378 
FIELD ARTILLERY POSITIONS. 
tlie lie of the ground judged, that it was but rarely guns had to be 
moved when once unlimbered, the trails touched the ground just 
where they were wanted, and the detachments were free to get to work 
and begin shooting at once. Now I think such nicety as is here implied 
argues that the batteries must have practised much at that particuar 
system of unlimbering and that it was no very unusual procedure. That 
the “creeping” plan has many advocates in Germany I know,not only 
from what has been written about it of late in this country, but from 
the German papers which I often read. Indeed I gather that it is 
officially recommended in their regulations. What I suggest, how¬ 
ever, is that the practice is less universal than is imagined, and that 
there are certain difficulties connected with it which have perhaps 
scarcely received sufficient attention. 
I will ask you to excuse me if I refer to Aldershot. The concrete 
is always more interesting than the abstract, and many of you know 
the ground I refer to. Now those who view our work at Aldershot, 
as spectators, do not always appreciate the difficulties of the ground, 
and how much they influence and modify the course pursued. Nor 
do I think that in any of the recent articles the circumstances of 
the moment, the tactical situation, the amount of recoil there would 
be with service charges, or the period of the engagement have been 
given their due place in the discussion. 
At the early stages of a fight, and in certain places, you could often 
“ creep,” and then I know many men who would do so, and in fact 
do. But in other positions at Aldershot you not only cannot “ creep,” 
but it will sometimes take your teams all their time to drag the 
guns up the slopes. You can “ creep” most successfully on Cove 
Plateau when facing south, and batteries do then often “ creep . 33 
I have seen it done and done it myself. You can “ creep 13 on 
Bricksbury Hill, of which too I have personal experience, or on 
certain classic ground called Ball Hill, and there are other places too. 
But you will not “creep” up Miles Hill, not unless men are stronger 
than horses, nor up Long Hill from the east, nor up Sheep Hill when 
you engage an enemy in the direction of Bastion Hill, nor on Ravine 
Head when you face southwards. Again, on Miles Hill guns must be 
on the sky-line ; so too must they be on part of Jubilee Hill. In short, 
it comes to this: batteries must get into action on these places, 
especially in the later stages of the fight (and it is almost always the 
later stage at Aldershot battles, because the ground is so small), by 
the means best suited to the moment and the ground, and what meets 
with criticism is often inevitable. But I can assure our critics that I 
do not believe any officer wantonly exposes his battery, and if he 
did so he would meet with censure at once. 
In the earlier phases of a battle, if time were available and the 
ground were favourable, I am sure every means of concealment should 
be made use of. “ Creep 33 by all means, if possible. Keep under 
cover and lay indirectly, make screens, observe the background, use 
the forward slope and act as the circumstances justify your doing. 
Above all endeavour to deceive the enemy and elude his observation. 
