6 
(a.) The wagon placed in the fighting line for the supply of both guns of the 
section is close to them. 
(b.) Section Commander can more easily look to the work of his gun detach¬ 
ments. 
( c .) The observation of all that takes place in the battery is also made easier 
as the sections are separated one from the other. 
( d .) It imparts elasticity to the front of artillery in action, because the exten¬ 
sion or closing in of the general front does not entail any change in the normal 
formation of the section. This closing together of the guns of the section is, 
of course, limited by considerations of convenience in working the guns and the 
target presented to the enemy. The interval may be taken at eight paces. 
6. —The supply of ammunition in action must be from the wagons, so as to 
keep the limbers complete as long as possible, except when the battery advances to 
very short range. 
The regulations should, therefore, lay down the position of the wagons as 
immediately in rear of the line of guns, in order to save the numbers whose duty 
it is to bring up ammunition. 
The limbers should be drawn up in the 3rd line at a considerable distance in 
rear of the guns, or in section column in rear of, and outside the flanks. 
7. —Our artillery regulations only recognise sub-division and battery instruc¬ 
tion, completely ignoring section instruction, but in view of the principle of 
complete independence of sections in battery manoeuvre, it is necessary to establish 
also intermediate section instruction, which should be directed to teaching Nos. 1 
to keep their proper interval and distance from their Section Commander. 
8. —In all cases where circumstances allow of it the advance of batteries to the 
fighting position should be made at full interval in line in order to avoid the 
necessity for drill movements on the position itself. The regulations should lay 
down that the regular advance into the fighting position is to be made in line with 
a front for each battery of 115 yards at least. They should a)so lay stress on the 
necessity for gradually reducing the pace so as to halt on the intended position. 
This gradual slackening of the pace delays the halt by some seconds, but consider¬ 
ably hastens the opening of fire, because it ensures the absence of excitement, 
which is indispensable for giving and receiving the orders relating to the target, &c. 
9. —The very large expenditure of projectiles which we must expect in future 
battles renders it necessary to bring under the immediate control of the Battery 
Commander on the battle-field the whole of the battery wagons. Batteries at war 
strength consists—light batteries, of 8 gHHS and 12 wagons ; heavy batteries, 
8 guns and 16 wagons; horse batteries, 6 guns and 12 wagons, with a certain 
number of spare men and horses. There are besides in every battery 1 spare gun- 
carriage, an artificer’s wagon, and an ambulance. When it approaches the fighting 
position the battery is divided into two echelons, the fighting line and the reserve. 
The fighting line should consist—in light and heavy batteries—of 8 gUXIS an d 
4 wagons; in horse batteries, of 6 guns and 3 wagons. The remaining wagons 
and the spare carriage form the fighting reserve or 2nd line. The wagons of the 
fighting line are manoeuvred independently of the guns: their principal duty being 
to keep immediately in rear of the battery whatever its formation. In principle 
every fighting position ought to be reconnoitred, and the case of the occupation 
of a position which has not been carefully reconnoitred and marked out by the 
Battery Commander should be of rare occurrence. The regulations should lay 
down the system of reconnoitring and occupying a position in all its details. 
When a battery is in action and no sudden attack need be expected it should take 
steps to render itself less vulnerable by detaching temporarily all the constituent 
parts which are not absolutely necessary for carrying on the fire. In such cases 
the battery should place its limbers under cover, and even its wagon horses. All 
these measures should be clearly laid down by regulation in order to avoid con- 
