1 897. 
When next this country is engaged in a European war, there is every Requirements 
probability that Coast Artillery will be called upon to play a very Artillery in war 
prominent part, and the manner in which it will then acquit itself, will time, 
greatly depend upon the discipline and experience gained by practice 
in peace time. 
It is necessary that all ranks should fully realise what they may be 
called upon to do, in order that they may take a real interest in practice 
and drill ; especially is this the case with young officers, who too often 
are led into the belief that they will have no prospect of seeing service 
in the “ Garrison Artillery,” and who consequently try to get posted to 
the' mounted branches, or do not take the interest in their work, which 
they otherwise would. 
One often hears officers say we have no chance of service, or even 
going so far as to call us a “non-combatant ” branch ; but a moments 
reflection will show, that in our next great war, our first, and perhaps 
only line of offence and defence, will be our Navy, supported by our 
coast defences at home and abroad, and that, at ail events, until the 
Navy has got complete command of the sea, coast defence troops are 
more likely to be engaged in active service than any others. 
It is therefore of great importance that Coast Artillery should be 
closely connected with the Navy, in order that they may understand 
each other, and work harmoniously together in peace and war, and 
with a view to this, communication by signal and semaphore with 
H.M’s ships should be encouraged. 
7. VOL. XXIV. 
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