368 
SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1894 . 
dinal principle, not only of artillery, but of all tactical training, and 
according as its truth is accepted and acted on will progress be made 
in preparation for war service, which is the final test of all peace instruc¬ 
tion . 
PART IY. 
Conclusion. 
“ On ne 'pent et on ne doit prescrire rien d’absolu .” 1 2 
Leadership, No attempt has been made in the foregoing remarks to lay down 
flotorin definite rules for definite circumstances. The object of the essay, as 
fighting 7 lifted by its title, has been to discover general principles, both of 
organisation and training—the exact methods of applying those princi¬ 
ples being left to the individuals concerned. In artillery, more than 
in cavalry and infantry fighting, the last word must always depend on 
the leaders. Mistakes are less easily remedied, and more often irrevoc¬ 
able. Lost opportunities rarely recur. 3 * The best tactical organisation, 
and the most perfect system of training will not ensure success if the 
nerve or judgment of the leader fails at the moment of trial. Quick 
perception, a practised eye for country, bold horsemanship, a cool brain, 
ready initiative-—these are moral and physical qualities which no know¬ 
ledge of drill regulations will teach, unless the instincts of leadership 
have been developed by a high degree of cultivation. It is only by 
training officers from their early days to the habitual exercise of res¬ 
ponsibility and command, that they will succeed in qualifying themselves 
for their future role of superior artillery leaders, 
characters- In reading the German “ Artillery Drill Regulations ” it is impos- 
^German 6 s ^ e not to be struck with their breadth of view and strength of grasp 
Artillery of modern tactical truths. The more they are studied the more do 
iation S e . gu " they impress themselves on the mind as correctly interpreting the prac¬ 
tical lessons of the last great war in Europe. It is for this reason they 
have been largely referred to for the purposes of this essay. So far 
from blinding the eyes of German Artillery Officers to the necessity for 
improvement, their successes in 1870 have only stimulated them to fresh 
exertions. The drill-book of 1892, with its preface by the German 
Emperor, may be truly called the “model and mirror” of a perfect 
code of artillery tactics. The key-note of its teaching is the inculcation 
of trust and confidence in subordinate leaders, and this is impressed as 
a second nature on every German Artillery Officer. Instead of seeking 
to bind officers down by fixed rules of conduct, the Regulations are 
framed throughout to remind them of the necessity at all times of using 
their judgment according to the circumstances in which they are placed. 
The German Emperor specially dwells on this in introducing the Regu¬ 
lations to the army, and warns superior commanders against crippling 
1 “ Correspondance de Najpoleon lev.” Tome 31. 
2 “ II faut profiler de toutes les occasions, car la Fortune est femme. Si vous la nianquez 
aujourd Jmi ne vous attendee pas d la retrouver domain.” “ Correspondance de Napoleon lev. 
Tome 31, 
