614 
COMMENDED ESSAY, 1892 . 
in tlieir spare evenings; would not only be appreciated by them, but be 
a real assistance towards Fire Discipline. 
Harrison and Other Employments. 
The administration can help Battery Commanders enormously. One 
of their chief difficulties, in a large station, is in getting hold of their 
men. There are so many fatigues, guards, and garrison employments, 
that it takes the remnant of a battery their whole time to groom the 
horses and clean the carriages and harness, especially during the drill 
season. Batteries might, in turn, be entirely relieved from such duties 
for a week or a fortnight at a time; and more attention might be paid 
to Lord Wolseley’s suggestion that “ it is to be hoped that all bits, 
chains, stirrup and other iron work, over which hours are now uselessly 
spent in burnishing’, may in future be either nickelled or lacquered. 
. . . . The time squandered daily in this folly would suffice to 
teach him much that he is ignorant of, but which is essential to his 
efficiency.” 1 If this were done our small drill grounds could be 
utilised for the greater part of a summer's day, instead of only from 
9 a.m. till noon. 
Lord Wantage’s Committee suggests that all permanently employed 
men should belong to the Army Reserve, and be in excess of establish¬ 
ment. This would ease the work and give opportunities of thorough 
training to all ranks. Nothing would do more for Fire Discipline than 
an increase of, at least, 18 gunners and 12 drivers to the present estab¬ 
lishment of six-gun batteries. The Horse Artillery, if mobilised at 
present, have no spare trained drivers, on whom the Captains could 
rely, for their first and second line of wagons. It is impossible to read 
the general rules for the supply of ammunition in the field, 2 with¬ 
out recalling Prince Kraft’s remark, “ it is not then sufficient to wish 
that masses of artillery shall be brought up in time, it is necessary 
also to have learnt and practised the manner of doing it.” 3 
At Woolwich, a well-considered system of attaching men from the con¬ 
gested Field Depots to service batteries, 4 would have the same effect, 
and be of advantage to both. It might be unpopular in the depots, 
but the end to be considered is the efficiency of the whole. In this 
way most of the gunuers and more intelligent drivers from the depots 
could be thoroughly instructed in 12-pr. gun drill, and the means of 
securing Fire Discipline in service batteries improved by their assist¬ 
ance in stables, and the increased responsibility thrown on N.-C.O.’s 
of constantly drilling large squads. 
The Staff of the Brigade Division. 
This leads up to a point of vital moment. Most distinct and impor¬ 
tant duties are laid down for the Adjutant with regard to bringing 
the batteries of a division into the preliminary position, pointing out 
the spot where the limbers and wagons are to remain when the guns 
1 “ Soldier’s Pocket-Book.” 
2 “ Instructions for Practice, 1S92.” 
3 “ Letters on Artillery.” 
4 As laid down in “ It.A. Standing Orders,” Sec. XLV., para. 14. 
