7 
fusion and indecision. In cases where the regular occupation of the position 
appears impossible, the regulation should permit all different ways of unlimbering, 
and should also connect therewith all measures against cavalry attack. 
10. —In Field Artillery it is necessary to distinguish four different formations, 
viz., “ordinary marching,” “marching formation for battle,” “preparatory” and 
“ fighting.” In the two former the battery at war strength forms two columns— 
in the first column its fighting line with the due proportion of wagons, and in the 
2nd column the echelon of wagons. In the preparatory formation the battery is 
drawn up in two lines, the 1st line being the fighting line, with one wagon per 
section in rear of the centre of each section, and in the 2nd line the wagon echelon. 
The distance between the 1st and 2nd line must be such that the echelon can 
always follow the battery without running the risk of being separated from it; 
at the same time, not so close as to necessitate its having to retire when the fight¬ 
ing position is occupied. In fighting formation the fighting line unlimbers, having 
its wagons in rear of the centre of the sections and the limbers in the 3rd line, 
either at full intervals in rear of the flanks, or in section columns, as described 
above. The wagon echelon is drawn up as far as possible under cover, not more 
than 700 yards in rear of the battery. 
11. —The replenishment of ammunition in the battery should be so organised 
that officers in the fighting line need never trouble themselves fabout what is 
taking place in their rear, but may always be sure that the echelon is following 
ready to replace ammunition and casualties. 
12. —Batteries forming a regiment are manoeuvred as if they were entirely 
independent. Each of them directs itself solely by its commander, unless special 
orders are given to dress by the centre or flanks of a line. Flexibility and rapidity 
of manoeuvre depend beside this on (a.) the liberal use of close intervals, which 
permits a considerable lessening of the extent of front; (5.) on the continual 
conforming to the movements of the head of the columns by units in rear. These 
movements lend themselves to every change of direction and enable the column 
leaders to select by their own observation their line of advance, and the com¬ 
mander of the regiment to change direction instantaneously. These principles 
give special importance to the line of section columns, especially at close intervals. 
This formation of a regiment gives the commander the greatest degree of flexi¬ 
bility and should be used in all cases, except where the closing in of the batteries 
on a limited space of ground would be dangerous. 
The deployed line of a regiment has little flexibility and is not easily com¬ 
manded : nevertheless, the regulations should enjoin it in proportion to its 
importance in those cases when it is a question of occupying or retiring from a 
position under fire. 1 Section column is very flexible, but not easily commanded, 
and clumsy to deploy from. Line of columns possesses the points of a deployed 
line and the corresponding columns. The regulations should preserve this 
formation, because, on broken ground and among other troops, it offers many ad¬ 
vantages in changing position to the front or rear. Quarter column of batteries 
is purely a parade formation. 
13. —In order to make the fighting formation of the regiment as flexible as 
possible, batteries should be drawn up in echelon, which enables them to take up 
position in correspondence with the features of the ground. 
The echelon may be regular or irregular, according to circumstances, but in 
every battery, as a rule, the line of guns should be perpendicular to the line of 
fire, in order not to embarrass the occupation of the position and the work of the 
gun-layers. 
The echelon formation on a position may be made in two ways, which should 
be laid down by regulation. In the first of these the commanding officer orders 
a simultaneous advance to the position: in his preparatory orders he settles the 
1 i.e., regimental column of sections, 
