11 
out the best road to it; (3) using the best means of bringing the batteries to the 
position and of distributing the guns on it. The first point for consideration in 
choosing a fighting position, is the fighting qualities of the position itself, and 
then its facilities for cover for the guns, limbers, and wagons; and, lastly, the 
local facilities it offers for a screened advance of the batteries on to the position. 
The information on which to base his decision is brought to the Commanding 
Officer by means of scouts—he is not in a position personally to collect it, and 
must for this purpose make use of the officers and lower ranks forming his staff. 
The artillery reconnaissance is carried out by the Chief of the Artillery if possible, 
with the assistance of the subordinate commanders down to Battery Commanders 
inclusive. In retreat the reconnaissance of the next position is entrusted to an 
officer, as the Commander of the Artillery must remain in the fighting line. 
The artillery reconnaissance is carried out with a certain consecutiveness de¬ 
pending on the number of batteries or regiments which are to be brought together 
into the position. The general position for the artillery is usually indicated by 
the commander of the army or division, who at the same time gives orders to the 
artillery leader as to the nature of the action he expects from the artillery in the 
impending fight. If a very large number of batteries are to be brought into 
position at once, the artillery leader distributes the duty of reconnaissance among 
the brigade and. regimental commanders, merely dividing the general position 
between them. The time for summoning the commanders of brigades and regi¬ 
ments to reconnoitre their future positions rests with the leader of artillery and 
is fixed by the circumstances of the battle. The Begimental Commanders call 
out their Battery Commanders to reconnoitre generally immediately on the arrival 
of the batteries at the preparatory position. A defensive position is reconnoitred 
on the same principles, with the difference that time is here no object, and this 
applies also to a reconnaissance of a position in the attack of a defensive position 
previously occupied by the enemy. When in view of the enemy, the reconnais¬ 
sance must be carried out as secretly as-possible, all possible measures being 
adopted to avoid prematurely drawing the attention of the enemy to the intended 
position. In the actual examination of the position itself, the Artillery Com¬ 
mander having dismounted and left his staff under cover, proceeds on foot, 
endeavouring not to show himself. The reconnaissance must be carried out as 
thoroughly and systematically as possible, but need not take long if artillery 
officers are accustomed to read maps correctly and to make out their position at 
first glance. When the reconnaissance is finished Begimental Commanders remain 
on the fighting position, the Battery Commanders return to their batteries, which 
may have been previously ordered to advance. In advancing to a second position 
the reconnaissance is carried out on the same principles. The senior Artillery Com¬ 
mander, anticipating the order to advance, should in good time send one of the 
officers of his staff to reconnoitre the positions in front and the roads to them. 
At the right moment he himself rides forward to the indicated position and gives 
orders for the distribution and lines of advance of the regiments and batteries. 
He also judges the distance to the object, and sends his orderlies back to the 
batteries. The latter give the Commanders of Begiments and Batteries-all neces¬ 
sary details regarding the position, target, and probable range, and during the 
advance act as guides to the batteries. Begimental and Battery Commanders 
may precede their batteries at a rapid pace on to the position, in order to receive 
there any later orders from the artillery leader. 
Marhing out the Fighting Position. 
The fighting position should be marked out for each battery by its commander 
when the batteries advance on to it. Each commander marks for the centre or 
one of the flanks of his battery, placing his horse in the direction of the line of 
fire, but it is a better plan for Battery Commanders, after they have examined the 
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