FIELD ARTILLERY FIRE. 
325 
The only advantage presented by a two-wagon system is that two 
wagons being sooner emptied than three, the first Echelon of empty 
wagons is sooner despatched to the Divisional Reserve, and the 
renewal of supply thus begins at a slightly earlier period than if the 
first Echelon of wagons had to wait until three wagons instead of two 
were empty before starting for the Divisional Reserve. Against this 
advantage may be ranged the following disadvantages, which show a 
balance in favour of a system of supply from three wagons. 
With two wagons, one of them must be placed in rear of the centre 
gun of each half battery, and, to allow for recoil and also for limbering 
up, some distance in rear of that gun ; from this it comes that 
a. The battery has unnecessary depth, and thus presents a more 
vulnerable target. With the three-wagon system this is not 
the case and the wagons one per section, can be brought 
almost into line with the guns.. 
b. The ammunition supply numbers from the two flank guns of 
half batteries would repeatedly have to cross a large interval 
under fire, an ordeal which, experience has taught, they are 
extremely averse to facing. These large intervals, and also 
the distance mentioned in the preceding paragraph, increase 
the labour of bringing up ammunition to the gun. With the 
three-wagon system this interval and distance is reduced to a 
minimum, indeed the wagons may be so close to the guns that 
it is a matter for consideration whether, under some circum¬ 
stances, the services of No. 4 might not be dispensed with, at 
all events he would be under cover of the wagon-limber instead 
of being in the open as heretofore. 
The following three-wagon system, which has been adopted in India, 
has been tried at Okehampton in 1891, and found to give satisfaction. 
TENTATIVE SCHEME FOR OKEHAMPTON, 1891. 
(AS TRIED AND RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION IN INDIA.) 
The following scheme is based on the fact that artillery fire is accurate 
as regards line, but comparatively unreliable as regards elevation, 
hence the safest formation for a battery exposed to artillery fire is the 
thinnest possible line, and the carriages supplying the ammunition 
should be approximately in line with the guns, while the limbers, etc., 
should be kept either under cover, or, if in the open, beyond the 
dangerous zone of well-aimed shrapnel fire. It is also considered that, 
in open positions without cover, unless the teams are sent out of the 
battery, the losses among the horses would probably be sufficient to 
prevent the battery from advancing again. 
First Stage. 
When the battery prepares for action the three right wagons of 
sections form up in rear of and covering their guns. These wagons 
conform to the movements of the battery, following as rapidly as the 
ground will admit, but never faster than a trot. The three left wagons 
