9

H.—l9.

Results of Field Artillery Classification Practice, 1908-9. The following is an analysis of the results of Field Artillery practice carried out throughout the Dominion during the 1908-9 training season : — Designation of Battery ...... A B D E H Station .. .. .. •■ •• Auckland Dunedin Wellington Christch'ch Nelson. Number of guns ........ i 4 4 4 2 Nature of guns .. .. . .. 15-pr. B.L. 15-pr. B.L. 15-pr. B.L. 15-pr. B.L. 15-pr. B.L. Mark IV Mark IV Mark IV Mark IV Mark IV. Number of series fired for classification 6 6 6 5 4 Number of series fired by indirect laying .. 6 6 6 5 4 Number of series fired from concealed positions-.. .. .. 1 1 1 Meanrange.. .. .. .. .. 2,150 2,870 3,350 2,745 3,250 Average time taken from— Action to Ist gun .. .. .. .. 2' 29" l> 33" 1' 34" 2' 47" 3' 50" Aotion to Ist " T " shell .. .. .. 4' 48" 3' 27" 3' 16" 5' 27" 7' 20" Action to effective fire .. .. .. 5' 32" 5' 0" 4' 41" 7' 50" 8' 20" Aotion to last gun .. .. .. .. 10' 5" 9' 47" 11' 9" 17' 2" 17' 40" Average peroentage of effective "T" shell .. 70 48 46 31 84 Average number of rounds in series .... 25 25 25 25 2i Number of rounds used for ranging (percussion) 4 4 4 4 4 Marks awarded for (" A ") fire discipline and fire tactics, &c. .. .. .. 34 36 36 34 25 Aocuracy in ranging ........ 9 9 7 8 8 Percentage of effective "T" shell .... 8 6 5 3-5 8-5 Percentage of target destroyed .... 9 7-5 6 6 7 Distribution.. ........ S 8 4 6 8 Time occupied ........ 7 8 8 3 2 Percentage of shell in reotangle .... 9 8 4 5 8 Total marks for (" B") effeot .. .. .. 50 465 34 31-5 41-5 Total marks for the practice .. .. .. 84 82-5 70 65-5 66-5 Class awarded in (" A") .. .. .. Ist Ist Ist Ist 2nd Class awarded in (" B") .. .. .. Ist let Ist 2nd Ist Classification for 1908-9 .. .. .. Ist Ist Ist 2nd 2nd Note.—ln order to classify as a Ist olasa battery a minimum of 70 marks must be obtained. " A " Battery, N.Z.F.A.V., Auckland, wins the " Ehodes " Cup for 1908-9. Engineers. The Officer for Engineer and Signalling, on arrival from previous training in England, took over the duty of Instructor to Engineering and Signalling Corps. Four N.C.O. Instructors— one for each centre —were put under training, and have since been posted to districts. The provision of cable-carts carrying some miles of wire and instruments has added much to the usefulness of these corps. The equipment is good, and with the pack-saddles now available good training can be done. Certain conversions now being made in over a hundred signalling-lamps, before useless, will immensely increase the signalling and communication capacity of the Field Force generally. The following return shows the efficiency of the various Field Engineers in the Dominion :—

Return showing Efficiency of the New Zealand Field Engineer Volunteers for Year 1908-9.

2—H. 19.

No. of Company. 1 +-> I I J? I t 60 I d it f If §■§ i i I i I I Bemarka. O q 100 100 100 100 100 160 100 700 o. 1 Company ' I o. 2 Company 91 89 85 90 98 80 70 81 84 70 66 89 79 700 700 597 557 85-30 79-57 First - class company. Awarded shield for year 1908-9. Field engineering excellent; signalling very good. This company would not compete ; but the Chief of General Staff ruled that, even if a company does not compete, it must be marked according to its efficiency in the work that is seen. This company has the most efficient Telegraph Section. Best-disciplined company. "o. 5 Com80 82 80 96 8171 18 700 538 76-85 pany o. 4 Corn80 80 75 86 80 90 J r> 700 536 76-57