534 
SILVER MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1892 . 
Artillery being massed, from the General Officer Commanding the 
Artillery of the Corps. The selection then comes under the heading 
of “Fire Tactics,” but the indication of the objective is where “ Fire 
Discipline ” first comes into play. 
In the stages of a battle preceding and including the Artillery 
Duel, it is assumed, in foreign regulations, that the artillery will, as a 
rule, give the first indication of its presence by the opening of its 
fire. In order to take full advantage of this fact, it is prescribed 
that, whenever the ground is suitable, the batteries shall take up a 
preliminary position under cover as close as possible to the firing 
position and that, while there employed in preparing for action, the 
Commander of the Brigade Division shall call to the front the Battery 
Commanders and point out and apportion the target among them. 
Having taken up the position they intend to occupy in action, and 
thus marking for the windward flanks of their batteries, the Battery 
Commanders, in their turn, call forward the Section Officers and gun¬ 
layers and point out to them :— 
1. The portion of the target allotted to the battery. 
2. The ranging point, if any. 
3. Any special orders about the distribution of fire. 
4. The nature and rate of fire and the flank from which it is to 
begin. 
5. The elevation for the first round. 
6. The general alignment of the battery. 
This having been done, the gun-layers spread out into the positions 
that their guns will occupy in action. 
In the above manner the thought, the tactical idea, is communicated 
from the brain of the army to the hands that are to carry it into 
effect, and the operation of pointing’ out the objective is the connect¬ 
ing link between “ Fire Tactics ” and “ Fire Discipline.” 
It must not be supposed that there will always be time and oppor¬ 
tunity for this preliminary reconnaissance of the enemy and occupation 
of a preparatory position, but, whenever facilities for it exist, the gain 
of so obvious an advantage should not be neglected. 
( b .)—The Opening of Fire. 
One of the principal points to be kept in mind in opening fire is 
that it should come upon the enemy as a surprise; with this in view, 
all preparations should take place under cover and, if the position is 
on the reverse of a slope, the guns, already loaded in the preparatory 
position, should be unlimbered and run up to the crest by hand. 
If the battery has to advance within view of the enemy before 
coming into action then endeavour must be made by speed of movement 
and excellence of Fire Discipline to compensate for the disadvantage 
of the fire not taking the enemy unawares. 
The reason why surprise is so important is, that if a battery com¬ 
mences to range itself before the enemy are aware of its presence 
then, in all probability, it will complete its ranging before the enemy 
does so and be the first to open an effective fire of shrapnel; under 
these circumstances, such is the murderous effect of modern shrapnel, 
