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firing effectively at our infantry. Wliat can it profit us to gain the upper hand 
in the “ artillery duel,” if our infantry has suffered such losses, that they are no 
longer in a position to take advantage of it and secure the victory ? Even when 
at most a large proportion of the advanced-guard only is exposed to and shattered 
by the fire of the enemy’s guns, the consequences are by no means inconsiderable, 
for it must be borne in mind that a single company may turn the balance in 
favour of their own side. We cannot think for a moment that our artillery in 
real warfare would, without express command of high authority, allow the guns 
to be slowly and laboriously dragged into their positions by the detachments 
when the enemy’s shrapnel is already tearing fearful rents in the ranks of their 
infantry comrades ! 
Why then should we constantly practise in peace that which, as far as can be 
seen, will not be to anything like the same extent, the rule in war, and which, at 
the same time, tends to paralyse the wholesome spirit of initiative; why do we 
unlearn the important lesson to unlimber dexterously in the position itself; why 
are the services of our Field Artillery so seriously cramped, that little can be 
looked for from it; why, in place of judiciously taking advantage of the nature 
of the ground, should there be a systematic creeping in concealment P 
The bottom of all this* is, that little or no regard is paid at manoeuvres to the 
effect of artillery fire on the other arms. In real warfare a cjipick and early 
appearance of our artillery upon the scene would be followed by the dispersion 
of the enemy’s cavalry and the shattering of the infantry of his advanced-guard, 
after which we would be prepared under favourable circumstances to engage his 
guns, when they are brought up, because our artillery will have ascertained with 
tolerable accuracy on the spot both the errors in range and fuze due to the 
atmospheric conditions of the day. We must naturally take precautions against 
being taken by surprise by the enemy’s artillery by a careful observation of such 
points of the ground in front of us, which he is likely to utilise for his guns and 
also by preparing beforehand a due distribution of our fire. Besides, an artillery 
which first comes into action gains this incalculable moral advantage, that the 
men have passed through the phase of nervousness, which affects human nature 
at the commencement of a battle. 
Nothing of this description occurs at manoeuvres. No effect is attributed to 
the fire of the artillery which first comes into action against the enemy’s cavalry and 
infantry and its early arrival is without significance with regard to the battle. 
Its position is known to the enemy’s artillery which, disregarding loss of time, 
brings up its guns deliberately, carefully and under cover into the most suitable 
position for combating ours and then fires off its first shot in the “artillery duel.” 
Needless to point out that the artillery which comes latest on the scene can be 
brought up less exposed to view than its opponent, it can best place its guns in 
concealed positions and it can arrange its distribution of fire under more favour¬ 
able conditions than he and accordingly, in nearly all such cases and under such 
circumstances the umpire will decide that it has gained a preponderance of fire 
over the enemy 
In the war of 1870-71 we constantly directed our fire at the reverse slopes of 
crests on the supposition that they were occupied by the enemy, We shall no 
doubt repeat this in future wars; in manoeuvres, however, no credit is given for 
such procedure. This, on the contrary, falls to the share of the artillery which 
has taken up positions under cover. The circumstance that due regard is not 
shewn towards the effect of the fire of artillery against the other arms gives rise 
to further ill-consequences than those above mentioned, for it creates false 
impressions as to the conditions under which a real battle will be fought. For 
instance, a manoeuvre would last much longer if it were required to carry out 
turning movements outside the sphere of artillery fire, as would be the case in 
