. 276 
FIELD ARTILLERY FIRE. 
possible. If once the range of a target is accurately known then the 
total destruction of that target is merely a matter of time, in spite of 
any protection it is probable that one will meet with in the field ; our 
great object then should be to prevent the enemy ever finding the 
range or at least so to delay him that we shall do so first. The 
following example will be a sufficient illustration. 
At Okehampton in 1890 the target guns placed in the open were 
placed so as to take full advantage of the concealment offered by the 
irregular nature of the ground and incidents such as that mentioned 
as occurring at Mars-la-Tour were of not infrequent occurrence. The 
losses suffered by the detachments of these batteries were, taking the 
average of many series, 30 per cent, of the whole strength. When 
guns in pits were fired at these, pits were generally placed in such 
positions that the ranging was comparatively easy, and the losses 
suffered by the detachments amounted to 36 per cent. Of course, if 
the guns in the first case had been protected as well as concealed the 
losses would have been still less; for instance, during the practice of 
the same year the average losses of infantry well out in the open was 
47 per cent., while the infantry in well-placed shelter-trenches was 
only 27 per cent. 
The greatest misuse of what might afford sufficient concealment is 
most often made in the case of batteries coming into action behind 
hedges and low banks. If, as is usually the* case, the battery comes 
into action immediately in rear of the hedge or bank it is an extremely 
easy object to range upon, as the dark line of the hedge greatly facili¬ 
tates observation, but if the battery is brought into action some 250 to 
300 yards in rear of the hedge and thus uses it as a screen, then the 
enemy will be puzzled to know its exact whereabouts, and will most 
probably range first on the hedge, and perhaps continue his fire on 
that point. The proper way to attack a battery so posted is to find 
the range of the screen and then sweep backwards and forwards with 
time shrapnel fire until the target is found, as mentioned on page 272. 
It is certainly laid down in the drill-book that a screen to be of use 
should be at least 200 to 250 yards in front of the battery but, as the 
reason for it is not generally understood, the regulation is often con¬ 
travened and batteries turn a screen which would afford excellent 
concealment into a cover affording but inadequate protection. 
