612 



POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



in the case of the beleaguered village, is applicable to all conditions 

 where ramparts are used. Suppose the command whose fortunes we 

 have followed had been attacked while on the march at the point 'A' on 

 Map 1. The opposing force was manifestly too strong for resistance in 

 the field; they retreat to the rocky eminence 'K' and there proceed to 

 fortify the position. A glance at Diagram 4 will show what they will 

 try at least to accomplish. In military language that shaded portion 

 of the work to be constructed is called a bastion; it consists of two faces 

 ('AX' and 'AY'), and the two flanks ('JY' and 'HX'). The faces of this 

 bastion are defended (as the arrow heads indicate) by the flanks of ad- 

 jacent bastions; that is, the face 'AY' is swept by a raking fire from 



'ZE', and the face 'AX' from 'FG'. Reciprocally, 'HX' rakes the 

 face 'BG', and 'JY' the face 'ED', and so on round the intrenchment. 



All that has been said as to protecting the ammunition and stores 

 will apply to this work as it did to the village. If a spring of water can 

 be included, as at '0', this will be found of incalculable advantage. 

 Of all forms of defensive ramparts the straight line is the worst; if time 

 does not permit a work with bastions, however irregular, an enclosure 

 shaped somewhat like a star is serviceable (shown in Diagram 6, Figs. 

 'A', 'B' and 'C'). Should an enclosed work be impracticable, the line 

 should have its ends (or 'flanks') strongly guarded, and be broken up, as 

 in Diagram 5 'D' into short straight lines nearly at right angles, to 

 serve for mutual support. This principle of mutual support, however 

 achieved, is called that of 'defensive relations', and is capable of adapta- 



