CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GUNS AND CAVALRY. 229 
T even believe that sometimes in the very first phase of the action circumstances 
may necessitate the cavalry moving rapidly away to a flank rather than the artillery. 
Then another point the lecturer touched upon was the time we take to deploy 
into preparatory formation. I think he cannot quite have meant what he said. 
He said it took twenty minutes. I do not think he can have meant that, because 
we take a great deal shorter time to effect this, as every cavalry officer knows. 
That preparatory formation of course is one which we may use, it is laid down 
for our use if we like; but itis not in my opinion always necessary, and I think 
that very often you are better in a more concentrated formation from which you 
can quite as easily and quickly assume the formation in time for manceuyre and 
attack. 
I do not wish to take up any more of your time when so many better officers 
than myself are ready to speak. 
Coronet G. H. Marsnati—lI find that Major May in his lecture has said every 
thing in agreement with my views, therefore I have no questions to ask him. He 
has told us that the direction of the actual cavalry fight will be short, and that the 
artillery must get at once to a decisive range. I think that a rapid rate of fire is 
of the greatest importance, and that we should try by every means to increase our 
rapidity of fire. It becomes a question of the number of rounds which can be fired 
into the enemy’s cavalry in about a couple of minutes. It may interest you if I 
give you some recent figures of rates of fire against cavalry targets, 
In 1892 at Okehampton the average time for 18 rounds of shrapnel was two 
minutes: the dest record was 18 shrapnel and two case in one minute fifty 
seconds. 
In 1893 at Okehampton, a battery on the march attacked by a surprise target 
fired 25 case in two minutes three seconds. A battery fired 46 shrapnel and two 
case during two cavalry attacks at the average rate of 184 rounds a minute. 
The figures taken from some of the practice in India last year are also very 
interesting. 
Horse Artillery Camp, Gurgaon: average of six series: ranges from 1300 to 
1700 yards: time 33 minutes: 18 shrapnel fired: hits 10 per shell (one battery 
made over 500 hits). ‘Targets—screens representing four squadrons, 
Average time for 12 case, 45 seconds—average hits on screens at 250 yards, 
400. 
I mention the above details to show how much importance we attach to rapidity 
of fire and how anxious we are to increase it. 
Masor-GuneraL Boycs Comsz, C.B.—I should naturally hesitate when called 
upon in the presence of so many war-worn veterans, but as General Officer Com- 
manding the Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot, it is supposed that I have or ought to 
have some ideas on the subject, and anyhow having been called upon by the chair- 
man, I feel bound to say something. 
Tam sorry to begin by differing essentially from Major May in his concluding 
remarks, to the effect that he had no hope that anything which he said here this 
evening could possibly lead to any amelioration or improvement. On the contrary, 
I think that he ought to feel very much flattered by the audience that he has had, 
and the great attention which has been paid to his interesting lecture; and I, for 
one, sincerely hope that the remarks which he has made will lead officers to study 
past history, which is really all that we have to trust to for guidance as to our 
action in the future. 
I know that there have been a great many attacks made on the cavalry lately by 
more or less friendly critics, and I always feel strongly that we have not a fair 
chance. At field manceuvres, [have heard it said over and over again, and it is 
quite true, that nothing is so unlike real war as sham war ; and this I think applies 
more particularly to cavalry than to any other branch of the service, as for instance on 
