108 
EXPERIENCES AT OKEHAMPTON IN 1891. 
to the intervals that they should give according to the rate of fire 
ordered. 
Competitive Practice. 
There is no doubt that the chief interest of this year’s practice was 
centred in the competitive practice and, considering that it is the first 
year in which it has been tried, the scheme has given satisfaction and is 
likely to conduce to the improved shooting of batteries. Being a first 
attempt to formulate a scheme a few small points requiring amendment 
have naturally come to light; I propose to touch briefly on these. 
Many officers consider that the 50 per cent, allowance for four-gun 
batteries gives them an advantage over six-gun batteries. This is not 
so, for if the shooting of the batteries practising at Glenbeigh be 
studied it will be seen that the effect of a six-gun battery, as calculated 
by adding 50 per cent, to the effect of a four-gun battery, is practically 
identical with the effect actually obtained by a six-gun battery. 
Four four-gun and four six-gun batteries practised, the shooting was 
remarkably even, and the average of the four has in each case been 
taken. 
Number of 
projectiles. 
Target. 
Casualties. 
Credits. 
Fire 
Discipline. 
Total. 
C. 
S. 
I. 
II. 
III. 
Four-gun actual 
practice. 
25 
68 
90 
' 67 
102 
39 
46 
49 
_ 
50 per cent. 
— 
34 
45 
33 
51 . 
19 
23 
— 
— 
Six-gun by cal¬ 
culation . 
25 
102 
135 
100 
153 
68 
‘69 
49 
329 
Six-gun actual 
practice. 
23 
104 
135 
111 
141 
j 63 
88 
45 
338 
It is not, of course, necessary to add 50 per cent, to the number of 
common shell for, in either case, the number of ranging rounds would 
be the same. If any advantage exists on either side it is in favour of 
the six-gun battery in No. III. series ; but this can be met by making 
the column for the four gun battery occupy the same depth as that for 
the six-gun battery, i.e ., by putting the sections one-and-a-half paces 
apart instead of one pace. 
In places such as Glenbeigh and Shoeburyness, where it is not pos¬ 
sible to put the dummies of the first series into shelter-trenches, four 
points for every dummy disabled appears too high; for the number of 
points scored during that series was double the number scored in any 
other series. Whereas, when shelter-trenches were used, as at Oke- 
hampton, the scoring in each series is more nearly the same, and 
three points per dummy disabled appears to be the correct value. 
It is also desirable in the opinion of most officers, that the marks 
