COMMENDED ESSAY, 1899. 
410 
those only who prove themselves thoroughly efficient should be given 
the increased pay; those who fail to pass should have to wait at least 
six months before being allowed to go up for examination again. 
C. Junior Officers. 
During the first years of his service, an officer should be gradually 
instructed in the more important work of coast defence, as opportunity 
offers, and be given a fuller acquaintance with the subjects touched on 
during his young officer’s course. 
The aim of all coast artillery training should be to teach self- 
dependence, and, within reason, junior officers should be given great 
latitude in their work. They should have charge of their men and of 
their instruction and put them through a proper course of lectures. 
There is nothing which teaches so effectually as having to teach others! 
All preliminary drills should be carried out under the subalterns, 
supervised by the captain or major, who once a week should take com¬ 
mand and work the groups as a whole; when this is done all rules 
laid down should be most rigidly adhered to, and implicit obedience 
of orders and reliance on the chain of command, insisted upon; but 
it must not be forgotten that in war time this will often break down 
owing to the destruction of range instruments and communications, 
or if an attack is pressed home, when “ the Gun Group Commander 
must not hesitate to take upon himself the responsibility for indepen¬ 
dent action.”* Subalterns should then frequently be practised in 
carrying on the fire, and this should form an important part of their 
training. It is unfortunately very rarely done at practice, chiefly owing 
to want of ammunition, and is consequently neglected at drill. 
Frequent drill and practice with quick-firing guns is the very best 
training a subaltern can get, and as in time of war, groups of quick- 
firing guns will probably be worked as independent commands, no 
pains should be spared in getting Gun Group Commanders well up in 
their use. Periodical courses should be held at all stations where 
such guns exist, and in addition to the ordinary drill by night and 
day, the working of search lights, position of mine fields, and pro¬ 
bable methods used by the enemy in attack and in countermining, 
should be explained. Officers should be taken out occasionally on 
the “ Miners ” so that they may get to know the water area covered 
by mines, and should be told the system upon which this form of de¬ 
fence is carried out, the various kinds of mines in use, and the work¬ 
ing of “ test rooms.” 
A part of a Garrison Artilleryman’s training which is usually much 
neglected, is mounting and dismounting guns. Much time is given 
up to the usual work with 64-pr. on garrison standing carriage, and 
this absorbs the greater number of hours devoted to this subject at 
the annual course. We have heard this drill compared to “ Instruct¬ 
ing an infantryman in the use of Brown Bess as a preliminary to the 
magazine rifle,” and although we do not go quite so far as this, we 
think it a drill much overdone. It is excellent for teaching the man- 
* “Garrison Artillery Drill”; Vol. I1895, Part VI., Section VII. 
