8 
depth, and direction of the echelon, and personally establishes the directing- 
battery. As a rule, the echelon should be a regular one, in order to-avoid explana¬ 
tions at the last moment. The Commanding Officer fixes it, taking • into 
consideration the direction of the wind (with black powder), the configuration of 
the ground, and, in connection with this latter, the hindering of the enemy’s 
ranging.' This method excludes all reconnoitring by the Battery Commanders, 
and should only be employed in circumstances when the reconnoitring is either 
useless or impossible. 
In the second method, the reconnoitring by Battery Commanders must be con¬ 
sidered indispensable, in order to benefit as much as possible by the features of 
the ground: each Battery Commander himself choses and marks out the position 
of his guns. Each battery takes up its position independently. 
The echelon formed in this manner varies, but the general rule is that two 
adjacent batteries should have an interval equal to the depth of the echelon, in 
order not to interfere with each other’s fire. 
14.—The regiment marches and fights on the same principles as have been laid 
down in regard to a single battery. Its formations have the same name and 
are applicable to the same circumstances. In ordinary marching formation the 
batteries follow each other, having their wagons of the fighting line : immediately 
in rear of the sections, and the wagon echelons in rear of their batteries in “ field 
column of route*.” the fighting lines of the batteries follow each other at the head 
of the column, and the wagon echelons follow in rear under the general charge of 
an officer. 
In the preparatory position and in action the three fighting lines of a battery 
form the first line and the collected echelons the second. The regulations should 
lay down with exactness the connection to be kept up between the two lines, and 
also liow the replenishment of ammunition should be carried out between these 
two lines and the ammunition columns. Although the echelons are collected 
under one command when the batteries are acting together, each echelon never¬ 
theless maintains individual connection with his own battery. If one battery is 
detached, its echelon immediately re-establishes its independence and follows its 
battery in all its movements. Besides this, the regulations must contain instruc¬ 
tions for the manoeuvring of several regiments together. These instructions, of 
course, can be only of a general character, and will relate principally to the 
connection which must be established by means of orderlies between the higher 
commanders and the means by which the direction of these latter can be main¬ 
tained over the fighting units and the ammunition supply. 
Rules for Command . 
The accurate execution of a manoeuvre depends on the combined action of 
the commander and the guides. The Commanding Officer orders the execu¬ 
tion of this or that movement in accordance with his object.' The guide secures 
the direction and pace, the guns conform their movements to the movements 
of the guide, and direct themselves solely by him. When the movement begins, 
the guide’s principal duty is to keep his horse in the right direction and at 
the right pace. In changing from one formation to another the guide directs 
the “ base-body ” and the remainder conform to the latter. In this way the 
guide can accurately give the desired direction to the .new formation and, even 
if ordered, or if circumstances require it, change its. direction whilst the move¬ 
ment is being carried out. As a rule, every Commanding Officer is the guide 
of his regiment, every Battery Commander of his battery, every Section Com¬ 
mander of his section^ and every No. 1 of. his gun. The Commanding Officer, 
when he thinks necessary, can hand over the leading to one of his officers. To do 
this he raises his sword perpendicularly, and gives the order to the officer detailed 
for this duty “ Lead,” giving him, if necessary, a point to move on. When he 
