0KEHAMPT0N EXPERIENCES, 1893 . 
63 
advancing showed itself on several occasions. More than once batteries 
were brought into action against a line of kneeling dummies, instead 
of a column, in consequence of the former being more clearly visible. 
Again, a battery, ordered to take up a position on the north side of a 
screen, was brought into action on the south side of it. It seems a 
small matter, especially as both positions appeared equally good, still, 
by not going as ordered, the line of fire was thrown too much across 
the range for safety ; on service, such a deviation might upset the 
dispositions of the Brigade Division Commander. There seemed rather 
a dislike on the part of Brigade Division and Battery Commanders to 
leave their commands and advance well ahead to reconnoitre the next 
position. Consequently it happened on several occasions that a com¬ 
mander arrived at the position only just ahead of his command, and 
either had to delay the batteries by halting them until he completed 
his reconnaissance, or let them come on and rather trust to chance for 
their positions. 
Occupation op Positions. 
The two methods (generally called the “deliberate” and “direct”) 
seemed to have worked well, and the principles regulating their employ¬ 
ment appear to be getting thoroughly grasped; batteries being rarely 
brought into action by the method not suited to the occasion. 
In the “ deliberate,” the average time of a large number of series, 
from the halt under cover to the first gun, was 3 min. 36 sec. 
On a few occasions it was employed against a line of 80 standing 
dummies, representing advancing infantry, the range being about 1900 
yds., and the target as a rule plainly visible. This was clearly against 
the spirit of the drill. The advance to the firing position was certainly 
covered, but the position itself was so open that the infantry would 
have been bound to see the gun-layers, and thus would have had about 
3i minutes warning of the appearance of the battery, whereas, when 
the “direct” method was employed they only received about 45 sec. 
notice before the first gun. Further, the target being plainly visible, 
nothing could be gained by having out Section Commanders and gun¬ 
layers. 
On the other hand, the “ direct ” method was sometimes employed 
at an indistinct target, at a fairly long range (2500), generally with 
disastrous results. On one of these occasions a battery was in action 
for 7 minutes, and on two others for nearly 4 minutes, without firing, 
whilst on a fourth, the range party wmre the sufferers. 
One day at Brigade Practice the Section Commanders of the outer 
battery had over 400 yards to go; this shows that when the “deliber¬ 
ate” method is employed at Brigade Practice it is most essential for 
the batteries to be halted in line parallel to the firing position. 
It is perhaps worthy of note that most Battery Commanders employed 
the “deliberate” method at the second series of the Competitive, some 
even at the third, probably with the hope of gaining some advantage 
in better dressing, quicker first gun, &c. 
Employing it in the third series, although not actually debarred by 
the regulations of the competition, is so clearly against the drill that 
