Effects of 
the present 
system on 
training of 
officers and 
men, 
Disadvan- 
tages of the 
present 
system, 
Effect of the 
present 
system on 
125195 
556 COMPETITIVE PRACTICE IN THE GARRISON ARTILLERY. 
Quoting from the report of Commandant School of Instruction, 
Western Forts, on the practice of 1891, page 9, para. 41— 
“The keenest interest was evinced by all batteries in regard to the new 
system of Competitive practice. Without entering on any ample 
consideration of this system, | would remark that it was felt by all 
to bea much more thorough test of the efficiency of the battery 
through all ranks. Far deeper interest was called forth from the 
officers, and every man of the detachment felt that he was con- 
ducing towards the hoped-for prize for his battery.” 
All this is true to the letter and, as a battery and company com- 
mander, both before and since the introduction of the new system, I 
cannot speak too strongly in favour of it as compared to the one in 
vogue before 1891 ; instead of the interest in the shooting being con- 
fined to a few individuals, it is now shared by every one in the 
company, greater care is bestowed on the preliminary drills of the 
latter and a commanding officer pays far more personal attention to the 
training of his officers, gun-captains, range-finders, and especially his 
gun-layers than he did before. 
Good, however, as it is, generally speaking, the system is not un- 
attended by some disadvantageous affects, which I will endeavour to 
enumerate. 
(1.) It induces a commanding officer to train his men more with 
a view to their doing well at Competitive practice, than to their 
rendering a good account of a hostile vessel. 
With our present launches it is difficult to tow a Record target at 
more than seven or, at most, eight miles an hour; in practising’a com- 
pany at drill, therefore, a commanding officer not unnaturally selects if 
possible as objective a sailing vessel or yacht moving at this rate of 
speed instead of a steamer tearing through the water at 18 or 20 knots, 
which is what he would probably have to shoot at in actual warfare. 
Anyone who has practised at Warden or Cliff End batteries at drill 
at our slowly moving targets and has then tried to change on to the 
Jersey boat or a torpedo destroyer, will know well what I mean and 
how many “fresh lays” there will be, especially with young officers 
and gun-captains when first practising at the rapidly moving objective. 
Again, men are generally trained at drill to lay at a vessel broadside 
on and seldom at those approaching or going away from the battery 
direct. m 
(2.) One method only of range-finding, the D.R.F. almost in- 
variably, being used for Competitive practice, other methods are more 
or less sacrificed to it. 
In his report for 1891, page 22, para. 58, the Commandant School of 
Instruction, Golden Hill, states :— 
“The D.R.F. system has been more thoroughly worked out than the 
P.F. Far more time and practice has been devoted to it, the con- 
sequence is a far higher degree of perfection has been attained.” 
