BIG GUN SHOOTING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13612, 22 December 1909, Page 2

BIG GUN SHOOTING.

E BATTERY'S ANNUAL PRACTICE

The E Battery, which has been in camp at Hagley Park, Christchurch, for sixteen days, terminated its annual training by spending throe -days on the practice ground at Halswell, about seven miles irom Christchurch. The shooting was carried out under rcore difficult conditions than in previous years, and proved to be a thorough tost in the ell-round efficiency of the Battery. Thursday last ivas devoted to instructional practice, the classification practice being carried out on Saturday and Sunday. In the classification practice, six series were fired, three from concealed positions and three from positions in the open. The shortest range used was n.bout 3000 yards and the longest range nearly 5000 yards. The chief feature of the practice -svas the good shooting from concealed positions, showing considerable improvement in a form of training which the l?»soo-J a panose, war proved to be of vital importance, and for neglecting which the Russians paid so dearly. In the first ferity, which was fired under Captain Duncan, the Battery wa.s concealed some 000 \ard.s in the, rear of a crest, and the targets were practically invisible to the naked eye, but this did not appear to puzzle the gunners, who maintained a shower of shells and bullets on the target from their concealed position as easily as if the target had been at short range and visible to the layers. The whole of the practice was carried out under a tactical &cheme which involved problems of co-operation with other arms in supporting an advanced guard, closely supporting infantry in attack, and the attacking of artillery in position. The targets were novel and realistic, and consisted of small pieces of tin suspended on string, representing the flashes of gun and rifle fire. The aerial target was not used, owing to absence of sufficient wind to raise it. The Engineers co-operated and established telephonic communication between the various positions of the Battery and the advanced troops. In the second series the Battery was ordered to closely support an attack by infantry, and Lient. Beattie took the guns in the open, from whence fne Battery fired one of the most effective series of the whole practice. In the second day's shooting the battle was again commenced by the artillery occupying a cqncealed position, the Battery commander controlling tho fire by telephone from a position .500 yds to a flank. Subsequently the telephone and Battery commander were casualtied, and Lieut. Beattie became Battery commander, when what is termed switching the fire on to different targets was carried out. Tho concealed work was again most accurate, and the signallers very smart. Subsequently the Battery commander was casualtied, and Lieut. Powrie advanced the Battery to within 3400 yds of the enemy's entrenched position, and an effective series was fired at a very difficult target. Finally the O.C. Battery took command as 8.C., and the last series of the practice was fired at 3000 yds, when the shooting was again very effective. At the conclusion of the shooting the chief umpire, Captain Richardson, addressed the Battery, and congratulated them on their progress since last year. Ho pointed out that the tost the field artillery had to undergo was the most difficult demanded of any arm of the service, but that it was only by severe annual tests that tine? cotfld progress. This was probably their last shoot as volunteers, but he hoped all would be present in the Battery next year under the new regime. The O.C. District and Captain Potter witnessed the firing on the last day, as did Captain Ritchie and Lieut. Roberts, of B Battery, Dunedin, they having come up especially to see the practice and gain experience in observation of fire. Captain Treleaven acted as assistant umpire, Staff SergeantMajor Wilson as range officer, and Sergeant Rutland. R.N.Z.A. as recorder during the practice.