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FIELD ARTILLERY FIRE. 
of sections form a second line and follow about 700 yards in rear, but, 
if possible, out of fire. When the battery comes into action, if the 
wagons are up with the guns, the limbers at once drive away; the 
wagons pass between the limbers and drive up, each between its own 
section, five yards in rear of the trails of the g’uns. Care must be 
taken not to advance beyond the muzzles and so prevent the guns 
opening fire ; the wheel horses are then unhooked, and the teams 
complete ridden away to join the limbers. These should be sent under 
cover if any be available near, and if not they should form up at full 
interval about 250 to 300 yards in rear and in echelon with the guns. 
The wagon teams form up between the limbers of their own sections. 
Should the wagons not be up with the guns when the battery comes 
into action the limbers remain ten yards in rear of the guns, facing to 
the rear, and the first few rounds are taken from them, these should 
be replaced as soon as possible. When the wagons have arrived and 
have passed between the limber's the latter trot off as above. Should 
it be necessary to replenish ammunition before moving, the ammunition 
should be collected in the centre wagon and the teams of the other 
two should be brought up and hooked in, and they should drive away 
before the second line of wagons arrives; more than three wagons 
never being allowed in the battery at one time. 
Second Stage. 
If the action is likely to be prolonged, or when a second position is 
to be taken up, the second line of wagons is ordered up to join the 
limbers and, on the signal being given to limber up, they advance 
with the limbers, and the battery moves forward with three full wagons 
and with full limbers. The right wagons of sections, which have 
supplied the ammunition for the battery while in its first position, 
remain on the ground, any wounded will be placed upon them and 
casualties made good from the men carried on them. Their teams now 
come up, hook in, and these wagons either join the other carriages of 
the second line in rear or wait for them to come up. 
The ammunition expended should now be made good by filling up 
one or two wagons, if possible, from the third. All empty wagons 
should, under orders from the officer commanding the second line, be 
sent back at a trot to the divisional ammunition column to fill up and 
rejoin as soon as possible. 
Third Stage. 
If, finally, the battery has to advance into the zone of aimed infantry 
fire it will do so with limbers only. All wagons should be sent to fill 
up with ammunition if necessary, rejoin the second line and await 
orders. 
N.B.—Wagon-bodies should first be emptied, since, if a battery is called upon 
to advance when only the ammunition in the wagon-bodies has been expended, 
the wagon-limbers will still be full and can, on an emergency, be pushed forward 
with the guns, leaving the bodies to be picked up as the limbers fall back on the 
second line when empty. This may be specially useful in the event of batteries 
being pushed in to within short range of the enemy’s infantry at the critical 
moment of the attack. 
