GARRISON ARTILLERY. 
397 
By placing them in this manner, and by the use of high traverses to 
guard against enfilade, the artillery of the garrison will be in a con¬ 
dition to oppose an energetic fire to that of the siege artillery P 
This assertion has been contradicted by many professional men, who 
based their opinion upon former experiences, but who probably had 
overlooked the fact that until now it has been an almost universal 
custom to mount all the guns of a garrison on the principal ramparts. 
The following suggestions of TodlebeAs have been put in practice— 
namely, in Russia, in the arming of fortresses constructed on various 
different systems. 
Only one gun was mounted near each traverse, the remaining guns 
of the fortress were carefully covered. In the interior of the works, 
cover was thrown up for every two guns at the most. These covering 
parapets are so far distant from the rampart that the mean trajectory 
from the siege batteries at, say 650 m from the crest of the glacis, must 
be at least l*8 m higher than the crest of the main parapet. 
Such a disposition of the guns possesses the following advantages 
(a) The number of guns which it is possible to mount is no less 
than before. 
(b) The guns and detachments are well under cover. 
(c) The arming will be made much easier, since only a part of the 
guns have to be taken up to the chief parapet. 
(i d ) Owing to the reduction in the number of guns on the main 
rampart there will be room in case-of need for the posting of 
infantry. 
The use of guns under cover in the side of works, with indirect fire, 
was first tried with advantage in Russia, in the Polygon, at Warsaw, 
in 1867. Considerable use of this method was made at Belfort. The 
French had 40 guns mounted in this way, and they remained unmjured 
during the whole period of the defence. 
If the place is encircled by forts, what has been said above applies to 
them also. The chief strength of the artillery is transferred to them. 
As soon as the besieger has begun his works, the intermediate 
batteries nearest to the threatened fort should prepare for the defence, 
for they have to sustain the chief part in the artillery fight. At the 
same time all the guns of the principal enceinte which can be of any 
assistance to the forts should be prepared. The only exceptions should 
be those guns which, by reason of their great distance from the siege 
works, would have but little prospect of injuring them; or those whose 
nature does not hold out much hope of effective fire; or, lastly, the 
reserve, which should be kept for supplying the places of dismounted 
guns. 
The forts can never sustain for any length of time the concentrated 
fire of all the siege batteries, as, owing to their great distance from 
one another, they can afford each other but little support. This 
unequal battle can only be carried on with the assistance of intermediate 
batteries. 
According to the orders for the Russian army the intermediate 
batteries, made in peace time, are not to be armed until the attacker 
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