SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1894 . 
365 
Regulations 1 2 prescribe the exact detail for the Battery Commander to 
follow, even down to the precise signals he should use, the German 
Regulations 3 leave him free to act “according to circumstances,” but, 
at the same time, hold him “ responsible that his battery comes into 
action in a correct and judicious manner.” 3 
The “direct” method is employed when cover is not available, or “Direct” 
surprise unnecessary or not possible. It would be generally used when me ° * 
the deployment of the enemy’s batteries was incomplete, and in advanc¬ 
ing after the artillery duel to take up fresh positions in support of the 
infantry attack. It consists in moving straight into action, without any 
previous halt in a screened position. The advance is continuous, but 
is preceded, as in the “ deliberate ” method, by a reconnaissance of the 
Artillery, Brigade Division, and Battery Commanders. The English 
Regulations again prescribe in detail the procedure to be followed, 4 
the French and German Regulations again leaving it to the discretion 
of those concerned. 
When adopting the “ deliberate ” method of advancing into action, Necessity 
time is a factor of exceeding importance. The tendency to lengthen when adopt- 
out the process of reconnoitring and making dispositions for the occu- 
pation of the position must specially be checked. The French and method. 
German Regulations 5 lay great stress on this point, and every endeavour 
has been made during recent peace manoeuvres to impress on artillery 
officers the necessity for getting guns into action with all possible 
celerity. In our own service, improvement is observed every year in 
this respect. During 1893 the average time taken in a large number 
of series, from the halt under cover to the first gun, was 3 mins. 36 secs. 
The necessity for reducing this to a minimum, consistent with effective 
reconnoitring, cannot be too strongly insisted on by Brigade Division 
Commanders. 6 
In the “deliberate” system the tendency is to dawdle, in the “direct” Necessity 
system to hurry. Reconnoitring is, however, as essential in the latter fo n r 0 Eg 
case as in the former. Unless the Brigade Division and Battery Com- wh ?^^° pfc * 
manders go well ahead of the batteries, 7 the result is hesitation, 
confusion, and delay when the guns reach the fighting position. To me 0 * 
take a Brigade Division of three batteries direct into action by this 
method is the most difficult of all tactical operations, and requires a 
1 “ Field Artillery Drill,” 1893, p. 86. 
2 “ Drill Regulations of the German Field Artillery,” 1892, p. 133. The French Regulations allow 
equal latitude to the Battery Commander. An account of the French method is given in a paper, 
entitled “ Handling of Masses of Artillery,” which was read by Majcr E. S. May, R.A.,atthe 
Royal United Service Institution in May 1893, and reported in the “Journal” for-September 
3 “Drill Regulations of the German Field Artillery,” 1892. 
4 The instructions are very minute, and actually specify the number of yards by which the 
Battery Commander should precede his battery. “ Field Artillery Drill,” 1893, p. 103. 
5 “ The dispositions for the occupation of the position must he made so rapidly as to avoid any 
unnecessary delay in opening fire.” “ Drill Regulations of the German Field Artillery, 1892.” 
0 “ Rapidity is of as much importance as thoroughness in carrying out these duties.” “ Oke- 
bampton Experiences,” 1893, by Major A. J. Hughes, R.A. “Proceedings” R.A.I., January 
' “ It seems to me the more the Majors can he encouraged to do this the better. There is no 
doubt of the advantage of the time gained by their being well ahead.” Remarks by Colonel J. F. 
Maurice, C.B., R.A., during the discussion in the R.A. Institution on the 12th October, 1893. 
49 
