196 ARTILLERY AND MUSKETRY FIRE. 
previous to the horse screens being exposed. 
It was assumed that a battery would take a minute after it appeared 
in the position before the guns could be unlimbered and the horses 
cleared away to a position of comparative safety or, at any rate, taken 
clear of the guns. 
The first portion of each series consisted in the horse screens being 
switched into view and remaining so for one minute, when they were 
switched off again by the range party. 
Cease firing then sounded and the hits then counted. 
In the second portion of the series fire was continued at the personnel 
of the battery and the guns, the horses being kept concealed for five 
minutes and then again exposed for one minute to represent the battery 
limbering up to retire. ‘l'his second exposure was made without any 
cessation of fire. Owing to insufficient ammunition it was not possible 
to keep up fire at the personnel of the battery for the contemplated five 
minutes. As will be seen by the table this period varied from two minutes 
thirty seconds to five minutes. ‘The usual procedure was as follows :— 
On the horse screens appearing fire was kept up as rapidly as possible, 
on one occasion magazine volleys were fired. Fire in the second period 
was more deliberate, but became rapid again when the screens appeared 
for the second time. 
The great effect obtained against the horse portion of the target is 
very apparent, the average of 6 series of one minute, each gives 32 per 
cent. of horses destroyed per 100 rifles per minute; the per centage 
varying from the highest at 62 per cent. to 4°7 per cent. at the lowest. 
The per centage of men hit is curiously small, being only 3:1 per cent., 
aad varying from 6°2 to zero, the ranges were at 1000, 1200 and 1500 
yds. The greatest effect on both horses and men was obtained at the 
1200 yds. range. Firing began at 1000 yds., and perhaps the men, 
through not being accustomed to the work, shot better as time went 
on, but it is suggestive that the best practice in every way was made 
when most room was allowed to the individual soldier and when the 
rate of fire was comparatively rapid. 
In series 7, just before the horse screens were turned on for the 
second time, it was found that the ammunition of the firing line was 
almost exhausted, and fresh men were hurriedly brought up to replace 
them. The effect of the factor of hurry is well shown in the result, 
which was only one-eighth of that obtained in the previous series at 
the same range. 
Series 8 was fired at a somewhat similar target representing a 
battery of four guns in column of route. The conditions were made 
as favourable as possible as before. Range 1300 yds. The dummies 
on this occasion were mounted on the carriages as they would be in a 
field battery, and so, being more exposed, suffered more than in 
previous series. The per centage of horses destroyed per minute 
works out to 8 per cent. per minute, but as 20 out of 24 horses were 
hit by some 60 bullets, the method of calculation appears to have made 
the per centage unduly small. The occasional fallacies of figures have 
already been touched upon. 
_ Fire in this series and in all cthers, except the first portion of series 7, 
