70 OKEHAMPTON, 1895. 
Battery or Brigade Division was administered, but also as to whether 
the Commanding Officer handled his force in accordance with the 
tactical conditions. In fact as far as possible the training was directed 
to ‘employment and conduct of artillery in the field” as well as to 
** gunnery.” 
ADHERENCE TO Recunation Mernops. 
A strict adherence to regulations is of more importance than it is 
sometimes considered. There may be, for instance, better ways of 
ranging a battery than that which is in our drill-book, though it must 
be remembered that the drill-book is the result of the collective 
experience of many years. If there were no such thing as casualties 
there would be, comparatively speaking, little harm in each Commander 
elaborating a system for himself. But, unfortunately, we are all 
mortal. What could be more disastrous on service than the sudden 
accession to command of a Major with a “system” totally different 
from that in which the battery had been drilled ? 
For service purposes I think it is impossible to exaggerate the im- 
portance of a rigid adherence to the drill-book, and I am rejoiced to 
find that I can quote no less an authority than our own new 
Commander-in-Chief in support of these views. Writing recently 
on this very subject, he said: “The Regulations in this matter cannot 
be too rigidly adhered to.” 
Surprise AND Movine TArcets. 
The question of targets is one that so vitally affects the practice as a 
training for service, and the progress made in this respect has been so 
decided that I shall devote some time to their consideration. 
Surprise Targets. 
Taking first the surprise targets, the improvement this year is in the 
greater number used, and in the greater variety in their positions. It 
is hardly necessary to point out that a surprise target, the position of 
which is known, loses a great part, though not all, of its value. I hope 
by next year there will be many more splinter-proofs, so that the num- 
ber of surprise targets may be very greatly increased. The excellent 
practice they give in changes of target is universally acknowledged. 
Used (as I think General Tyler first used them) to represent a sudden 
attack on a battery on the move, their value can scarcely be over- 
estimated. The excitement and confusion that frequently occurred 
showed plainly the necessity of training for such emergencies. 
Adverse criticism from outside, though not pleasant, is sometime 
wholesome, and I will therefore read what one of the senior officers who 
were present says of the effect of such a target: ‘The sudden appear- 
ance of infantry demoralises artillery ! ” 
Moving Targets. 
The moving targets were the new tramway target on No. 3 range, 
an infantry target on No. 2 range, and a cavalry target on No. 1. The 
greater number available allowed of their being in all cases part of the 
tactical scheme. There was no special day devoted to “‘the moving 
