ARTILLERY POSITIONS AND SCREENING GUNS. 
67 
2 ft. 6 in. of^him, viz., his head and shoulders, show above the ridge. 
But of what use is concealment if a solid bank, 3 ft. 4 in. in height and 
of varying width, prevents your seeing ground to the front and at a 
lower level than the original target against which you opened fire ? 
What about the risk of being captured by cavalry ? Do yon think 
you are secure in this respect whilst you are pounding away against 
the opposite guns ? Artillery are constantly impressed with the 
statement that their own fire is ample security against a frontal attack. 
Is this true when you hide your guns and detachments behind the 
ridge ? 
No. The first principle for the selection of a position is a good view 
all over the ground in your immediate front. This is not to be 
attained in a hilly country by putting an obstruction between you and 
the enemy in the valley. For an example, turn to the plate to fig. 4 
again. If General B were to put his gun at A' down the reverse slope, 
instead of at A, then the gunners on either side of A' and E would 
only see each others* muzzles and none of the intervening ground. 
The same argument applies to the hostile infantry. 
You cannot see them during the artillery duel if you are behind the 
hill. They, like the cavalry, come on you unawares and you have to 
“ run up ”—how far depends first on the vertical depth of their 
position below you; and secondly on their proximity. If they are a 
long way off, on the further side of the valley, an order to run up a 
few yards will reveal them to you ; but if they have crossed the stream 
at the bottom and are right under you, you may have to move the 
guns forward a considerable distance over the crest belore you can see 
them ; and then just think what a splendid mark your gunners will be 
for the infantry magazine fire when they stand out on the bare hill 
side against the sky! 
On the other hand, when on the reverse slope, it is undoubted that 
the enemy will not be able :— 
fa) To discover your movements. 
(b) To judge the effect of his shell. 
(c) To see the position of your limbers, wagons, etc. 
These are no doubt of great advantage to you, but are they in 
accordance with the spirit of the attack ? 
Also what does your own advanced infantry think about it ? They 
may be below you or on both flanks, waiting for a favourable oppor¬ 
tunity to advance in face of a withering fire. 
If you are behind the hill they will hear each discharge of your 
guns, but they will not see them. What would encourage them much 
more would be to see them close by in the same line ! “ Shoulder to 
shoulder \” “ Seeing is believing V 3 “ Confidence begets confi¬ 
dence !” 
(2).— Cover for the gun detachments and those in rear. 
This question has been fully dealt with on pages 63 and 64. 
I propose to show later on under the heading of “ trajectories ” and 
“ cones of dispersion of shrapnel shell ” that the reserve troops and 
Entailing 
risk of cap. 
ture by- 
cavalry. 
Good view is 
the first 
requisite. 
After 
artillery 
duel guns 
have to be 
“runup 1 ’ to 
fire at 
advancing 
infantry. 
Guns must 
support in¬ 
fantry attack 
throughout. 
The question 
of cover for 
gunners. 
