46 
ARTILLERY FROM AN INFANTRY OFFICER^ POINT OF VIEW. 
Page 264. 
Page 265. 
Page 236. 
Page 269, 
Page 273. 
superior enemy. The rule is, however, direct fire, from which better 
results can be obtained, and this, of course, applies doubly against a 
moving object. If in a long position some batteries have no choice 
but to fire indirectly or to advance to the crest of a hill, to fire indirectly 
is the better alternative. 
To take up positions with guns at 40 paces interval is an excellent 
expedient for deceiving the enemy as to the strength of your artillery. 
How far artillery should accompany infantry during the attack must 
entirely depend upon the country and the artillery positions ; for in¬ 
stance, if artillery are in positiou at 2500 yards they should, if there is 
another position at 1400 yards, advance to it, for from this latter 
distance it is much easier to distinguish your own from the enemy’s 
infantry. There is, however, but little advantage under ordinary 
circumstances in pushing up to within effective range of hostile 
infantry fire when your guns have equally good effect from a greater 
distance. In the defence it is essential that the artillery should, to 
begin with, be at least 500 yards behind the infantry. 
To occupy a position, or any part of a position, before you have 
sufficient grounds to be certain that the enemy intends to attack it, is 
a cardinal fault, for troops once committed to action cannot be with¬ 
drawn and are lost to the commander for the day. 
I fully concur with Captain Pilcher’s remarks as to the necessity of 
keeping the whole of the troops firing at you under fire ; there is, 
however, no rule without exceptions, and if I had three batteries in 
position against three hostile batteries, one of which was very visible, 
one fairly visible and one under cover, then I should concentrate the 
fire of two batteries on the most exposed and with the other battery 
return the fire of the other two. 
The principle laid down that, in a retirement, infantry should never 
allow hostile infantry to get within 600 yards of them, or that other¬ 
wise they will find it impossible to withdraw, is a perfectly sound one, 
but one which is easier to lay down than to practise and, moreover, is a 
point to which attention is called year after year at our manoeuvres. 
In retirements great depth of formation is necessary. 
It is perfectly true that the only way of sending up orders to the 
firing line will be through reinforcements and that once committed to 
action a company commander will be independent; consequently, it is 
essential that company commanders should know the object their 
General has in view and should be able intelligently to appreciate the 
situation and to work to that end. 
I stated just now that direct fire was the rule, but every care should 
be taken to avoid exposing the horses of a battery when coming into 
position and only the muzzles of the guns should show above the crest. 
I quite agree with all the lecturer said except the one point regarding 
indirect fire being the rule and upon this I have expressed my opinions. 
With regard to the remarks on p. 273, forgive the expression, but I 
consider that to send two guns with an advanced-guard is “ playing at 
soldiers.” We very seldom send artillery with an advanced-guard if 
the force is less than a division and often not even with the advanced- 
guard of a division. 
