BY MERIT IN SHOOTING. 
255 
Two plans are open for the use of these 134 rounds. Either they 
might all be used for the purpose of inter-battery competition—which 
of course must take place at known ranges—or a part might be used 
for practice at unknown ranges, and the rest reserved for inter-battery 
competition. The latter plan seems to be the best; and I would 
suggest that the 50 common shell with time fuzes be used for com¬ 
petition practice at unknown ranges between the three divisions of the 
battery, under any arrangements the Major might think fit to adopt. 
This is a mere suggestion, however. I am not concerned with this 
question, my object being to point out how inter-battery competition 
might be carried out. 
Supposing, however, this or some similar arrangement to be 
adopted, the ammunition for inter-battery competition would consist of 
30 shrapnel and 54 common shell with percussion fuzes. How should 
this ammunition be expended ? 
Land and Sea Ranges. 
I confess that I am unable to suggest a plan for sea ranges— i.e., 
when practice is carried on against a buoy floating on the water. 
From the necessities of the case, the “ unders 33 and “ overs,” 
“rights 33 and “lefts,” given in the Battery and Range Reports for 
such practice are pure guess-work; and it would be manifestly unfair 
to compare such practice with the carefully measured practice of 
batteries using land ranges. Let us hope that the days of sea-range 
practice are numbered. 
16-Prs. and 9-Prs. 
It would be obviously unfair to tabulate together the practice of 
batteries armed with different guns. Two classification lists, then, 
would be required—one for 16-prs., the other for 9-prs. 
Shrapnel and Common Shell. 
I believe there are no known means of comparing the relative 
efficacy of shrapnel and common shell. Their objects are, indeed, so 
different that it would be unwise to set up a standard of comparison 
between them. Instead, then, of attempting an apparent impossibility, 
I propose that the annual classification lists should be of a twofold 
form—one side showing the order of merit in shrapnel fire, the other 
side in common shell fire. I append such a form, to give an idea of 
what I mean. 
To return to the chief question in hand—how are the 30 shrapnel 
and 54 common shell with percussion fuzes to be fired so as to admit 
of a trustworthy comparison being instituted between the shooting 
qualifications of the men of one battery and those of another ? 
Shrapnel. 
With shrapnel our course is simple. Let the 30 rounds be fired 
against three (or more) 8-ft. targets of J-in. deal, placed side by side, 
