COMMENDED ESSAY, 1894 . 
381 
are tlie qualifications that are most essential to the artillery leaders, and 
it is only by constant practice on the field that they can be developed. 
A thorough tactical training the whole way through the hierarchy of 
command is necessary, and this can only be given at manoeuvres, or, 
when these cannot be had, by exercising a mass of batteries against a 
marked enemy. To gain really valuable results it is desirable to exer¬ 
cise batteries at field firing. We cannot hope for much of this, in 
England at any rate, but something will be effected even when blank 
is only fired. At any rate it is certain that masses will not be effi¬ 
ciently handled in time of war if officers are not accustomed to them 
during peace. 
The duties of the Officer Commanding a mass are, in the main, very 
similar to those of the Brigade Division (or in our service Divisional 
Artillery) Commander. He should keep in touch with the Officer Com¬ 
manding the troops in general, and should endeavour thoroughly to 
grasp all his scheme. He should select the positions and targets for 
the Brigade Divisions ; inform the supreme leader as to results obtained, 
ask for, if he does not at once receive, orders, when the situation alters; 
and in default of them, never hesitate to take the initiative when the 
circumstances of the moment require him to do so. 1 Further, it is well 
for him to remember that his orders should be brief and capable of 
liberal interpretation, and that he should only issue them when it is 
absolutely necessary for him to interfere. During the crisis of the fight 
he should also take care to explain, as closely as possible, to his 
Brigade Division leaders the way in which matters stand. 
During the reconnaissance of the first fire position he will pay special 
attention to the position occupied by the enemy, and the ground avail¬ 
able for his own batteries. Position is a paramount consideration in 
the question, and may be said to influence the efficient action of artil¬ 
lery almost more than any other. An eye for ground, such as will teach 
a man quickly to realise what sites will offer opportunities to his guns, 
should be cultivated. Not* only that, but the spacre available must be 
clearly dealt with and judiciously apportioned amongst the Brigade 
Division Commanders. Next, the portion of the enemy’s line which is 
to be fired upon must be similarly divided up. Otherwise, not only 
will the first batteries which arrive seize on the most visible targets, 
but they will too prodigally occupy the available space, leaving in their 
haste, too little for those who follow. 
The functions of the Brigade Division leaders will be the same as 
when they are acting with their batteries alone, and similarly the 
Battery Commanders will follow the usual line which has been laid down 
for them in the drill-book, and which we need not discuss here. It is 
desirable, however, that fire should be opened simultaneously, and that 
it should be effective, if possible, from the very first. It should come, 
m fact, as much in the nature of a surprise as possible. 
The experience of the French artillery, 2 which has carried out field- 
1 “ But we must be careful to preserve tbe proper mean between absolute independence and the 
necessary dependence on the orders of the General Commanding.”—von. Schell, p. 34. 
2 Vide the account given in the “ Revue d'Artillerie ” for November, 1892. 
The exercises were carried out on a scale which is as yet unique. 
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