1306 
COMMENDED ESSAY, 1892 . 
ance in teaching young soldiers to lay. In firing with case, men must 
be trained never to run their guns up so long as the object is in view, 
and, as a rule, far too much time is expended on laying. The care of 
the gun-park with the 12-pr. and Mark II. carriage is of the gravest 
importance. The subaltern's report of “ all correct ” to the Captain, 
on every parade, is no matter of easy routine. It takes their constant 
attention to ensure that each round of ammunition is ready, and that 
all the complicated fittings are perfectly adjusted. 
For instance, the brakes may be out of order, or the buffer not 
quite full of oil. The spare asbestos pads 1 should be constantly 
tested on the mushroom head ; not only by the limber gunners, but by 
every number. It is not sufficient to rely on them as spare, they must 
also be ready for use. The fitting is so nice, that the least thing throws 
them out of gear, especially if the mushroom head were heated by 
rapid firing. Then it may be found that the clip-head spring will not 
close, or that the breech-block will jam in the bore, and the gun is 
useless ! This constantly happens in the gun-park, but it would be a 
serious matter in the third stage of the fight ! The service ammuni¬ 
tion should always be brought up to the guns, and the gunners exercised 
in changing the contents of the boxes till the manipulation of every 
single article on charge becomes a second nature. There is no jump 
with the Mark II. carriage, and it is simpler to work in degrees and 
minutes, as the present scale of yards on the tangent sight is not cor¬ 
rect. Nos. 2 should be taught to lay quickly for direction from the 
end of the handspike, especially with Scott's sights; and to traverse 
the gun so that the layer shall always find the target in the field of 
the sight. They are less likely to make mistakes, having the whole 
horizon in view ; whereas the layer may find the wrong target through 
the telescope, and lay on it if pressed for time. 
Captain and Subalterns. 
Those qualities requisite in the commander are equally necessary in 
the junior officers ; for at any moment the command may devolve on 
one of them. The Captain has few opportunities of practically learn¬ 
ing his proper duty of supplying ammunition and replacing casualties 
in the field ; so he must make it his business to study the theory the 
more thoroughly. He should be responsible for the condition of those 
carriages and stores required on mobilisation. The responsibility of 
Section Officers must be acknowledged absolute and direct. Results 
are what are wanted; ways and means may be left to them. Reality 
and energy in their own work will secure application in their subor¬ 
dinates. To make good men, or get good work, they must give 
responsibility to individuals. 
Rut the individual must first be thoroughly trained in his own sphere. 
The confidence of their men is only to be gained through work. Spas¬ 
modic efforts will not obtain it. Nothing is more dangerous than 
sudden inroads of smartness. Tact must be combined with discipline. 
The Duke of Wellington says, “In a young officer discipline must be 
1 A case is known where by simply scratching the covei’ing with the finger nail to remove a 
little grit the pad became useless.— (5th edition “Questions and Answers 12-pr. by a 
Major, It.A.) 
