602 
COMMENDED ESSAY, 1892 . 
The Gold Medal Essay of 1882 states that “ still may be heard the 
echo of an earlier creed, it used to run—give your gunners good guns, 
good officers, and proper clothing*, and British pluck will do the rest.” 1 
In 1883 we learn that “it seems difficult to believe that guns are laid 
on the same principles that ruled in the beginning of the century.” 2 
That this was the case no one can doubt who remembers the system 
on which batteries were brought into action and ranged at Tel-el-Kebir. 
“It was only in 1886 that the attention of the troops was, for the first 
time, specially directed to the necessity for a higher standard of Fire 
Discipline .... it may fairly be said that the main desideratum 
of the cavalry and artillery was to get back to barracks with a mini¬ 
mum of delay.” 3 The term appears for the first time in the R.A.I. 
“Proceedings” in 1882. Colonel Pratt writes, “The main reason 
that the actual destructive effect of artillery in the field is so far below 
what it theoretically ought to be, is due to defect in Fire Discipline.” 4 
This was the position of the pioneers in the Regiment when the 
translation of Prince Kraft’s Letters appeared. His reasons for the 
failure of the artillery in 1866, and its wonderful success in 1870, 
became common property. The immediate demand for instruction 
dates from the publication of this correspondence. 
The world knows not, as yet, the full effect that modern artillery 
may produce. With artillery “ if superiority is established in the first 
few minutes of action, the issue is determined. The battery possessing 
less knowledge and training cannot even count on being able to retire.” 5 
The artillery that can crush the enemy’s artillery fire has paved the 
way to victory. This is the object of all military affairs. The French 
possessed a long service army, and a superior arm, they were not 
inferior in numbers or resource. That they were beaten by the Ger¬ 
mans was due simply to discipline in the highest meaning of the word, 
and the practical knowledge of their work shown by every grade. 
The following conclusions may safely be drawn from the letters of 
Prince Kraft, and the experience of recent Continental wars :— 
1. The training necessary to the efficient service of the present 
field guns in action cannot be given after taking the field. 
2. Individual education alone will produce a state of discipline 
which will maintain steadiness in the fighting line. 
3. Those only whose peace training has been complete and thorough 
can be relied on in the heat and excitement of battle. 
Thus the lessons of the past point steadily to the necessity of Fire 
Discipline. They are confirmed by the teaching of the present. Lord 
Roberts addressed the batteries at Delhi as follows :—“ I do not hesi¬ 
tate to impress on yon the supreme importance of becoming thoroughly 
conversant with those technical details on which your military efficiency 
depends. I refer to the prepaiiug and fixiog of fuzes, the laying of 
1 Colonel H. A. Smyth, Vol. XII., page 127. 
2 R.A.I. “ Proceedings,” Vol. XII. 
3 Report of the A.-A.-G. for Musketry in India, 1891. 
4 E.A.I. “ Proceedings,” Vol. XII., page 278. 
3 Major G-. S. Clarke, E.E., E.A.I. “ Proceedings,” August, 1891, 
