474 
ATTACK OF A MODERN LAND FORTRESS. 
Choice of 
front to be 
attacked. 
Field 
Arsenal. 
Intermediate 
Depots. 
Communica¬ 
tions. 
Positions for 
Batteries of 
the attack. 
by all available Artillery, the defender’s Infantry being driven in on 
their advanced line of defence, which will be about 1000 yards from 
the forts. 
It is at this point that some writers recommend the advance being 
continued at all points and an attempt made to take the place by storm 
(see previous remarks). However, assuming this not to be advisable, 
the besieger will proceed to entrench himself strongly in his present 
position, called the investment line, field fortification being largely 
employed and emplacements provided for guns to bear on all possible 
lines of approach by sorties. 
It is not to be supposed that this position will have been won or 
be maintained without severe and repeated engagements. 
The choice of the front to be attacked will, by this time, have been 
made, and will be guided by considerations as to the “key” positions 
or forts which should be captured to ensure the fall of the place, but 
also, to a large extent, by considerations of transport, for a railway is 
essential for bringing up siege material. 
A situation for a Field Arsenal or Grand Park will be selected on 
the main line of railway, and out of sight and range of the nearest 
works of the fortress, i.e. } not less than 8000 yards’ distant. As three 
contiguous detached forts will probably have to be included in the 
attack, the artillery position will be an extended one, and to arm and 
keep the batteries supplied it will be necessary to decentralise the 
Artillery Parks. Intermediate depots for the batteries will accord¬ 
ingly have to be provided, corresponding to the number of “ Attacks ” 
into which the main attack is divided, each having its own depot 
under the orders of the C.R.A. Both the Arsenal and the depots will 
be strongly defended by field-works against 'any possible attack, and 
the depots will be as close to the batteries they serve as may be con¬ 
sistent with safety; probably about half-a-mile in rear. 
The difficulty of transporting heavy howitzers and their ammunition 
is so great that at least trench tramways will have to be provided from 
the Field Arsenal to each depot, and also from the depots to the bat¬ 
teries ; it does not appear to be possible to carry the railway gauge 
of the country beyond the Field Arsenal, except under abnormally 
favourable conditions of ground, which are hardly likely to exist, and 
as there must be a change of gauge at some point, the Arsenal would 
seem to be the best place for it. 
The batteries or emplacements for the heavy howitzers and guns (if 
any) will now be constructed, and the choice of positions for them is of 
such vital importance that we must carefully discuss this question. 
Concealment is essential, and they must be situated behind rising 
ground or woods: in the former case care must be taken that they are 
so placed that the projectiles can clear the crest in front at the lowest 
angles of elevation at which they are likely to be fired; and in the 
latter, the only satisfactory position is behind the flanks, so that the line 
of fire for the howitzers can be obtained by the usual methods from 
positions close to the batteries and clear of the wood. 
Batteries placed in exposed situations will be quickly destroyed by 
the fire of the concealed howitzers of the defence, and a very small 
