instinctively choose the more conspicuous marks as
aiming points. Under any circumstances, a poor distribution of the
hits made will be due to an absence of proper instructions from the
leaders; or, in other words, to poor control, or else to a want of
understanding or lack of obedience on the part of the men.

=1419. Time of execution.= The time of execution is important in that
the gaining of fire superiority is dependent less upon obtaining high
percentages of hits than upon making an absolutely large number of
hits in a unit of time. There is necessarily a limit to the rapidity
of fire which, if exceeded, will result in some loss of accuracy. With
targets of a fair degree of visibility, the following may be taken as
standard rates of fire for troops who have been given suitable
training in target practice:

200 yards }
300 yards } 10 shots per minute.
400 yards }

500 yards }
600 yards } 7.5 shots per minute.
700 yards }

800 yards }
900 yards } 5 shots per minute.
1,000 yards }

Greater ranges, 3 shots per minute.

The rates given should not exclude higher rates of fire in the case of
large and conspicuous targets. On the other hand, when objectives, or
marks used as aiming points, are very indistinct, the requirement of
correct aiming imposes rates of fire somewhat lower than the standard
rates given even for well-instructed men.

With imperfectly trained men who have not fully acquired the habit of
using aimed fire only, and who are lacking in the manual dexterity
required for executing the standard rates of fire, the maximum rate
can not well exceed six shots per minute without incurring the danger
of lapsing into unaimed fire.

Fatigue and exhaustion, the results of marches or prolonged firing,
have a detrimental influence and tend to lower the rates of effective
fire.

Influence of Ground

=1420. Defilade.= If we will consider a bullet just grazing the top of
an impenetrable obstacle (like "A," Fig. 46), the space from the top
of such obstacle to where the bullet strikes the ground (space B E,
Fig. 46) will be protected from fire. Such space is called,
"_defiladed space_." Its extent will, of course, depend on the height
of the obstacle, the curvature of the trajectory and the slope of the
ground in rear of the obstacles.

[Illustration: Fig. 46]

Between B and D, a soldier standing would be completely protected;
between D and E, he