2) 
306 COMMENDED Essay, 1895. 
be those probably in the inner line of defence and on the land front. 
It would fall to them also to man the movable armament, for which 
they would be able to prepare themselves at their own stations if 
provided with similar guns there. 
In detailing garrisons to the different forts the necessity for 
providing for reliefs should not be lost sight of. A detail which only 
allowed for one relief, though sufficient for peace operations, would of 
course break down at once in time of war. If then the strength of the 
Artillery of a fortress were insufficient to allow of reliefs being 
provided, some of the guns would have to be left unmanned. Wither 
each work might, in such a case, be only partially manned, or the 
most important ones might be fully manned, the others being neglected 
altogether. It would depend on circumstances which would be the 
best course. As a rule it would probably be best to fully man the 
more important forts. As a Corps would furnish its own reliefs, on 
the principal of avoiding the mixture of units, it would be necessary 
that not more guns should be allotted to it than it was capable, when 
at its full strength, of providing reliefs for. 
The quick-firing gun of small calibre, a considerable number of 
which are now being introduced into the armament of most Coast 
fortresses, seem to be marked out as specially suitable for the Volunteer 
Artillery. Except in the matter of laying, the service of these guns ig 
so simple as to be easily carried out even by those members of a Corps 
who are often unable to attend drill. The ammunition is moreover 
cheap in comparison with that of heavy guns, thus allowing of a 
considerable amount of practice, which is always an attraction to 
Volunteers, whilst the drill would be reduced to a minimum. The 
post of layer of one of these guns, on the other hand, would not be so 
easily filled, as it would require a man of exceptional skill and in 
constant practice to be able at once, and almost instinctively to judge 
the range of a small target moving at the highest rate of speed and to 
lay correctly on it. There would be keen competition amongst the 
more active members of a Corps for these posts, which would no doubt 
result eventually in the production of experts, as has been the case in 
rifle-shooting. An expert is indeed required as the layer of a quick- 
firing gun, and he should be allowed enough ammunition for practice. 
It is hardly overstating the case to say that a man placed at 
hap-hazard in this position at the last moment would have no better 
chance of hitting an enemy’s torpedo-boat moving at 20 knots than 
a novice in the use of a rifle would have of hitting a running deer. 
The companies to man these guns should be selected from those of 
outlying stations, and unable therefore to drill throughout the year 
at the guns of the fortress. All that would be necessary would be to 
provide each of such companies at their own stations with a quick- 
firmg gun of small calibre and with enough ammunition to afford 
practice to the requisite number of layers. These companies would no 
longer feel themselves at a disadvantage as compared with those at 
Head-Quarters, for on their arrival at the fortress they would be 
prepared at once to take their places and to play an important part in 
its defence. 
