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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
10. When infantry are defeated by infantry (according to the umpire’s 
decision), the victors may pursue at a reasonable distance. 
11. Obstructions are only to be considered tactical obstructions when they 
form actual natural obstructions. 
It must be borne in mind that no officer is allowed to interfere 
with, or enter into discussions with, the umpires, who report to the 
umpire-in- chief. 
Now the effect of the umpires is this, that the crisis of the battle 
is delayed, and individual commanders are not permitted to go 
careering forward, and upsetting all arrangements, refusing to halt, 
or to retire, or to cease firing, and doing, in fact, just as they please, 
regardless of the general plan, and the necessary regard to combi¬ 
nations and the probable effects of the fife. 
With us, at all our sham fights and battles, the crisis is precipi¬ 
tated ; and almost as soon as the engagement commences there is a 
jam, and the whole often ends in confusion and no intelligible result 
—because each commander tries to ivin, and there is no controlling power, 
I maintain that such always must be the case, as no game can be 
played successfully without umpires; and war is the greatest and 
most difficult game of all. 
Strange to say, we English use umpires for every game, except the 
most difficult game—war. 
I will give you two cases which occurred last season at Aldershot 
to show the absolute necessity of using umpires when two bodies of 
troops are pitted against each other in a sham fight. I might give 
you many cases, but I will take two only. 
In taking these two cases, I beg distinctly to disclaim any inten¬ 
tion whatever of criticising these two manoeuvres. I only take them 
as two cases requiring umpires; and allowing that the greatest skill 
and talent were exhibited on both sides, and that the attack and 
defence were both perfectly carried out, does not alter the two eases 
as examples for illustration. I do not criticise any part of the move¬ 
ments ; I only use them to show how the inevitable jam occurs 
without umpires. 
General Ly sons’ brigade took up a strong position last autumn, on 
the Erimley Eidges, near the railway bridge, which was barricaded, 
and he was attacked by the rest of the division. The position was a 
very strong one. The 4th regiment defended the bridge; the 42nd 
regiment the railway, with 33rd and 67th regiments in reserve, also 
a cavalry regiment in reserve under cover. The two field batteries 
were in good commanding positions, from which they could pound 
the attacking brigades. The attacking troops, after reconnoitring 
our position, advanced to the attack; and as we had received orders 
from our general not to yield an inch, as our position was so good, 
we held on. The attacking troops continued to advance, until the 
two forces crossed rifles, amidst loud cries from the staff officers of 
the attack of “ Why don’t you retire ? “ You ought to go back ! ” 
—“You’re beaten!—you’re outflanked and outnumbered!” We 
replied, “We won’t go back!—we are ordered to hold our ground. 
If you come to c going back,’ you had better 6 go back ’ yourselves ! ” 
