BIG GUN SHOOTING

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 96, 23 April 1917, Page 3

BIG GUN SHOOTING

BTf THE 25th ARTILLERY

The 25th Artillery Reinforcement, under Lieut. J. Duggan, carried, out liveshell practice at Morrison's Bush on Friday. The target of the first series was set up to represent infantry entrenched at a distance of about 3000 yards. The battery was under cover out of sight of the target, the shooting being controlled by the commander, situated at some distance from the battery. Lieut. Duggan, who fired this series, was very successful in quickly picking up his target by means of a bracketing process, which consists itf firing guns at different ranges so as to get one shot beyond the target and one shot on the near side. By a repetition of this bracketing it is possible to calculate the range accurately. ■ So soon, as this is accomplished with shots that burst on hitting the ground, it is usual to continue the fire with shrapnel fused to burst in the air about 80 yards short of the target, which is thus sprayed with shrapnel bullets. In the distance the quickly-bursting puffs of shrapnel about the target' made an effective picture of a trench which it would be fatal to occupy. The second series was conducted by Lieut. Pearless. The target consisted of four black screens representing enemy guns in action. Accurate shooting soon made quick and effective destruction of the enemy forces. Throughout the silent, business-like working of the gunners was noticeable; it was very evident that they took their duties seriously. The third series represented infantry entrenched at a range of two miles, in a position on a narrow spur, which made it difficult to conduct the usual bracketing effectively. Within a very short time, however, the puffs of shrapnel were playing about the target, and a few orders from the commander soon concentrated the w,hole force of the battery upon the doomed trench. The howitzer series is always most interesting, for it involves the use of a type of gun much different in construction and principles of fire from the 18-pounder field gnu- Lieut. Peerless was in charge of the howitzer series, and achieved satisfactory results. To a spectator the 'animated movement of horses and guns and wagons was most interesting. The horses were .in fine fettle, and the agility of their drivers in manoeuvre was a matter of envy to their many fellow-gunners who were lining the hills at the rear for the purpose of deriving instruction from the shooting. The whole pi-actice was supervised by Captain Bradley, the chief artillery instructor, and Captain Wilson, instructor in equitation^