CHAPTER XIII. 



War. 



When the 2nd Battalion Pdfle Brigade was selected to go 

 to the Ashanti Campaign in 1873, it was a fortunate 

 choice, for probably no battalion in the service was at that 

 time more fitted for bush fighting than that particular 

 corps. This was due to the excellent training they had 

 received under that first-rate Light Infantry soldier who 

 then commanded them, now General Sir Julius Glyn, 

 K.C.B. He was the best skirmishing drill that I have 

 ever seen, and I have never met with any regiment so 

 mobile, or so quick in its movements as the battalion he 

 commanded. And here I must remark that after nine 

 years' experience of skirmishing as adjutant of the Eifle 

 Brigade, and five years' experience of the present " attack " 

 as a commanding officer, I unhesitatingly give my opinion 

 that for light infantry work the present system cannot 

 compare with the old. The " attack " may be all very well 

 for advancing formed bodies, but it does not take the place 

 of skirmishing, and should be supplementary to it. The 

 functions of the two are quite distinct, and should be kept 

 quite separate from each other and not allowed to interfere 

 with each other. Look at a change of front, for example. 

 See the lightning rapidity with which it can be done by 

 skirmishers, and the cumbrous movement it is with the 



