TRAINING OF VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY. 
415 
It must not be forgotten* that besides the gun and repository drill 
and gunnery instruction generally* there are also squad* company* and 
carbine drill* and a few battalion movements to be learnt* besides many 
other details which take up endless time. 
The result of this species of training is* that we obtain a large body 
of men with a general* but elementary knowledge of their work* having 
obtained an insight into the drill of two or three natures of ordnance* 
but requiring a great deal of instruction before they could work side 
by side with the Eoyal Artillery, or be expected by themselves* to sue- 
cessfully defend a portion of the coast. 
Possibly some years ago this general knowledge was all that was re¬ 
quired* when there was no organised method of coast defence* hardly 
such a term as “ Fire Discipline*” when there were no special duties 
told off to officers* when the drill of a single gun in the drill hall was 
pretty well all that the men need learn* and when men practised 
leisurely at a standing target; but now much greater perfection in 
every branch of the drill has to be attained* a system of fire control* 
and all the various details connected therewith* has to be mastered, 
and a considerable knowledge of Part YI. “ Garrison Artillery Drill*” 
which comprises 107 pages* must be acquired. 
A little study of the results of the practice at Shoeburyness* last 
year* during the meeting of the National Artillery Association* by de¬ 
tachments from all parts of England shows* I think* that there is room 
for improvement in the training of the Volunteer Artillery. 
Take* for instance* No. 2 Garrison Artillery Competition* which con¬ 
sisted in group firing with the 64-pr. on traversing slides* at a target 
moving obliquely across the front of the battery between two known 
ranges; I consider this was practice at a moving target under very 
favourable conditions* and yet out of 170 shots fired only 14 are recor¬ 
ded as hits* and 4 as ricochet hits. Again* compare the practice of 
the Volunteer Artillery with the 9-inch gun* at standing targets* on 
measured ranges* with that of the detachments composed of R.A. and 
E.M.A., both as regards accuracy and time; the former fired three 
rounds per detachment and only one obtained three direct hits* a con¬ 
siderable number never hitting the target at all* while the latter fired 
altogether 38 shots and of these 31 were direct and five ricochet hits* 
only two missing the target; and as regards time* the Volunteer Artil¬ 
lery took longer to get off three rounds with the 9-inch* than the 
service detachments did to fire five rounds with the 10-inch. 
What chance have the majority of Volunteer Artillery of obtaining 
the improved training, which has been rendered necessary in conse¬ 
quence of this complete revolution in the drill and method of fighting 
a modern fort ? It seems to me they have little chance of getting be¬ 
yond an elementary knowledge* and that if they are to be expected to 
take up the duty of defending a portion of the coast line* at a moment's 
notice* when occasion may require* their present instruction would have 
to be greatly augmented* or else* what I consider a far better plan* the 
present Corps should be divided up into two portions* one portion 
consisting of the men in the 1st class* and the other of those in the 
11 reserve ” or 2nd class. 
