COAST ARTILLERY IN ACTION. 153 
permitted but encouraged by the present orders, which are designed to 
put the Garrison Artillery on a tactical footing, to knit officers and 
men together, as in the other arms, and to make it a fighting force, 
rather than a concourse of scientific individuals, engaged in target 
practice. Therefore our drill-books must be looked upon as sticks and 
not as crutches, we must not hang on to them nor shirk responsibility 
when circumstances arise which prevent the carrying out of the strict 
letter of the law: we can always be pulled up if we have done wrong, 
we can always remember we have done our best. It is now time to 
walk boldly forward, not like children learning to toddle; perhaps a 
little hesitation might have been justified when electricity first came in, 
being such a mysterious force to all of us, nor can we altogether blame 
those who looked upon the position-finder, on its first appearance, with 
something of that consternation, with which the Mexicans, who had 
never seen a horse, regarded the mounted followers of Cortez : but now 
as we have become accustomed to these things, they should be treated 
neither with misgiving nor idolatry, but be recognised, while always 
servants, as our most faithful and useful friends. 
Superion KNowLepGe Requirep BY Hacu Ranr. 
The next point to notice is the superior knowledge which must be 
demanded from each rank: thus it is laid down that Gun Group Com- 
manders must, under certain circumstances, exercise the functions of 
Battery Commanders, Battery Commanders, those of Fire Commanders, 
and so on. ‘hose who have any experience of the manning of Coast 
Artillery, know that it has long been recognised, that the Gun Captains 
must be looked to very often, to take charge of groups; this is now 
absolutely recognised: the new orders do not blink the facts; but it 
will sometimes happen that we must go further, and allow Gun Captains 
to exercise certain duties, which up to the present, have been among 
the functions of Battery Commanders. An example will show what I 
mean. 
The battery at A, fig. 1, is not a very uncommon arrangement : there, 
Fie, 1, 
uv 
4.10 R.M.LL. 
