EXPERIENCES AT OKEHAMPTON IN 1891. 
103 
side, where the slightest movement against the sky-line could hardly 
escape notice. 
But, even setting aside these excuses, we cannot afford to do without 
calling forward at least our sectional officers before committing the 
batteries to the FIRST artillery position (when possible it is desirable 
that the gun-layers should come forward too). Be it remarked that it 
is not claimed to be of such importance in positions other than the 
first; to begin with there would probably be neither time nor oppor¬ 
tunity for it during the latter phases of an action, and also, as everyone 
is by that time familiar with the task before him and much of the 
pointing out of target and giving of instructions can be done before 
the batteries leave their previous positions, there is also no great 
necessity for it. In the case of Horse Artillery acting with cavalry 
there most certainly never would be time for this proceeding, but, 
nevertheless, it should be sedulously practised by them ; since the 
greater number of Horse Artillery batteries are employed with the 
Corps Artillery and not with the Cavalry Brigade. 
The argument in favour of it is this. The batteries are about to 
engage in a duel with those of the enemy, in which one or the other most 
certainly will be silenced, if not quite disabled from loss of personnel. 
Why then go into action without having taken every precaution to 
ensure success ? No man can say that it is not far easier for a Battery 
Commander to point out the target to his sectional officers and gun¬ 
layers grouped round him, than if they were standing in battery, 
perhaps under the fire of the enemy. The time that this pointing out 
takes is of no moment as compared with the advantages gained. 
What is the value of four minutes (the average for this year was three 
minutes 41 seconds) in a fight that must last at least an hour, perhaps 
more, when by a proper use of that four minutes we may secure a 
manifest advantage over the enemy ; especially when we consider that 
some of the batteries may be waiting some time under cover while the 
others are closing up and massing to the front, which time could not 
be employed more advantageously than in making known to those 
most concerned the task before them. 
This year, as last, shows a great advance in fire discipline and this is 
undoubtedly owing to the introduction of silent drill, which has " caught 
on ” to a most wonderful extent. Indeed, since its adoption I have 
heard officers, not only of our own branch, but also those of other 
arms, declare that they now thoroughly appreciate for the first time 
what a terrific weapon a well-managed battery is, so completely can it 
now be swayed by its commander. Such being the case, we are now 
in a fair way to combat one of our most pronounced failings, namely, 
the difficulty of turning fire rapidly from one target to another. 
Some interesting experiments were carried out this year in the 
endeavour to do away with the pause in fire vffiich takes place between 
the time when a rapidly moving target gets to within about 800 yards 
of the battery and the time at which case shot fire commences. 
Hitherto Battery Commanders, remembering the time it takes to fix, 
set and clamp a time fuze, which operation may well be mismanaged if 
cavalry is rapidly approaching the guns^ have been content to abandon 
