616 
COMMENDED ESSAY, 1892 . 
If men fail to obtain these ratings, say, in— 
1 year for . 3rd class. 
18 months for. 2nd ,, 
3 years „. 1st ,, 
What remains of their 3d. a day should revert to the country. A man 
should be given every encouragement to save by his own exertions 
while in the army, and he would not be so likely to squander money 
on going to the Reserve if he had put it by himself. In this way in¬ 
creased efficiency would be combined with the advantages of the 
present deferred pay system. 
Signalling. 
Signalling’ is constantly required in the field and at practice. Sig¬ 
nallers ought to be paid and wear badges, as in the Garrison Artillery 
and regiments of the line. Lord Wolseley says, “ We are very mean 
in all such matters, but to make the men pay for badges, which we 
consider should be allowed in the true interests of the army, would be 
to surpass our previous record in this respect .... any addi¬ 
tional signalling equipment that may be considered necessary should 
also be supplied at the expense of the public.” 1 
Manual of F.A. Exercises. 
The Glenbeigh report points out that the manual requires correction 
in the orders for re-loading’, words of command and rates of fire. 
These are not alluded to in the “ Instructions for Practice for 1892.” 
A 'test in laying with auxiliary marks might be introduced with advan¬ 
tage into the examination for layers, 2 and the present gunnery paper 
could be made more practical. The senior N.-C.O. of a sub-division 
should not be an active number, but command his detachment and 
supervise the supply of ammunition. The carriage recoils so far that, 
with rapid firing, an extra hand is needed to run up, or the men, and 
especially the layers, soon get exhausted, and the shooting becomes 
wild. 
The Sergeant could assist in this way, while keeping a check on the 
ammunition expended, seeing to its renewal, and the replacing of 
casualties ; besides having everything prepared for an advance, if 
ordered. 
Land Ranges. 
More land ranges are required; each should have an instructional 
battery in order to test all new inventions in guns, carriages, or 
ammunition. This would be an economy. There is sound wisdom in 
Captain Acland’s remark, I am no believer in the work of Com¬ 
mittees, nor of draughtsmen, until their labours have been purified by 
passing through the ordeal of criticism of practical though possibly 
less scientific artillerymen.” 3 For example—Mark II. carriages were 
1 Report of Practice at Glenbeigh, 1891. 
2 No distinct instructions can be found whether layer’s prizes are to be given for laying alone, 
the preliminary examination, or the total of preliminary and written combined. The want of 
uniformity in different batteries last year caused much dissatisfaction among the men.—Appx. 
to R.O. 33 of 1890. Compare Army Orders of 1st April, 1891. 
3 “ Discussion on Experiences at Okehampton.”—R.A.I. “ Proceedings,” January, 1892. 
