NOTE ON INFANTRY TACTICS. 
553 
will badly effect its efficiency. When in battle the command shall 
pass from the commanding officer to the captains, it ought to pass to 
fewer captains and not to be wasted amongst too many. In order that 
command shall not be scattered, the company ought to be as large as 
possible; and in order that the command shall be felt by the company 
until the captain can command only the men nearest to him, the com¬ 
pany ought not to be too large. The limits indicate companies twice 
the size of ours. In First Line, a battalion of eight companies cannot 
attack by companies : eight attacks and commanders in one battalion 
are impossible : we are obliged to begin with confusion of companies 
and want of proper command. In Second and Third Line, a battalion 
of four companies with company intervals would advance better than 
a battalion of eight companies with or without intervals. A battalion 
line of four companies with intervals would have the cohesion and 
elasticity of a line of squadrons. By company interval is here meant 
more than the two paces of Regulation. 
By the Regulation, the Third Line has no part in the attack, but 
takes up a defensive position ; the Frst Line attacks, but stops at 500 
yards from the enemy, and takes up a defensive position ; the Second 
Line, having come up from its half mile distance, carries on the attack, 
and assaults. It is not an attack in three lines, nor in two lines, but 
with two lines alternately—the Second Line not aiding the First Line, 
but reserving itself to pass on later to take up the attack; any rein¬ 
forcements wanted by the First Line being brought across from another 
part of the field. There is no drill for this attack. For the Second 
Line, which plays the principal part, the only instructions are to take 
half a mile distance but to be near at any crisis, to form several lines 
and to assault—it is not stated what the lines are, nor how the assault 
is to be made. The vagueness of Regulation may lead to not knowing 
what to do, and not to the readiness to act for himself according to the 
circumstances of the case we look for in the officer who shall not have 
been taught a system. When we shall have departed from our old 
way of dividing the battalion, and have owned that, in taking up the 
scholastic idea of extending for safety, we erred, we shall be able to 
speak without circumlocution, and to state our attack in plain language. 
The attack will be in three equal lines; the distance of lines and the 
depth of the First Line, at the beginning, will be 400 yards; the First 
Line will attack by companies, each company giving its firing line and 
support; the Second and Third Lines will each advance in line with 
company intervals; all the rear will close upon the front; and the 
firing line will be reinforced and supported, not only by the rest of the 
First Line, but by the Second Line and the Third Line, until they 
shall charge. The statement of the system, the attack drill, and any 
tactical remarks which shall after deliberation be judged necessary, 
ought to be drawn up exclusively by officers who have drilled infantry 
and been with infantry in battle. Knowledge of drill and knowledge 
of battle are the guards against error. 
Guernsey, 
17th August , 1893• 
72 
