FIELD ARTILLERY FIRE. 
141 
opportunity of describing the target to his battery commanders. The 
batteries being thus led straight into the firing position it rests with 
the descriptive power of the battery commander to rapidly describe 
the target. 
Very few men are gifted with the power of graphically describing 
in a few words exactly the target and the portion of it upon which 
they wish the guns layed, and it is a matter of the greatest importance 
that this power should be exercised on every available occasion, for 
not only will it thus become increased, but gun-layers and sectional 
officers will soon become accustomed to any peculiarities in description 
and after a few days will readily pick out what is desired to be indicated. 
Halts on the line of march, or when halted in position, or standing 
fast during a field day are admirable opportunities for these descriptive 
exercises. For the above reason it is again apparent why intelligence 
as well as good eyesight is necessary on the part of gun-layers. 
This hurrying of the batteries into action, without even a previous 
reconnaissance on the part of the commander, will often happen in 
the case of Horse Artillery when employed with cavalry; the time 
during which any fire effect is possible is so fleeting and the target is 
so unmistakeable, and at such a short range, that any detailed pointing 
out would be neither possible nor necessary. 
“The deployment of a brigade division for action with a given 
simple and clear tactical idea, with a defined target, must be constantly 
practised, and, to be instructive, must be practised, or at all events 
discussed to the minutest detail. . . . Field days are, as a rule, 
little suited for this important exercise. The artillery duel, which is 
usually only indicated by a few rounds, in reality takes so much time 
to carry out that the loss of time arising from a quiet preparation for 
the occupation of the position would not be appreciable. The com¬ 
mander of a brigade division, however, who, on field days, wishes to 
make with his battery commanders an initiatory reconnaissance of the 
position to be taken up, a complete survey of the target, etc., would be 
certain to hear the reproach that his guns have appeared very late, if 
not too late. But, even if he is willing to incur this reproach, he 
would hardly have time to make a systematic division of the objective 
for at manoeuvres everything is constantly on the move. The state of 
affairs, which often on the battle-field remains stationary for hours, 
changes here in the course of a few minutes. Changes follow one 
another as in a kaleidescope, and the eye in vain seeks for a stationary 
object in the general rush.” (Yon Rohne, “ Regulation of Fire in 
Masses of Artillery.”) 
The following extracts from the German “ Field Artillery Drill 
Regulations ” will be of interest to compare with the foregoing :— 
273. Every artillery position must be examined by the leader of 
the batteries who, for this purpose, should ride on ahead. 
He must avoid attracting the attention of the enemy to 
the position about to be taken up. The immediate 
inspection of the position should be accomplished on 
foot, according to circumstances, and accompanying per¬ 
sons (orderlies, trumpeters, etc.) should be left somewhat 
in rear. 
