At a training ground in Durban, South Africa, during the Second Boer War, naval troops execute a gun drill. Two groups of sailors each line up a 12-pounder field gun. They fire simultaneously. After the smoke clears, they are given the order to disassemble the guns. The two groups rapidly take apart the heavy weapons and run in opposite directions. They quickly return, wheeling the wheels across the field and reattaching them to the central cannon. One group repositions their weapon while the second gun is fired, which produces a lot of smoke.

The field is now empty. The two groups of sailors slowly wheel the guns back onto the field. Suddenly, one group breaks off and wheels their gun away. The second gun is prepared and fired. Immediately, the sailors begin to disassemble the weapon.