THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
447 
part in the engagement from the first, so in the case of a corps d'armee it is 
necessary rapidly to bring to the front and employ the corps reserve of 
artillery. The corps reserve of artillery is, in fact, not to be regarded as a 
reserve in the proper sense of the term, and this view of it is all the more 
to be condemned as erroneous since it is capable of leading to most 
disadvantageous consequences; the name merely denotes that part of the 
artillery of the corps the disposal of which is reserved exclusively to the 
commandant of the corps d’ armee. 
Any hesitation on this point might easily have for result that the engage¬ 
ment (the duration of which, since the great perfection given to fire-arms, 
is likely to be short), would be already decided to our disadvantage before 
the corps reserve of artillery could be brought into action. 
In continuation, I publish also for general guidance as follows:— 
"When operations commence, head-quarters will fix itself in the front at 
the head of the main body, with a view to avoid all loss of time in the 
communication of orders and announcements. A similar rule will obtain 
for corps and brigade commands. 
As the orders should always set forth clearly and precisely the object in 
view, so also every subordinate must strive not only to comprehend them 
quickly and in a straightforward manner without any hair-splitting, but 
also to carry them out without hesitation. 
Where circumstances imperatively demand a departure from the orders 
received, the same is to be brought immediately to the knowledge of the 
head-quarter whence the orders emanated. In the case of all announcements 
and orders affecting the operations, not excepting those written in pencil—• 
the hour of the despatch and of delivery should be noted. 
The daily reports of events {Vorfallenheits-rapport) which contains the 
marching out strength, the positions of troops, the report of sick, the 
time for which the troops are provisioned, and any difficulties appertaining 
thereunto, with the remedies applied, &c., &c. should be despatched by 
corps d’armee or detachments which report direct to head-quarters, so as to 
arrive as a rule at head-quarters towards evening. 
But when a detachment shifts position about mid-day or later, it sends 
off its report before moving off. 
The brotherly feeling [Kameradschaft) which constitutes the cement of an 
army, demands that mutual consideration should govern the relations between 
all troops on all occasions, as well before the enemy, on the march, in camp, 
or in action, and I expect it from the chevaleresque spirit of commanders of 
troops that this should be observed rather too much than too little. 
Whenever it is practicable “mounted” officers should remain mounted 
during an engagement. 
Conversations of a depressing tendency , as well as the spreading of un¬ 
favourable intelligence, are never to be suffered. 
All private iivtercourse on official subjects with agents of head-quarters 
is forbidden; if any one have propositions to make on matters of service 
they should be laid officially before the commander of the army ( Armee 
eommande ). 
Carriages of all kinds may when in retreat only go at a walk* 
[vol. v*] 
60 
