GROUND SCOUTS, COMBAT PATROLS, ETC. 
615 
prove the road or warn the batteries in case a change of direction is 
necessary to circumvent the obstacle. In order to avoid constantly 
riding backwards and forwards, they should communicate with the 
batteries by the authorised signals, informing them whether to halt, 
alter the pace or change the direction. The position of the scouts or 
horse-holder at an obstacle indicates the place of passage and the 
direction of movement. 
The scouts, if they notice in the neighbourhood infantry or cavalry 
whose proximity is dangerous, must at once gallop in and inform the 
Brigade-division or Battery Commander. As in most cases artillery 
moves by roads, the examination of these latter constitutes the chief 
work of the scouts. 
It is important that the scouts should not only take account of their 
passability, but also of whether they are wide enough in view of 
batteries having suddenly to come into action. 
The scouts must direct themselves on houses, belfries, windmills, &c. 
This is especially necessary in woody country where it is often very 
hard to maintain direction ; besides, scouts should rely rather on what 
is shown in the map than on information given by the local inhabitants. 
When taking up position, artillery leaves the road and moves across 
country, taking advantage of cover as much as possible. At this time 
the Brigade-division or Battery Commander, with the scouts, goes for¬ 
ward to reconnoitre the position. 
The scouts should benefit by their double journey, i.e. with the Com¬ 
mander and back again, to carefully inspect the ground and the 
obstacles which the battery or batteries will have to meet. They will 
thus be able to choose a road to the position without premature 
exposure, and avoiding obstacles ; of these latter, only bogs, banks, 
vineyards, rivers and ditches in which the water is more than three feet 
deep need be considered impassable. 
Duty op Ground Scouts in Action. 
It is important not to draw the attention of the enemy prematurely 
to the position about to be occupied. The preliminary reconnaissance 
of the position should, therefore, be carried out on foot, the horses being 
left under cover. The appearance on the crest of a considerable number 
of horsemen would give warning to the enemy, and the batteries would 
be met by a fire already ranged. The scouts should, therefore, carefully 
avoid shewing themselves on the crest, and should make their obser¬ 
vations from behind hedges, etc. 
When the batteries come into action, the scouts should occupy 
themselves with protective duty on the front and flanks, and not too 
far away for them to communicate quickly with the Brigade-division 
Commander. They should choose points of observation with the 
greatest possible command of the front and flank concealed from the 
enemy. Both before and after the opening of fire, they should avoid 
indicating the position of the batteries to the enemy, and they should, 
therefore, when in view of the enemy, never move direct on the 
batteries. 
The scouts are answerable for every attack of which they have not 
