3 
It is the period of inaction of the artillery, one might almost say of confusion 
(for brigade division and battery commanders would, many of them, be separated 
from the batteries, engaged in reconnoitring or receiving orders), that the Russian 
writer considers so full of danger to the artillery from unexpected and determined 
attacks of cavalry, even in small bodies. 
The line of infantry defence in front must necessarily be thin and scattered; 
the rapid advance of small bodies of cavalry is often concealed and the front of 
artillery is a very long one. 
The eventual fate of cavalry making such attacks, if once they reach the 
artillery position, is of small moment compared to the damage they could do. 
The batteries would offer an easy prey to the cavalry wheeling right and left 
along the position, for the guns could not fire in self-defence without danger to 
their own side and the main infantry columns in rear would be similarly impeded. 
It is to be regretted that even at our largest camp of instruction, Aldershot, 
there are no opportunities in our army of practising the employment of large 
masses of artillery in conjunction with a due proportion of other arms. It is 
true that on more than one occasion the artillery of an army corps (17 batteries) 
has been collected there during the drill season, but these must necessarily be 
divided between the two sides at a field-day. 
But it has been easy enough, even with, such limited opportunities and forces, 
to learn how many problems there are connected with the new tactical law of em¬ 
ploying artillery in masses. 
The due protection of the batteries during the deployment seems to be one ot 
these and one worthy the attention, from the opposite point of view, of our cavalry 
brethren. 
63a 
