SHOOTING OF COAST ARTILLERY. 
171 
mg as it should do.* We have now a distinct “ figure of merit,” of 
“ hits per gun per minute,” by means of which it is easy to carry out 
the comparisons x. and y. above mentioned. The exact mode of work¬ 
ing out the “ figure of merit” is given in Appendix II. 
In order that these records of results shall as far as possible, be 
actually reliable, more care will have to be taken in the future, to secure 
absolutely accurate and trustworthy data, as entered in the practice 
reports, of all the company service practice carried on, and to render 
" cooking” impossible, by completing all the records of the day's 
practice in the work itself. Any doubtful point as to these data being 
cleared up at the time, and criticism of the practice delivered without 
delay. 
That this criticism should be made at the time, written down on the 
spot and then and there communicated to all concerned, is of the first 
importance. And also that all the officers and men concerned, be kept 
in the work until all the records, practice reports etc. have been 
finally completed, in ink, the results discussed in conference and the 
conclusions arrived at, communicated to the officers and men of the 
firing company and to all those attending the practice. 
Not only will such criticism so delivered appeal to those firing much 
more directly than written criticism long after the event, but much 
time and labour will eventually be saved, at the cost of a certain 
amount of inconvenience at the moment, and by the application of 
more time, mind and effort on the day of the practice. This principle 
should be strenuously adhered to. 
No doubt difficulties, many difficulties, will be urged; but such 
difficulties will soon vanish if all willingly put their shoulders to the 
wheel; they certainly have so disappeared at Malta, under these cir¬ 
cumstances. 
The manner in which the above mode of proceeding is practically 
carried out is explained in detail in Appendix I.; and a copy of the 
written critique on one actual day’s practice is also given as a sample 
in the same Appendix. 
11. Means towards encouraging rapidity of fire. 
To commence with our drill; the “ loading and firing,” is at present 
much too slow, we should drill much more “ against time,” than is the 
usual custom. 
The table shown on next page gives the times taken at drill by an 
average company here, and also the maximum times which should 
be allowed as good drill; it is believed that these might even be 
shortened. 
Owing to the long time, (which varies also with the packing of the 
cylinder,) taken to run up heavy B.L. guns with H.P. mountings, the 
time of “ loading ” by itself, should also be worked up to with such 
guns and mountings, and they are therefore shown separately in the 
last two columns of the table. 
* It is also firmly believed that it will be further possible (within limits) in the future, to 
compare the shooting at different stations, one with another, with sufficient accuracy for all 
practical purposes. But this is in the womb of the future, though perhaps of the immediate 
future, see the interesting method, the i lea of Lieut. P, K, Lewes, R.A. published in sequence to this 
paper. 
