268 MOUNTAIN ARTILLERIES OF FRANCE AND ITALY. 
longer range. The procedure in this case was different, and elevation 
given for each gun separately, as with us. A good bracket, of 200 
metres, was obtained with the first two shots, but the third shot (laid 
on the mean of the bracket) which was palpably long, was reported by 
the observerasa hit. Time shrapnel was at once commenced at that 
range, without verification, and twelve were fired which were all long 
though the fuze was reduced twice. 
The 7th Battery then fired again, the target representing two guns 
inaction. Petards, intended to represent the enemy’s fire, were let off 
at intervals by the range party, but being placed too much to leeward 
of the line of fire, they did not obstruct view or observation. In this 
case the range-finder could be used, and the range, as found therewith, 
was 2600 metres. Fire was opened with this elevation but the first two 
shots could not be seen. The range party was then communicated with 
by signalling and reported that both shots had fallen in a valley, far 
beyond the target. A bracket was finally obtained after several shots 
at about 1800 metres. ‘The time shrapnel was however ineffective. 
On the second day the practice at a moving target was good. Generally 
speaking there seemed to be a knowledge of the rules of fire discipline 
in each Battery, but there seemed to be an invincible repugnance to 
putting them into practice. This was the more curious as the allow- 
ance of practice ammunition (400 rounds per Battery per annum) was 
quite sufficient to have allowed of a high standard of efficiency being 
attained. ‘The tactical ideas throughout were sound. 
Comparing the Batteries generally with our Mountain Batteries, I 
think they cannot be classed in any way as equalling our own in equip- 
ment, smartness of turn out, rapidity of drill, or artillery knowledge 
generally, but from being born and bred mountaineers, they excel in 
hill climbing and capability for lifting heavy weights over our men. 
The weights carried by the mules exceed those carried in India by our 
Batteries with the smaller mules. The ground in the Alps was quite 
as difficult as those portions of the Himalayas in which our Batteries 
are accustomed to work. 
The drivers are all the older soldiers who have gone through the 
gunners training in a previous year. 
“Gun” and “ammunition” lines attend all parades. 
There are no separate mules for the carriage of pioneer tools as with 
the French and our Mountain Artillery, the necessary entrenching tools 
being divided amongst the mules generally, excluding gun mules. The 
detachment consisted of 7 men who brought the gun into action in 
45 seconds. 
Only the officers are mounted, and they rarely use their chargers on 
the hillside. 
The saddlery and turn out generally resembled much in detail that of 
the French described herewith, and one must have copied much from 
the other it would appear. 
The October number of the journal of the “‘ United Service Institu- 
tion ” gives a very interesting description of the action of the 2 Italian 
Mountain Batteries (native) in the engagement at Agordat. The guns 
were too weak to be of much use, and were kept in action too long, 
whereby they were temporarily taken by the enemy after all the mules 
had been shot. 
