PRECIS 
AND 
TRANSLATION 
“RUSSIAN ARTILLERY JOURNAL.” 
THE MILITARY TRAINING OF FIELD ARTILLERY. 
TRANSLATED BY 
MAJOR B. A. LAMB ART, R.A. 
In connection with the subject selected for the Gold Medal Prize Essay, the fol¬ 
lowing extracts from an article under the above heading, which has appeared in 
several consecutive numbers of the Russian Artillery Journal , may be of interest. 
PART I. 
Fundamental Principles of Manoeuvre of Field Artillery . 
Under existing conditions of the construction of the materiel of field artillery 
guns cannot be fought when in movement, and, therefore, movement does not 
represent an immediate fighting factor of artillery, but is only important in con¬ 
nection with bringing guns to the field of battle and moving them from one 
position to another when there. Hence it appears that the requirements of active 
service as regards the skilful manoeuvring of Field Artillery are sufficiently simple 
and can be satisfied by a small number of more or less elementary formations. 
The skilful bringing of batteries to the selected fighting position is a matter 
belonging to the regulations for the manoeuvre of mounted batteries, as is also 
the distribution on the position of wagons, limbers, and spare horses. The 
ruling principles are rapidity and concealment. As a matter of fact, as regards the 
effect of artillery fire under equal conditions of skill on the part of opposing 
forces, time is the decisive factor, and we should, therefore, look for a criterion 
of artillery instruction in the smartness of the different operations at the guns. 
This smartness must be attained not only on the drill ground, but everywhere. 
As regards this, it is necessary to remark that it is impossible to attain rapidity 
in taking up positions if the personnel are not thoroughly instructed in moving 
guns in every direction and on all natures of ground. The requirements of 
rapidity in taking up positions are more and more important owing to improve¬ 
ments in fire-arms and the increased accuracy of rifle and artillery fire. The open 
occupation of positions by artillery will, in all probability, be accompanied by 
tremendous losses, and must only be resorted to where taking up such positions 
under cover is absolutely impossible, or where it can be done unknown to the 
enemy. As regards manoeuvre, what is most indispensable is also the most simple. 
18 a 
3. VOL. XXI. 
