RUSSIAN FIELD ARTILLERY. 
305 
positions than that which we had occupied; when the plan of the 
battle is unknown, it is difficult to select the most advantageous position. 
Independently of all other conditions for a good position, it is most 
necessary that there should be a good clear field of sight in front of 
the battery. Laying on the smoke of the enemy's guns is only 
admissible as a pis-aller , and when the battery is obliged to remain in 
a fixed position; but, on the offensive, it seems to me that it is not 
necessary that a battery should be restricted to any fixed position 
in the order of battle ; it should adapt itself to the ground in successive 
phases of the action. Ifc is an error to send a battery (to make the 
enemy deploy his forces) to a position from which it can only see 
smoke to lay on, and cannot judge of the effects of its shooting. 
A battery ought not to be exposed to attack from a line of skirmishers 
which, owing to nature of the ground, can approach unseen to within 
200 or 300 paces, and make a dash at it. 
Artillery should avoid opening fire at too long ranges, but only on 
rare occasions is it prudent to approach to within 400 paces of the 
enemy. The cases in which a battery should take position nearer to 
or further off, are so numerous and varied that it would be impossible 
to classify them.* 
I. Dragomiroff says that there are no better advisers than time 
and circumstances. 
To make a few remarks on the important question of escorts, I may 
be permitted to quote from the words of the Archduke John :— 
If the enemy advances on the battery, the latter will use grape. 
If, however, the battery has to retire to avoid falling into the 
enemy's hands, then the escort must do its duty with energy and 
devotion, covering the movement of limbering-up and retiring with a 
rapid fire; or, if needs be, they must cross bayonets with the enemy 
without regarding their numbers, and resist so long as the battery is 
within the effective range of musketry, or until it has gained cover from 
the nature of the ground. If the escort is completely sacrificed, it 
will have fulfilled its duty. In retreat, the escort must not be in front 
of the battery, but on a flank, selecting the more exposed one." 
According to my opinion, from the moment that a battery is separated 
from its place in the column to take position in order of battle, it should 
have an escort, which should be > under the orders of the battery 
commander until the end of the fight, without reference to the seniority 
or rank of the leader of the escort. It is necessary for the battery 
commander to know the strength of the escort, and who commands it. 
During the action no one should have the right to remove it, and all 
orders to reinforce or reduce it should emanate from the general of the 
division to which the battery belongs. 
The reader must not think that I am paying a tribute of gratitude 
to case shot, for the good service it did us in times of danger; on the 
contrary, I have always believed, and still believe, that case shot should 
not be required for field artillery. We took to it out of necessity. 
* Ifc would appear to be admitted now, fcbafc, on the defensive, the artillery should accompany 
the infantry in the assault of a position to as far as about 800 yds. from the enemy. 
