THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
479 
phase of the attack. This position will probably be gained with little loss 
by a rapid advance in open order; small moving objects, such as guns, pre¬ 
senting a difficult mark to distant fire. 
The position to be taken up must be previously well reconnoitred, and 
judged of with reference to the requirements of the artillery force and pro¬ 
posed combined attack. 
In preparing the attack from this position, great importance is laid on the 
concentration of fire. Massing guns gives great facilities for doing so. 
When firing against artillery or mitrailleuses, it is advisable to direct the fire 
of several guns against one till it is silenced, then concentrate fire on the next 
one, and so on. 1 In the case most likely to arise, of firing against infantry on 
the defensive, it must be remembered that they have selected favourable ground, 
are not so limited to position as artillery, and that in consequence the effi¬ 
cacy of the artillery fire will depend more on the moral effect produced than 
on the actual number of troops put hors-de-combat. When, then, infantry 
are making a stand, a rapid concentrated shell fire is the most effectual; and 
as the assault advances, the fire should be intensified. To give proper effect 
to this fire, the guns may have further to advance, taking care to keep out of 
effective infantry range. 2 
When the hostile position is considered sufficiently cannonaded, the 
infantry attack takes place. As the infantry advances, the guns will become 
gradually masked. They should continue firing over the heads of the 
troops as long as they can with safety. When this is impossible, the fire 
should be directed on any of the enemy’s guns that are effective, or upon 
reserves in sight, according to circumstances. If the position is carried, the 
guns will have at once to advance and occupy it, both for the purpose of 
defence against re-capture, and to fire at the retreating, enemy. This is a 
special instance when the guns may continue to fire at very long ranges. 
The serious effect of losses produced thus on a retreating enemy, and the 
influence on the morale of the troops, has been amply exemplified in the last 
war. 3 If the attack is unsuccessful, the guns will have to check the advance 
of the enemy and cover the retreat of the troops. Where the adoption of 
the defensive is thus forced upon it, the artillery must be prepared to hold its 
ground as long as possible, and not think of its own safety too much. If, 
during the attack, the enemy is found too strong to be encountered by the 
advanced guard alone, the batteries of the division are hurried to the front. 
The massed artillery have then to extricate their infantry, if seriously engaged, 
or carry on a delaying action till the main body of the division is ready to 
take part in the engagement. 
At the commencement of an action, the guns will, as a rule, be on the 
flank of the attacking troops. To gain its first decisive position the artillery 
1 In the last war, a concentrated artillery fire generally rendered useless the French mitrailleuse 
batteries. 
2 600 to 700 yds.—“Precis of Modern Tactics,” Home. Major Home, however, advocates 
artillery never coming within 1000 yds. The German guns, in 1870, were generally pushed much 
closer; with heavy loss, but great effect. Captain Hime gives 9C0yds. as the limit to the dan¬ 
gerous zone of infantry fire. 
3 “ Ceux qui ont pratique cette regie dans la dernicre campagne ont fait eprouver a leurs adver- 
saires des pertes d’autant plus serieuses qu’elles ont toujours produit un effet moral desastreux.”— 
Hoefler, “ Tactique Contemporaine.” 
