268 
FIELD ARTILLERY FlRTL 
left laid upon the target. The telescope thus laid is also the very best 
method of pointing out any desired target. 
The plan of observation is based upon the peculiarity of the common 
shell to emit a large cloud of smoke on bursting. If this cloud is ob¬ 
served to obscure the target, the round is short, but if the target is 
observed to stand out against the smoke, then the round is over. From 
this it may be deduced that all ranging shell should fall slightly to 
windward of the target, if the target be a very small one, in order that 
the smoke may drift across the range and thus facilitate observation. 
Sectional Officers should see that sufficient deflection is given to their 
guns to ensure the shell falling to windward. Shell falling to leeward 
are generally useless for purposes of observation. 
Selection of Hanging points. These should be selected with a view of 
facilitating the observation of the ranging rounds and be, if possible, 
on the windward flank of the target, or, if the target be a very small 
one, even beyond the windward flank, but it must be a distinct point 
or the advantage will be lost. For instance, in firing at a battery, it 
is usual to range, not on the windward gun, because all splinters pass¬ 
ing to the outer flank would be useless, but ON THE GUN NEXT 
BUT ONE TO THE WINDWARD FLANK but, supposing one of 
the enemy's central guns were more easy of observation, then that 
should be chosen as the ranging point because there is still plenty of 
target to leeward of it to facilitate observation. For reasons to be 
pointed out under the heading of “ Distribution of Fire," it is not 
generally desirable to range upon a single point if it is possible to ob¬ 
serve, with facility, fire distributed over the whole front to be attacked. 
In firing at such an easy target for observation as a long line of infan¬ 
try the easiness of observation does not require the concentration of 
fire upon a single point for ranging purposes, and the line may be at¬ 
tacked along its whole front from the very first. 
Accuracy of observation. The degree of accuracy with which the 
effect of shell may be observed from the battery is, under ordinary 
circumstances, or at very short ranges, very limited. 
Experience has proved that the observation of rounds that strike the 
target full is only possible under exceptional circumstances, when it is 
possible to see clearly the effect produced. 
If during the ranging a shell is observed to strike the target then 
the elevation of that round should be taken for the verifying series. 
Neither is it possible to appreciate the distance that rounds are over 
or under, except under peculiarly favourable circumstances, such as a 
target placed on the steep side of a hill or a battery firing from a com¬ 
manding position. Sometimes, however, a good estimation may be 
made, e.g., a shell is observed to burst “over" and, after a short pause, 
some of the smoke passes in front of the leeward portion of the target, 
a mere glance will show how far the gun smoke drifts in about the 
same time, that then is the distance of the round from the target. If 
this require calculation it should not be attempted, but, to a practised 
observer, it comes as naturally as the proper distance to shoot in front 
of a driven bird does to a practised shot. The record of the observa¬ 
tion of rounds from the battery, should only show the— 
