618 
COMMENDED ESSAY, 1892 . 
would facilitate ranging. It would also be a great advantage if shells 
could be carried ready fuzed in the limbers, as in Germany; and if 
the fuzes were mechanically clamped so as to be ready for use, without 
further adjustment, against a sudden attack of cavalry. 1 2 The only 
reason given for graduating the time and percussion fuze to zero is 
that the supply of case might run short. In savage warfare the num¬ 
ber could easily be increased; 12 per gun were carried in Zululand. 
In European warfare it does not seem valid, “ For during the whole 
of this war (1870-71) the batteries of the Artillery of the Guard 
expended about 25,000 shell and one case shot . And the latter was broken 
in transports 
Practice Camps. 
Officers and N.-C. officers have few chances of actual practice on 
land ranges ; the majority of gunners only have two such opportunities 
during their whole service ! No amount of reading or instruction 
fulfils the same purpose. Correct observation of fire can be taught 
in this way alone. - The smaller scales of ammunition are not sufficient 
to teach a battery, to borrow words again from Lord Wolseley, “ It 
strikes me as the silliest of false economy to provide our Field Artil¬ 
lery with a splendid gun like the 12-pr. B.L. and to refuse the amount 
of ammunition required to make the men and officers in those bat¬ 
teries thoroughly efficient in the use of those guns.” 3 The supply of 
ammunition in the field must be taught. This can only be done at 
camps on land ranges, where enough horses and double lines of wagons 
should be kept to complete each battery during its stay. No one can 
fail to be struck with the interest men take in practice at Okehampton, 
where their training goes beyond the dry details of theory into real 
work and practical results. This is the feeling that must be developed. 
The materiel has improved, the technical training of the personnel 
has advanced by leaps and bounds, but the means of taking the full 
advantage of these developments have diminished ! The very excel¬ 
lence of our present weapon has told against Fire Discipline. It 
ranges so far that, at present, Okehampton is the sole inland training 
ground. 4 
It is now fourteen years since Colonel Hastings wrote, (< The system 
is an excellent one. It enables a Commanding Officer to thoroughly 
instruct his men in every nature of fire under such conditions as 
would actually occur on service, and, at the same time, tends to increase 
his own technical knowledge and tactical skill in handling a battery in 
the field. In 1878-79 nearly two-thirds of the whole force of Horse and 
Field Artillery will practice, with a considerable increase of the am¬ 
munition, over the new land ranges of Okehampton, Hay, Aldershot, 
and New Romney, and in each succeeding year a like proportion .” 5 
Who is responsible that this reasonable prophecy is not fulfilled ? 
The best means for securing Fire Discipline remain in his hands. 
Bis dat qui cito dat ! 
1 “ Instructions for Practice, 1892,” para. 34. 
2 “ Letters on Artillery.” 
3 Glenbeigh Report, 1891. 
4 The Barrie Links hare now been purchased. 
5 Report of Commandant of School of Gunnery, 1878, 
