2 
ordinate units is directed not to the execution of geometrically exact movements, 
but to the simplest and quickest methods of leading their commands to their 
places in the new formation. 
Note.—The article goes on to lay down elaborate details for the consecutive in- 
structions of the different drill units, sub-divisions, sections and batteries. The 
two former of these contain nothing of interest to us, I think, nothing that is any 
improvement on our own system. It is suggested that much instruction may be 
given at times of the year when mounted drills outside barracks cannot be carried 
out, by means of skeleton drill on foot and mounted. 
Skeleton Battery Drill. 
The guns and wagons are represented by mounted men, the former by two or 
three men each if possible, so as to provide a horseholder for Nos. 1. 
Very useful instruction can be given in this way to section commanders and 
Nos. 1 in keeping the proper intervals and distances, taking up positions for 
action, &c. 
As the movements are naturally carried out more quickly than with horsed guns 
more instruction cau be got through in the same time, and the battery commander 
has better opportunities of observing the mistakes made and correcting them. 
Battery Drill. - 
The preliminary training of the battery as a whole should be carried out on the 
parade ground. It is here that it will be shown whether the preliminary instruction 
in sub-division and ‘section drill, and of section commanders and Nos. 1 in 
skeleton battery drill has been thoroughly mastered. It is not recommended 
that much time should be devoted to purely parade movements, nor that a high 
degree of precision should be exacted in them. Work on the parade ground is 
better devoted to practising the more important manceuvres that are used in the 
the field, such as the fighting formations and coming into action. Positions to be 
occupied should be marked out with flags, &c., and the section commander and 
Nos. 1 practised in bringing their guns accurately and squarely into action at the 
proper intervals, accustoming themselves to judge from a distance the points in 
the marked position they should make for. Better practice is gained if only one 
ffank of the position be marked. 
The real training of the battery for service, however, must be carried out beyond 
the precincts of the parade ground. Its most important feature is practice in 
coming into action from the line of march, with the reconnaissance of ground and 
position, &e. This preliminary reconnaissance must be most thoroughly carried 
out, with a view to profiting by all available cover for the advance of the battery 
and its concealment when in action. The instructing officer having decided on 
the ground to be worked over, and observed the approximate position for action, 
as well as the position of the imaginary or marked enemy, places at various points 
of the latter, officers or N.-C.O.’s told off as observers, who are provided with field- 
glasses and compasses. Their duty is to observe and note down everything 
connected with the advance of the battery under instruction that would have given 
information to the enemy in his position of an impending attack. In the battery 
itself notes are also’ kept of the times of its different operations, advance to the 
preliminary position, coming into action, &c. By means of these notes the in- 
structing officer is able to. ascertain. how.far the advance was concealed, and to 
point out faults in not taking advantage of cover, &c. Repeating exercises of this 
kind will give officers a true appreciation of the value of cover and cultivate in 
them the habit of quickly seizing on the best lines of, and formations for the 
advance. uate : 
