A high rate of fire need by no means be synonymous with waste of ammunition. Ammunition would unquestionably be wasted if fire were delivered for hours at the same high rate. It is very probable, however, that in the battles of the future the fire will be moderate for some time, or, better still, cease entirely, only to break forth like a thunderstorm over the enemy when opportunity offers or necessity demands. The slower the troops fire the longer they will present a target to the enemy. The coolness shown in firing individual shots at the commencement of an action will disappear owing to the impression produced by losses. This is apparent even in field firing. Lieutenant-General Rohne arrives at the following average results: Ranges up to 400 m. 5 rounds per minute; „ from 400- 700 „ 4-5 „ „ „ „ „ 700-1000 „ 3-4 „ „ „ „ „ 1000-1300 „ 2-3 „ „ „ „ „ 1300-1500 „ 1-4 „ „ „ „ over 1500 „ 1 „ „ „ Troops going into action for the first time are inclined to fire entirely too fast, due to their desire to overcome their nervousness. Veteran troops seek to attain the same result, not through rapidity of fire, but through accuracy. Only the determination to make hits is calculated to overcome nervousness. Wherever this determination is lacking, wild firing (fire panic), which is in any case difficult to prevent, will surely result. Fire delivered hurriedly during unexpected rencontres is almost invariably ineffective.[156] For this reason most of the firing regulations have eliminated the command “Rapid Fire,” which is only calculated to produce confusion. [156] At Beaumont the 9th Company of the 27th Infantry, after a long advance at double time, encountered the flank of a hostile battalion. The men became excited, raised the leaves of their rear sights, and opened rapid fire, which had no effect whatever, as the range was only 200 paces. _Geschichte des Regiments, Nr. 27_, p. 95. The Italian Firing Regulations contain the following statement in regard to the effect of accelerated fire (see p. 140 supra).[157] [157] Consult also _Schieszversuche der k. u. k. Armeeschieszschule seit dem Jahre 1900_, Vienna, 1905. ROHNE, _Schieszlehre für die Infanterie_, 2nd Edition, p. 132. 1. _When the appropriate elevation is used_, two-thirds of the percentage of hits obtained by firing 5-6 rounds from each rifle per minute, may be expected when firing at the rate of 12-14 rounds per minute. 2. _When the elevation selected is too great or too small by 100 m._, rapid fire produces almost the _same percentage_ of hits as ordinary fire at will. 3. _When the elevation selected is in error by 200 m._, rapid fire produces almost _twice as great a percentage_ of hits as fire at will.