training artillery scouts. 
423 
sudden attack on a line of guns very deadly to men and horses and 
must be guarded against. 
The absence of smoke makes the progress of the battle difficult to 
follow and, to guard against surprise, these patrols have to be con¬ 
stituted of well-trained men, accustomed to act in detached positions of 
responsibility. 
In executing long marches, to turn the enemy’s flank or force him 
to fight on unfavourable ground, it will be necessary to know the 
state of the roads, how far they are covered from view and fire and 
the most suitable positions for guns near them, in case of sudden 
orders to come into action. 
An enemy, well on the alert, may not suffer the turning movement 
to proceed, but will strengthen his flanks and thus a very probable 
result will be a hot frontal action commenced suddenly on entirely new 
ground, the defender being compelled to fight on a field on which he 
is unprepared and towards which he has to hurry his reserves. 
Here again it will be obviously of great advantage if the C.R.A. of 
the attack has at hand a few officer’s patrols with trained scouts to 
assist in reconnoitring the new ground and the best positions for the 
attacking batteries. 
When the guns are in position and have to act in mass, a certain 
number of men will be required as orderlies to keep up communication 
between the C.R.A., the lieut.-colonels commanding the brigade divi¬ 
sions, and the battery commanders. In action this orderly duty will 
certainly be difficult, and will require a man whose intelligence has 
been quickened, and knowledge of ground improved by a course of 
training in map reading and scouting work. 
Connection has to be kept up with the divisional ammunition 
columns and orders should reach them rapidly from the front; this 
will require orderlies accustomed to map reading and finding their 
way across country. 
To carry out the various duties which have been outlined above, 
it is suggested that four N.C.O.’s be trained per battery in peace time, 
and on mobilization be added to the present war establishment and 
be available for detached duties when the need arose. The post of 
scout might be made a coveted position for young N.C.O.’s and 
a small increase of pay attached to it. Men who have passed through 
this training and risen to the rank of sergeant or Ho. 1 would 
be thereby more fitted to lead their sub-divisions into action or 
across country. 
Major May, in his lecture on the “ Analogy between the tactics of 
Field Artillery and those of other arms,” 1 has described the system 
of employment of scouts introduced by General Tyler in India and 
alluded to the difficulties of training men on home service, but much 
may be done by extending and making more real the course of winter 
reconnaissance in which N.O.O.’s are now directed to be instructed. 
After this course it would perhaps be better to complete the men’s 
1 J.U.S.I., September, 1896. 
56 
