62 
OKEHAMPTON EXPERIENCES, 1893 , 
If one cannot carry fuzed shell in the limber-boxes, some quicker 
method of fuzing them is necessary : perhaps an interrupted thread on 
the fuze hole and fuze might answer, the plug still having a few com¬ 
plete threads to keep it tight. 
The necessity for orders being correctly worded and given as 
commands only, not supplemented by verbal instructions, was much 
noticed. A common example will perhaps best explain my meaning. 
One often heard “ cease firing ” given, and then, after a pause, “ fire 
off the loaded guns,” upon which a kind of irregular fire took place. 
The supplementary instruction “fire off the loaded guns” was unneces¬ 
sary and only confusing to the Section Commanders, since it raised a 
doubt in their minds as to what the drill really was. Consequently, 
when the order “cease firing” was given correctly to Section Com¬ 
manders, accustomed to the verbal addition, they seemed at a loss how 
to act, and often inquired what was to be done with their loaded guns. 
One rather curious incident occurred owing, probably, to the want of 
a definite order in the drill:— 
A Battery Commander wished to advance from one position to 
another, prepared for action, but with unloaded guns. He very 
naturally gave “do not load,” and then “prepare to advance.” One 
Section Commander either did not hear the former, or considered that 
the “prepare to advance” cancelled it, and loaded; being rather sup¬ 
ported in this latter view by the hand-book, which lays it down that, 
on “cease firing” preceded by “prepare to advance” being given, 
guns are to be loaded without any definite order from the Battery 
Commander. 
To prevent this occurring again, as the Battery Commander must 
say whether he wishes percussion shrapnel or common, it has been 
suggested that, if he wishes the guns loaded, he should give “cease 
firing—common, load,” in the same way as he gives “prepare for 
action—common, load.” 
An order to replace ammunition was also thought necessary for the 
practice ground, and has been suggested. 
With reference to this necessity for exact orders, the Commander- 
in-Chief in India, speaking at the close of the Simla Rifle Meeting, 
remarked, “ There is another point to which I wish to direct particular 
attention, that is, the absolute necessity for accurate words of command.” 
And, again, “ I cannot, therefore, too strongly impress upon you the 
need of accustoming yourselves to give accurate, decisive, and well 
timed words of command, and educating yourselves up to it in peace 
time.” 
Reconnoitring Positions. 
To try and give as much practice in reconnoitring as possible, targets 
were not pointed out to Battery Commanders. The orders given them 
contained the target (such as a column, line of standing or kneeling 
dummies), the direction they should take, and the approximate position; 
the latter directions being given on the suggestion of the Officer Com¬ 
manding 2nd Division by points of the compass. 
The necessity for carefully studying the directions given before 
