398 
GARRISON ARTILLERY. 
begins to make his siege batteries. In Prussia these intermediate 
batteries are not made in time of peace, and are in fact not begun until 
the probable front of attack is known. Care must be taken with 
regard to the position of intermediate batteries, that they should be 
entirely with the encircling line of forts, so as to be protected from 
assault, and not interfere with the fire of the fort. The main principle 
which determines the selection of points for the intermediate batteries 
has, however, yet to be stated. 
It is that each battery should have under fire the whole of the ground 
in front up to the effective fire of its guns, and that the communica¬ 
tions from the forts to the principal enceinte should be secure. The 
communications must be made by trenches, if the nature of the ground 
does not admit of their being otherwise covered. It is scarcely 
necessary to mention that the batteries should be placed so as to be 
concealed as much as possible by the ground in front, but in regard to 
this, it must be always borne in mind that the effect of shots can not be 
satisfactorily observed at any considerable distance from the battery. 
For the protection of these batteries from assault, there is the cross-fire 
from the forts on the ground in front, and the fire from light guns in 
trenches in line with and in front of these batteries. 
Especially important points of this line of defence might be 
strengthened by fortification, and held by regular garrisons. 
In one word, the defenders must prepare their intermediate batteries 
as though they wished to besiege the batteries of the attack. Only in 
this way can they enter upon the artillery fight with any hope of a 
successful issue. 
