GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1894 . 
345 
tlie attack, and on a sketch, either enlarged from the ord¬ 
nance map or made roughly on the spot, dispose the troops 
which the officer conducting the operations has allotted 
to him for the purpose. This officer, on the day of the 
exercise, should be posted at a commanding point in his 
position, and should furnish a brief report of the attack, as 
observed by him, with the times accurately noted. 
Now, if the attacking force could, by a night march, 
have been brought within striking distance of its adver¬ 
sary, and the artillery have been placed in position before 
dawn, the case would be as simple as the last one. This, increased 
however, can rarely be counted on, and the problem is, as of’attSe?. 
a rule, more complex. 
The Infantry Divisions marching to the attack would be at its com¬ 
mencement some miles distant, and probably moving by several roads, 
the attack having been begun by the battery of the advanced guard of Probable 
the nearest division, we will assume that the time when this battery S1 ua 10n ’ 
becomes engaged with the advanced posts of the defender is the com¬ 
mencement of the artillery operations. 
The Corps Commander having ridden on to reconnoitre the enemy’s 
position with the General Officer Commanding R.A., discloses to the 
latter his plan of attack, and the knowledge he has gained of the num¬ 
bers and position of the enemy (at manoeuvres this information is 
embodied in a printed general idea). Froln this moment the work of 
the General Officer Commanding R. A. commences. Having summoned procedure 
his Divisional and Corps Commanders, and fixed a time and place for 
meeting, he starts off with his staff officer to examine the ground with 
a view to issuing his orders for the disposal of his batteries. On re¬ 
turning to the appointed rendezvous, he points out on his map the 
positions he intends to be occupied by the respective commanders, and 
issues through his staff officer, any special orders he may consider neces¬ 
sary. 
These should be taken down in writing by the respective Adjutants 
concerned. On receipt of these orders the Divisional and Corps Artil¬ 
lery Commanders issue the necessary additional orders to their respective 
commands, and, having done this, proceed to examine the ground which 
they are to occupy. These orders will name the roads by which the orders by 
batteries are to advance to their positions, and the pace at which they 
are to move, and will fix a point at which they are to be met by an 
officer, to conduct them to a preparatory position (when there is one), 
and contain instructions as to the disposal of numbers, 2nd line of wagons 
and Ammunition Columns. Finally, they will state where the Lieut.- 
Colonel will await the arrival of his Majors, at a given time, to point 
out to them their positions. These officers should ride forward to meet 
him on the receipt of this order. 
In moving into position, concealment from the enemy is of the greatest Eeconnoit. 
importance, as when smokeless powder is used a battery does not disclose mSg^into 
its position on opening fire. For the same reason the reconnoitring of P ositiou * 
a position should be carried out as much under cover as possible, and 
by the Major alone, in most cases dismounted. 
