COMMENDED ESSAY, 1895. 365 
could be trained at their own stations. This again might be considered 
as a recommendation in a candidate for the Permanent Staff. 
It must not be forgotten that places will have to be found in time of 
war for a certain number of Volunteers who have been irregular in 
their attendance at drill, but who will no doubt join the ranks then. 
It is hardly necessary to say that they should be placed in positions of 
the least responsibility. There are places which require little or no 
knowledge of drill (such as those of Nos. manning winches, orderlies, 
&c.), by occupying which even an inefficient man may become of value, 
as thereby freeing an efficient Gunner for more important duties. 
ACCOMMODATION. 
A course of training for the Coast Artillery would be incomplete 
which took no notice of the accommodation of the garrisons of the 
different Batteries, whether in barracks, camp or casemates, the 
arrangements for which are indissolubly connected with those for 
fighting. The Volunteers during the whole of their week of training, 
and the Militia during the last week of theirs, should be accommodated 
exactly as they would be in time of war, the Regulars of course 
similarly occupying the forts manned by them. This would be with 
the double object of testing the arrangements and of affording experi- 
ience to the troops. Tor lessons of real practical value to be derived 
from these rehearsals the conditions should be made to resemble in 
every detail as far as possible those of an occupation in time of war; 
and a point should be made of making every garrison carry out its 
camp duties without any assistance except in the way of instruction. 
Every Corps should in the first instance be thoroughly instructed in 
such matters as the laying out of camps, sanitary arrangements, the 
system of cooking, the stowing of kits, hammocks, provisions, &c., the 
arrangements for the water supply, and generally in the establishment 
of a good system of interior economy; and careful supervision should 
be exercised over these matters afterwards. Too much stress cannot 
be laid on the importance of this part of the training, as in time of war 
the efficiency of the soldier depends in no small measure on the 
arrangements for his health and comfort. 
Tue Mannine or tae “ Firz Commanp.” 
The point has now been reached when, the separate manning of 
each Battery having been thoroughly rehearsed, the Fire Commander 
works his Batteries together. The object of his programme should be 
to practise himself in “ Fire- direction,” to initiate his Battery 
Commanders in his way of working, to test the chain of command 
from himself down to the Gun Captains, and to test the communications. 
It would add much to the reality of the operations if the co-operation 
of the Navy could be obtained; and this would moreover enable the 
Fire Commander to practise one of his most important functions, viz; 
the identification of the various types of war-vessels from his post of 
vantage whilst they were still out of range, and the passing of this 
information to the Battery Commanders in sufficient time to allow them 
to prepare for their reception, and it would also afford practice to the 
