10. No officer or enlisted man will be excused from the practice of his company except when, in the judgment of the post commander, the necessities of the service will preclude such attendance; in which case he will report his action and the circumstances to the department commander.

11. The necessary preliminary arrangements will always be completed the day preceding that on which the firing is to take place.

12. Three or more floating targets of the standard form will be kept in readiness at each post. At posts provided with steam-launch service, the targets in use will, if necessary, be brought in and placed under guard at night.

13. Before the firing begins, and immediately after its termination, the company officer and noncommissioned officer in charge of any piece will inspect the piece, the carriage, the platform, and the implements, equipments, and accessories, and will, after the practice, make a written report on their condition to the post commander through the company commander. This report will embody any pertinent notes taken during the practice, will state accidents, damages, etc., together with any suggestions (to which the practice may give rise) for the improvement of the ammunition, the material, or the drill. The reports will be forwarded to the department commander.

14. Immediately before the commencement of the season of annual target practice, the commanding officer of each post will cause to be tested each kind of powder to be used during the practice. For this purpose an allowance of five (5) rounds for each kind of powder for each type of gun is authorized.

In case the test reveals an average variation from the standard muzzle velocity greater than that allowed by the Ordnance Department in accepting this type of powder, the weight of charge in such case will be so increased or decreased, if practicable, as to give the standard practice or service muzzle velocity, and this new weight of charge will be used during the subsequent target practice.

In order to determine the amount of powder to be added to or taken from the standard practice and service charges to produce the standard velocity, an additional allowance of

two rounds is authorized for each kind of powder found to vary, as above stated, either way from the standard muzzle velocity.

Instructions and suitable forms for building up cartridges which differ in weight from the standard practice and service charges will be issued by the Ordnance Department. They will include, for each type of gun, all variations of weight likely to be required, the number of prisms (for the length and the cross section) or the lengths and diameters of cartridges corresponding to different weights of powder, and tables giving the allowable maximum pressure on the breech block and the probable rate of change of pressure and muzzle velocity per pound of powder. Pressures will be taken with each round in this firing.

Should the test of powders show that any particular powder had deteriorated to such an extent as to require a weight of powder beyond the capacity of the chamber in which it is to be used in order to give the standard muzzle velocity, or a weight that would not burn to advantage in the gun, or one that would give pressures in excess of those which normally correspond to the standard velocity, such powder will at once be subjected to treatment at the post with a view to restoring its properties, and it will then be subjected in like manner to a second test. If the powder fail to pass the second test, it will be reported as unserviceable, and all records connected with the tests will be sent through military channels to the Chief of Ordnance.

Ballistic machines will be used in this firing, and post commanders will make requisition therefor whenever suitable sites for their use exist at posts.

15. No officer may vary the methods prescribed for the conduct of the firing. If circumstances should arise under which it would seem impracticable to carry out the instructions as given, a prompt report to this effect should be made, that they may be modified by proper authority. All data called for by the prescribed blanks must be noted during the firing, or any omission be explained.

16. "The time to fire a series" will be very carefully noted by the officer commanding the practice, who alone will decide

on the deductions to be made by reason of obscuration of target, proximity of interfering vessels, etc. (See second footnote, Plate XXI, D. R.)

17. Records of all important messages sent or received by telephone, telegraph, or dial telegraph, will be numbered in separate series in the order sent or received; will be dated and signed by the operators; and will be delivered to the officer commanding the practice immediately on closing station. No messages other than those on official business will be sent over the line during the practice.

18. Although the gunner is responsible for the adjustment of the sights and laying the gun under the gun commander, the officer in immediate charge of the guns must take every precaution to satisfy himself that the true object is aimed at, that no error is made that may endanger the range party or others, and that costly ammunition is not thrown away. He may verify the adjustment of the sight and direct the gunner to make any necessary correction.

II. TARGETS.

The hypothetical target for the estimation of hits is the diagram, Plate XX, Drill Regulations, and the estimation of hits will be made as prescribed on pages 130 and 131, Drill Regulations for Coast Artillery.

The form and dimensions of targets will be prescribed in orders from the Headquarters of the Army.

III.-CLASSIFICATION.

1. Noncommissioned officers will, in general, be selected from gunners.

2. A qualified gunner will be rated as such for a period of three years, and for such additional time as may be required to provide for his reexamination, unless he has, during that time, been out of the artillery service for more than three months.

3. A second-class gunner may, on his own application, be permitted to compete, at any annual examination, for classification as first-class gunner.

IV. COMPANY EXAMINATIONS.

1. The object of this examination is to ascertain in each company the qualified gunners, by their absolute and relative excellence in comprehending and mastering the prescribed instruction. This examination will take place at the posts where the respective companies may be serving, and will be separate for each company. The examinations will take place each year at such times as may be designated by the department commander, but as soon after the close of the annual target practice as may be practicable.

2. The board of examination in each department shall consist of the artillery inspector of the department, an artillery officer serving in the department, and the commanding officer of the company undergoing examination, unless in special cases otherwise ordered by the Commanding General of the Army.

3. The examination for gunners will include the following subjects, with the maximum values assigned to each, as follows:

(a) Use of angle-measuring instruments.
(b) Use of plotting board

10

10

20

(c) Service of piece or pieces at which the company has drilled for
the past year; aiming and laying the guns under each of the
three cases as specified in Drill Regulations when applicable. 20
(d) Knowledge of the use of sights and quadrants; nomenclature
of the principal parts of the piece and carriage; weights of
charges and projectiles; preparation of fuzes and ammuni-
tion, including building up and priming cartridges
(e) Use of difference charts and gun commander's range scales ----
(f) Elementary cordage; setting up and rigging gins, shears, etc.;
the care and use of hydraulic jacks, and of other machines
and appliances for moving heavy guns, including an explana-
tion of their use in such mechanical maneuvers as may have
been executed during the year; the dismantling and assem-
bling of breechblocks_----

(9) Military bearing and efficiency throughout the examination,
especially during the examination in (c) --

Total

15

10

15

100

The examination in (c) and so much of (d) as necessary will

be at the guns.

The whole board will be present during the examination

in (c).

4. The compulsory instruction of enlisted men in this course will be limited to the prescribed hours of drill and instruction.

5. Modern guns and carriages are excluded from "Mechanical Maneuvers," except in the dismantling and assembling of breechblocks.

6. Each company commander will, previous to the arrival of the two other members of the board at the post, submit to the adjutant a list duly signed of the names of all the men in his company who may be designated for examination. This list will be given to the senior member of the board. During the examination of each company, its commanding officer will join the board as a member.

7. The board will keep a record of its marks during the examination, but these marks will not be published. The record, will, however, be sent to the department commander. The report of the board to be published in orders will simply contain the names of those who have qualified as gunners, each class being arranged for each company in alphabetical order.

8. Enlisted men who obtain an average of 85 per cent of the total maximum mark at the examination will be classed as first-class gunners, and those who obtain an average of 65 per cent will be classed as second-class gunners.

V.-GUNNERY SPECIALISTS.

1. A certain proportion of the qualified gunners from each company, including noncommissioned officers, designated by the company commander by name, will be sent every year to the Artillery School for instruction in the specialist course. The proportion to be sent will be announced in orders from the Headquarters of the Army.

2. Those who pass the examination at the end of the course will receive certificates as gunnery specialists, and will be .granted one month's furlough if desired before being required to join their companies. Those who fail to pass the examination will be required to rejoin their companies immediately.

3. The course, or special courses, for gunnery specialists at the Artillery School will be prescribed in orders from the Headquarters of the Army.