Kuropatkin corroborates the statement that at 1500 m. and beyond (5 degrees 50 minutes), the losses produced by the Turkish rifle fire were very serious; that at 400 m. (1 degree 8 minutes) from the hostile position, on the other hand, the losses were remarkably small, sometimes even ceasing entirely. The Turks finally kept their heads under cover altogether.
A correspondent writes the following in regard to the engagement at Slivnica on November 17th to 19th, 1885: "When at 400 m. from the enemy, the firing lines suffered scarcely any losses, while the reserves, stationed far to the rear, suffered severely from stray shots."
It must be the endeavor of peace training to prevent the
occurrence of unaimed firing in battle. This necessitates careful
supervision by squad and platoon leaders over the individual
soldier in the firing line, and the severe punishment of
every act of carelessness in pointing, aiming, and setting of
the sight, in peace time. In war one must constantly endeavor
to avoid opening fire prematurely, as it tires the eye and the
arm of the soldier, to check any unjustifiable rapidity of fire,
and to hold the men down to a steady and slow fire. This includes,
in addition, the avoidance, by the leader, of haste in
giving directions for firing. In defense, one will have to make
every effort to withdraw one's men from the moral effect of
the attacker's fire preparation, and to keep them in proper condition
to repulse the assault. This requires the construction
of splinter proofs, head cover, and, in case the hostile fire
becomes too deadly, a cessation of fire, which is again resumed
when the enemy attempts to advance. To carry this out
properly, covered observation stations should be built, and the
men instructed to line the parapet and to open fire at a signal
previously agreed upon, sights having been set and ammunition
replenished before they leave cover. A body of troops is
not unfit to resist an assault simply because it has suffered a
certain percentage of losses, but because each individual soldier
is so mastered by the feeling that he is in danger of losing his
life that he fires his piece without raising his head above the
parapet. A body of troops in such a state will fire its projectiles
in Wolozkoi's "constant cone."
