London at the End of the Century:A Book of Gossip
a Beckett, Arthur William
1900
GUNS TO THE FRONT.
There can be no doubt that in case of the Volunteer artillery would be immediately useful. Their discipline is extremely good, and they at once would become of considerable value behind earthworks. As garrison gunners I think most | |
198 | experts would admit they would be able to take post with regulars. They, of course, could serve the guns every bit as well as their professional comrades. The War Office has done its best to discourage field batteries, and I think to some extent, not unwisely. Behind earthworks the Volunteer gunners, as I have said, would be equal to any troops similarly situated in the wide world. But in the open the matter might be different. It is in this that the value of discipline (acquired morning, noon and night) becomes fully apparent. To be able to face a rain of bullets unmoved, when the enemy is out of sight and smokeless powder is the order of the day, is a feat that cannot be acquired in a nor yet in five minutes. No doubt the Volunteers would show pluck when the time came, but they would show it with less inconvenience were they to acquire the knack with the aid of adequate discipline. Behind earthworks the serving of guns is purely mechanical, so it will be seen at a glance how immensely valuable our Volunteer artillerymen will be when they are told off to relieve the regulars at our coast defences. All they will have to do will be to fire straight. And that art they acquire, thanks to the organisation of the National Artillery Association. So it is our duty as well as our inclination to wish that hard-working and useful body every success. |
And we do. But as Lord Roberts has suggested, | |
199 | wishes are less valuable than money. And this saying should be laid to heart by those patrons of Bisley, who, after giving any number of prizes to our riflemen, find they have nothing left for our Volunteer artillerymen. |
