450 THE TRAINING OF A HOWITZER FIELD BATTERY. 
fight and at long or medium ranges; we may therefore conclude that 
clinometers will almost invariably be used. Accurate clinometer lay¬ 
ing is quite independent of the distinctness of the target; it is more¬ 
over far easier and more mechanical than tangent sight laying and will 
accordingly suffer less from the unequal excitement of different layers’ 
nerves in action; ranging will, therefore, become more rapid when 
clinometers are used, which is a point of supreme importance in all 
Artillery practice at the present time. Special attention and time 
must therefore be devoted to clinometer laying. 
After weeding out by preliminary drills those men who give no 
promise of ever becoming layers, the remainder are given as much prac¬ 
tice as the exigencies of garrison fatigues and employment will allow. 
As soon as a man is recommended by his section officer, his name is 
entered in the laying book, and from that day, every time he attends 
laying drill, the marks which he obtains are recorded in the book. The 
marks are awarded by an officer according to the test laid down in “ In¬ 
structions for practice,” for qualified layers, laying drill for this purpose 
being usually carried out during mid-day stables,* ea.ch man being 
tested only once a day and therefore only being required for a few 
minutes. The third subaltern usually has this duty to perform. When 
it becomes necessary to select the 18 badge layers, the average of the 
marks obtained by each qualified layer is published weekly for a 
short time before the selection, which is finally made from those who 
have the highest average, provided they have layed a large number of 
times. Men who have been unsteady in conduct (absent or drunk) are 
considered ineligible for badges. It is found that the men take the 
keenest interest in their weekly averages and the consequent emula¬ 
tion conduces to the best results. This system entails a considerable 
amount of work from the officers, but it ensures rapid, accurate and re¬ 
liable laying. 
4. Aiming posts. —When engaging an enemy superior in number of 
guns, armament or rapidity of fire, advantage will necessarily be fre¬ 
quently taken of the high trajectory of the howitzer by coming into 
action behind natural cover. In such a case the use of the clinometer 
is compulsory and must be supplemented by the proper employment 
of aiming posts. 
The placing of aiming posts on undulating or rough ground requires 
considerable practice on such ground, the barrack square being quite 
useless for the purpose.The conditions to be fulfilled are: — 
(a) . A visual line from the gun must cut both posts. 
( b ) . A visual line from the target must cut both posts. 
(c) . Subject to the above, the posts should be as nearly as pos¬ 
sible 20 yards apart. 
( d ) . Subject to the above the posts should be as far from the 
crest as possible. 
( e ) . Subject to the above the posts should be not less than 30 
yards from the gun.t 
* Employed men can often attend for a few minutes at this time. 
t The puns will be placed as far from the crest as the nature of the ground, the requirements 
of a good platform and the position of neighbouring troops will allow. 
