u.a.i. nazu essay, 1870. 
488 
ON THE CONSIDERATIONS AFFECTING THE POSITIONS TO 
RE TAKEN UP, AND THE TIME OF OPENING FIRE BY 
ARTILLERY IN THE FIELD, UNDER THE FOLLOWING 
CIRCUMSTANCES 
1. As Artillery of the Advanced Guard. 
2. a Main Body of an Attacking Force. 
3. n Main Body of a Defensive Force, 
d. n Bear Guard. 
AND ON THE RESULTS OP FIELD ARTILLERY FIRE AGAINST THE MOST 
RECENT FORMATIONS IN WHICH TROOPS ATTACK. 
COLONEL H. A. SMITH, R.A. 
[THE It. a: INSTITUTION PRIZE ESSAY OF .1870.] 
‘•‘Vis consili expers mole ruit sua.” 
Rapid as lias been tlie development of the capabilities of rifled field 
artillery, it has not outpaced the special literature of the subject; and 
there is no lack, but rather superabundance, of treatises on the 
peculiarities of the arm and the system of tactics most suitable for 
their advantageous application under the varying conditions of war. 
That is, as to the quantity furnished of such works ; as to their quality, 
one great want is present in them all—a want not new in the history of 
the world, yet ever fresh and young, without the cancelling of which 
but little good can come of any theories, or judgments, or transac¬ 
tions—the want of a recognition of the opposite side of the question. 
“Your artillery won the battle; the Prussian artillery is the best in 
the world,” Napoleon III. is reported to have said the day after 
Sedan. “It is scarcely possible to accomplish more than the artillery 
accomplished; the many victories are owing principally to its co¬ 
operation,wrote the Russian Baron Seddeler, in his “Study of the 
War of 1870-1.” “Nevertheless, it is certain that to the Grerman 
artillery, at Sedan as well as in all the other battles and actions, is due 
the principal share in the destruction and subduing of the French,” 
says the Austrian Major Rosinich. “It is by acting in accordance 
with these principles,” (that is, the pushing forward every available 
gun), “ and placing in line as many batteries as possible, that we have 
won all our victories,” runs the extract"* from the Prussian author 
* The original, indeed, does.not run quite so strong. Literally translated, it says:—• 
“ To the circumstance that all the available batteries were brought as early'as possible into the 
line of battle, do we mainly owe our victories; to the changed posting of the corps artillery do the 
[vol. ix.l 56 
