28 
GERMAN MANOEUVRES. 
reserve about the same distance in rear in any formation. There is 
little or no firing till the firing line is about 1000 to 800 yards from 
the enemy, then the supports close up and reinforce the firing line, 
while the reserve closes up aud extends, diminishing its distance. The 
reinforced line then moves forward very rapidly, seeking no cover, and 
without rushes to 500 to 300 yards ; here the reserves close up, and a 
heavy and constant fire is poured in. The second line under cover of 
this draws forward in great depth opposite the point to be assaulted, 
not in lines of brigades, regiments or battalions, but in irregular lines 
of companies in close order with wide intervals, and gradually envelopes 
the enemy's flank. When these reach the first line, or thereabouts, 
the drums beat and the pipes play, the second line dissolves into 
swarms and rushes as such in great depth upon the enemy, the first 
line becoming a support iu echelon to the second. The artillery in the 
meantime has advanced to a decisive range, having subdued the 
artillery of the defence, and some of the batteries are pushed forward 
to quite short ranges, viz., 1000 or less yards, to support the assault, 
give confidence to the infantry and to crown the position when 
captured, or to form a first rallying point for them in case of their 
being driven back by counter attack, it is held that if the guns 
remain at greater distances, friend cannot be distinguished from foe, 
either when its own infantry are closing with the enemy in his position 
or when the former is repelled and closely pursued by the latter in his 
counter attack. 
The characteristics of the defence were : (a) Artillery fire kept back 
as long as possible, so as not to unmask the position prematurely ; ( b ) 
bodies of infantry pushed 300 yards or so in front of the line ; (c) 
massing of troops behind some portion of it for counter attack. I saw 
no attempt at entrenchments, which was probably due to the condition 
of the ground, which was mostly deep mud; every fifth infantry 
soldier carries a short spade ; aud two years ago at the manoeuvres of 
the XV. Corps about Worth, Reichshofen and Weissenburg, great use 
was made of them. Counter attacks were delivered in swarms as in 
the case of the assault. Rapidity, great depth opposite the point of 
assault, and rush in overwhelming numbers are thus the characteristics 
of the German assault, and preparation in depth for a counter attack 
on some portion of the assailants line, that of the defence. 
A careful study of Part Y. of our * Infantry Drill Book', especially 
as amended in that of 1896 just issued, will show that with some 
divergencies in matters of detail, such as the use of machine guns and 
mounted infantry, which the Germans do not employ, the principles of 
their tactics are almost precisely the same as ours, especially as to the 
method of assault (S. 124. 4., and the instructions as to counter 
attacks, S. 119.) 
If I may be allowed to pronounce an opinion on this subject, it is 
that after many years study of tactics, I know of no work that within a 
small compass so well sets forth the fundamental principles for fighting 
under the present conditions of warfare, as this Part V. of our drill- 
book does. Precise rules can never be established for fighting, for the 
