OKEHAMPTON EXPERIENCES, 1893 . 
67 
on them answered best; it was quicker and better cover was obtained, 
because, when one picket was used, the guns had to be advanced so 
near the crest that the heads of the detachment could generally be seen 
from the target. 
The times varied greatly, the quickest (I timed) from the Battery 
Commander seeing the target to 1st round being 6 min. (only 1 min. 
20 sec. from action to 1st gun), and the longest over 13 min. 
The chief cause of delay was the indecision of the gun-layers as to 
where the front picket was to be planted, and the rapidity was greatly 
increased when the Battery Commander himself ordered the position 
for the front picket of the gun on the directing flank; the remaining 
gun-layers planting theirs in a fairly dressed line and at somewhat 
reduced intervals. When once started the fire was very regular and 
rapid; in fact, considerably better than when using sight laying : the 
mean error after ranging of one battery that used Scott's sight clino¬ 
meter, marked in yards, was only 6 yards, 25 yards covering the pitch 
of 14 out of 16 rounds. Another battery reached the high rate of 5’8 
rounds a minute, the average being 4*01 rounds. 
I cannot help thinking that very good results, better even than with 
sight laying, might often be obtained at visible targets by using 
clinometer elevation, the laying being done by the No. 1 from the end 
of the handspike; provided, of course, that the clinometer is a good 
one, marked in yards, with an adjustable zero, and that the clinometer 
plane be placed so that a man can elevate and watch the bubble at the 
same time. 
Some trouble was experienced by Battery Commanders, owing to the 
fact that the length of the first fuze should be that for the range-taker's 
range and not for the clinometer elevation ; the wisdom of discarding 
tables and taking a bold bracket, both as regards range and fuze, when 
working with clinometer elevation was clearly shown. 
Ammunition Supply. 
The question as to when setting fuzes should commence at the limbers 
often arose. It is, however, impossible to lay down any definite time, 
so much depending on circumstances. The first consideration is the 
quick service of the gun, consequently, after keep to fuze ” has been 
given. No. 5 must supply No. 3 with shell, having fuzes set as quickly 
as possible, and not wait till No. 3 has used up the shell in the 
magazines ; should he do so, the fire will be delayed. 
When supply was from the wagons, it was almost impossible to 
bring the leaders up to the regulation distance in rear of the guns. The 
recoil is often from 12 to 14 feet, and when this happens the team is 
bound to be thrown into confusion. The best position for the wagons 
appears rather doubtful, the regulations at home and in India being 
still different. 
Several methods of attaching the breeching by drop links were 
tried; the one that appeared to answer best had the drop link on the 
breeching and not on the shaft. 
In order to try and ascertain how far the limbers must be placed to 
the rear (supply being from the wagon), so that they may be fairly 
