360 
O.C., R.A., IN THE FIELD. 
leaves to be desired nothing which is possible; it is not possible that 
the artillery lieutenant-colonel or colonel, on the division staff, should 
be to the division general and staff what is the infantry or cavalry 
brigadier, who is away with his brigade, or who, having come up for 
orders, rides away to carry them out. An infantry brigadier is ordered 
to attack, a battery is in position to support him with an almost 
enfilade fire at a range of 1000 yds.; the brigadier fancies taking over 
the battery to his attack, and he gains his point by averring that he 
can carry the position with slight loss if he may take over the battery, 
and that if he cannot have the battery he can carry the position but 
with a loss which sounds alarming. A cavalry brigadier, finding 
himself in rear near the position of a battery which is not firing, but 
which had been in action there, gives the order for the battery to open 
fire, and the battery begins to fire with time fuzes over the division 
general and staff and people advancing to enter the position abandoned 
by the enemy. There is no unity of command in the artillery. The 
best first positions for the batteries, with regard to the ground and 
the enemy, may be taken up; but, in the course of the day, there are 
manoeuvres to be made, changes of direction of fire, changes of 
position of batteries, and again changes of direction of fire. Some 
officers vainly imagine that artillery does not manoeuvre. They harp 
on the idea of the long range of our guns, not knowing that the long 
range which is valuable in the construction of tactical problems is of 
little good in war; and they dwell on the platitude that guns are of 
no use when on the move. Other officers pretend that the little 
manoeuvring which is to be done may be done by the majors. But, 
unless the whole role of artillery in battle is to be limited to a too 
indiscriminate hammering of the enemy, there must be manoeuvring, 
and the manoeuvres must be directed by an artillery commander. 
Batteries, once in action, have an inclination to fight straight to their 
front: they have also an inclination to defend themselves by putting 
down the fire of artillery, or of distant infantry, who hurt them. 
Batteries in action should not be left to fight independently, or at the 
command of any senior officer on the spot : they should be under one 
commander, who should act in view of a definite object, and carry 
out the orders of the division general. A lieutenant-colonel or colonel, 
who is on the division staff and in presence of the division general, 
cannot command the artillery : he has not rank enough, and he is in 
the wrong place. The development of the artillery power in battle is 
hap-hazardous, because the command of the artillery is in commission. 
The plan now submitted is fchat the appointment on the staff should 
be abolished, and that the artillery brigade should be commanded, 
like any other brigade, by a brigadier or major-general. The rank is 
