THE FRENCH MANOEUVRES OF 1891 . 
79 
more so than cordite, on discharge a small quantity of fine white dust 
appears at the muzzle, but this is instantly dissipated and disappears 
in the air. 
The positions for the Artillery were always carefully selected before 
the guns arrived on the ground, and great care was observed in seeing 
that the positions fulfilled the conditions necessary for effective fire. As 
a rule, the guns came into action on the slopes of the hills facing the 
enemy, the limbers being formed up behind the reverse slopos. All 
the hills affording suitable Artillery positions were covered with vines, 
and as these are now mainly trained on wire, it was quite impossible 
for the Artillery to advance in line; column of route became, therefore, 
a necessity, to enable batteries to traverse the maize-like intricacies 
of the vines, without doing great injury to the plants. The pace in 
taking up a position did not exceed a slow trot, so that a Battery 
Commander, by galloping ahead of his battery, had ample time to 
select a place for his guns before the latter, which were brought forward 
under the command of the senior Lieutenant, could arrive on the 
position. Range-finders did not appear to be made use of, trial shots 
being altogether trusted to. Perfect silence was preserved, not a word 
being spoken by officers or men, change of pace,'direction, or any new 
formation being always ordered by signal from the Commanding* Officer 
and transmitted in a similar manner by his subordinate officers. There 
was a complete absence of needless bustle, hurry, or confusion, and 
batteries moved with great precision, and though the pace was slow as 
compared to the rate at which English batteries move, still the manner 
in which all manoeuvres were executed, gave one the idea that both 
officers and men were thorough professional workmen at their business, 
there being no appearance of the work being in any way novel or 
unusual, but such as was being executed every day. No doubt existed 
on such questions as to what should be done with the limbers and wagons 
on coming into action, how ammunition should be supplied and served, 
how ranges should be found, small duties in themselves, but which, if 
not arranged for and carefully rehearsed till they are performed with 
mechanical precision, lead to endless confusion, and cause the work of 
Artillery to be done more after the fashion of amateurs than highly 
trained professionals. 
All the gunners carried carbines and appeared a good deal encum¬ 
bered by such an unnecessary arm. The drivers were armed with 
swords, attached to the saddle by a frog, and wore a revolver, which is 
carried in the waist-belt. The Artillery horses were strong but coarse, 
and lacked quality, they were all drawn very fine, which was only natural 
after the severe work they had g*one through. The general turn-out of 
the batteries was poor and the harness very dirty, and the horses had a 
very rough and uncared-for appearance, but the men, on the other 
hand, were thoroughly well trained in the important duties of gunners, 
their slovenly turn out was also largely increased by the large number 
of reservists attached to each battery. The clothing of these men is 
generally very ill-fitting, they are badly set up, and are the very 
opposite to what we would call smart, but during their three years of 
active service they must be thoroughly well grounded in their drills, 
