Owing to the practical impossibility of a student of gunnery obtaining ready access to all the books, pamphlets, circulars, orders, etc., necessary to fit him for the examinations as required by General Orders of the War Department for first- and second-class gunners, and also owing to the extreme difficulty the average enlisted man has in comprehending the technical language in which these books, pamphlets, etc., are couched,—provided he does by some stroke of good fortune come into possession of some of them,—the author has been impelled to compile this work.

Effort has been made to eliminate all subjects that are not included in the requirements of G. O. 141, 1904, yet being particular that it contain all such subjects as an examining board might fairly construe to be within the interest and scope of the order.

As the art of gunnery changes from year to year, and the scope of gunner's examinations changes likewise, it is intended that this book be revised and published accordingly.

The preparation of this book was suggested to the author by the members of his company—the 61st Coast Artillery.

As is well known, the first publication of a text-book is liable to contain a few technical errors. The author will be grateful for any information of such a character concerning this work.

The author is indebted to Brigadier-General William Crozier for supplying him with many pamphlets issued by the Ordnance Department; to First Lieutenant W. K. Moore for correction of proof and other matters; and to Master Electrician C. M. Beer, Artillery Corps, for photographs.

Fort Totten, N. Y., February, 1905.