508 deductions from some field artillery practice. 
elevation or that length of fuze that has been found to give a maximum 
effect under artificial experimental conditions, is to leave out of account 
the various shooting errors and so to mislead him in his true object, 
which is to endeavour to obtain the maximum average effect. To pick 
out from one’s old practice reports the best results, and on them alone 
to base one’s corrections when shooting, is vanity. The bad should 
be taken with the good. It is the expectation of too much that leads 
to vexation—to occasional possibles, but to bad averages. 
To return to the fuze. Whether the fuze-setting is 
Ryleforfuze length g QOC [ or ave rage burst short will usual- 
effect . 3 4 avsraspe ly nearly settle itself if the rough and ready rule be¬ 
low is complied with. Consider as “ lows ” all shell, 
any portion of whose bursts are below the top of the target. Consider 
all other shell as “highs.” Reckon in twice over all “ lows ” that are 
beyona the target. The proportion of “ lows ” to “ highs ” should then 
be as follows : — 
At yards. 
“ Highs ” 
“ Lows.” 
Remarks. 
1,000 
1 
1 
“ Lows ” are all shell any portion of whose 
3,000 
3 
1 
bursts are below the top of the target. 
3,000 
3 
1 
‘‘Highs are all other shell. “+ Lows” 
4,000 
4 
1 
are to be counted twice. 
The above is easily remembered and fairly easily applied. If the 
“ highs ” (or “ lows ”) are more than twice as many as tabulated, the 
fuze should be lengthened (or shortened). Within these limits it is 
well to be satisfied: the best is the enemy of the good. 
The table is intended for use when the score is counted by “ men 
hit.” When hits alone are counted, there should be only half as many 
“ highs ” as the table gives. The length of burst short that the rule 
produces depends on the height and distance of the target and on the 
various errors of shooting, but it will usually turn out to be from 40 to 
120 yards. The better the laying and fuze-setting, the nearer will the 
mean burst approach. As far as I have been able to test it, the rule 
seems to apply for the 15-pr. and 12-pr. with base bursters as well as 
for the old 12-pr. with head burster, a result that was certainly not ex¬ 
pected, but it must be borne in mind that much besides the angle of 
opening of the shell has changed with the newer equipments and that 
the rule is a rough and ready one. The table shews that, when there is 
any doubt, the fuze for battery fire should first be ordered too long, 
for a few rounds will then probably bring about a correction ; whereas, 
if it is ordered too short, it very likely that a large number of rounds 
will be fired and observed before the error can be discovered by the 
proportion of “ highs ” to “ lows ” being upset. Exceptions to the 
above are, first when there is no time for any correction, and 
secondly when the proportion of “ highs ” to “ lows ” is even, or nearly 
even, that is, at short ranges. The choice of too long a fuze for battery 
fire at first commencing it, may also help in the verification of the ele¬ 
vation. 
