MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY ESTABLISHMENTS, ETC. 
265 
practised by officers of Mountain Artillery nor tlie mounted men, as over 
rough country being generally on foot, it is of no more use to them than to 
Mounted Infantry; and the mounted men are consequently not armed 
with the cavalry sword, but are taught to rely on their revolvers if 
attacked when mounted—of rare occurrence. 
The “ review” infantry sword exercise has been abolished in India 
for all branches, the ff attack and defence " exercise constituting the 
test of a man's efficiency with his weapon to a much higher degree. 
Sections 1, 2, and 5, “ Infantry Sword Exercise" are alone taught. 
It seems unnecessary to take up so much valuable time in teaching a 
Mountain gunner the “ instructions on foot" and “ movements by 
fours," as laid down for the cavalry. He can carry out a foot parade 
inspection and march equally well with the infantry methods, in which 
he has already been instructed as a Garrison Artilleryman, and which 
he will again have to practise on returning to that branch. Finally, 
the carbine exercise is contained in the little hand-book for theMartini- 
Metford carbine, in the possession of every officer and sergeant. 
A consideration of the foregoing will, therefore, I think, show that 
the “ Cavalry Drill Book " is not a necessary text-book for the Moun¬ 
tain gunner. 
To develop his lifting powers, all trained Mountain Artillerymen 
should annually, in the non-drill season, go through a course of gym¬ 
nastics and single-stick drill, and each Lieut.-Colonel's command, or 
isolated battery, should have a trained assistant-instructor for the pur¬ 
pose. To look on at a sergeant who, through no fault of his own, 
knows nothing of how a man should really use his sword as a weapon 
of offence and defence, mechanically droning out the detail of the in¬ 
fantry sword exercise to a squad is not an edifying sight, and no one 
feels it more than the non-commissioned officer himself. 
The theory and practice of Mountain Artillery tactics in the attack 
and defence of mountain heights and passes and in irregular war¬ 
fare generally, should be thoroughly taught. An excellent pamphlet 
dealing with the combined employment of Mountain and Field Artillery 
in mountain districts has recently been published by Baudoin et Cie., of 
Paris, entitled “Marches et Avant Posies, dans la Guerre des Montagues.” 
We have no text-book in our language on mountain or irregular war¬ 
fare, except the obsolete work of Shad well. 
Personal Equipments, &c. 
The serge uniform and personal equipment of the N.-C.O.'s and men 
of the Mountain Artillery in India would be hard to improve on as 
regards serviceability, and is so far superior to that of any other 
branch of the service, that I think it is to be regretted that the Moun¬ 
tain Batteries out of India are not similarly clothed and equipped in 
every respect; any details of equipment not obtainable at home being 
procured from India. I refer particularly to the Indian pattern Moun¬ 
tain Battery sword (looked upon as the most effective cutting weapon 
in the service), the gaiters and shoulder-belt, and the Mountain Battery 
saddlery and appointments of the mounted men. 
There appear to be certain conventionalities in dress at home which 
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