FIELD ARTILLERY FIRE. 
329 
The remedy for this oversight is, manifestly, to lay down that, under 
normal circumstances, reserve ammunition columns are to follow in rear 
of the combatant portion of troops to which they belong and that the 
Corps Troops Ammunition Column is to follow immediately in rear of 
the Divisional Ammunition Column of the division marching in rear 
of the Corps Artillery, the four sections of the Ammunition Park 
following in rear of the whole of the combatant portion of the Army 
Corps. 
Rates of Fire. —There are three acknowledged rates of fire in every 
Artillery. 
Slow Fire. — In which there is no stated interval between the dis¬ 
charge of the guns, but each gun is discharged in succession on a 
distinct command from the Battery Commander for each individual 
gun. 
Slow fire is used during the ranging process when it is important 
that the Battery Commander, or his assistant, should observe each 
round, and he will not give the signal or command for a round to be 
fired until he is ready to observe. It is also used in the preliminary 
phases of an engagement when the ranges are generally very long 
and it is desired to economise ammunition for the decisive phases of 
the fight, indeed, whenever it is desired to effect an economy of 
ammunition it is advisable to revert to slow fire. 
Ordinary Fire. —Having once received the order for ordinary fire 
from the Battery Commander the guns are fired in succession by 
command of the Sectional Officers, who will allow an interval of from 
15 to 20 seconds between each discharge. 
Rapid Fire. —The rule is the same as for ordinary fire with the 
exception that the interval between the discharges is from 7 to 10 
seconds. There is a slight variation of this method of fire, viz., when 
firing against a moving target, it is permissible to give “ Rapid 
fire from the Right (or Left) of Sections.” This command is given 
because it is desired to catch the enemy at or about a certain point and 
by this more rapid method of fire it is possible to repeat the round 
while he is still about the same spot. Whenever this command is 
given the number of rounds that each gun is to fire should be specified. 
This rate of fire is also suitable when firing case shot, vide remarks on 
page 198, No. 5, Yol. XIX., R.A.I. “Proceedings.” 
Salvos. —The firing of salvos has been discontinued, except under 
very special circumstances, by every artillery. The arguments against 
them are :— 
When used there is an undefined feeling of uneasiness among the 
men because they feel that, all the guns being empty at once, they are 
for the moment in a defenceless position ; this leads to a hurried 
reloading and is apt to induce carelessness. 
When used against a moving target, if an error in observation has 
been made the whole salvo may be wasted, it is better then to have 
rapid fire when some of the rounds are sure to be effective. In any 
