THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
131 
If our battalions were divided into eight companies, and drilled to 
manoeuvre in four columns—each of two companies in column of half 
companies—and also in two columns—each of four companies in column 
of companies—we should have the Prussian company columns and half 
battalions. We should have columns to support lines in close battle, 
and we should get rid of the evil of having a second deployed line, weak 
to support a charge, and unable to fire, but receiving all the fire passing 
through the deployment in front. 
Even with the present organisation of ten companies to a battalion, 
it would be well to drill to manoeuvre in five columns of four half¬ 
companies each. 
Shorncliffe, 
April 23, 1872. 
