468 
SYNOPTICAL CHARTS. 
The sense of sight works with a completeness and rapidity which 
differentiate it absolutely from the other senses. 
Can we in any way make use of this peculiarity of the sense of sight, 
by giving it an opportunity of providing us with “ sense-impressions ” 
which will be of service to us in our military studies ? To some extent 
I think we can. 
THE ATTACK OF A POSITION* 
The chart entitled “ The 
THE "SCAIFE” SYSTEM ( 
I 3 TORICA& CHARTS. 
THE ATTACK ©F A -POSITION 
N 9 I GENERAL CHART 
Attack of a position,” (Fig. i.) 
illustrates graphically the max¬ 
ims of Part V. of the Infantry 
Drill Book and may help to 
explain what I mean. The 
chart is one of a military series 
published by the Comparative 
Synoptical Chart Company, 
and as it is designed on exact¬ 
ly the same lines as all their 
other charts, when you have 
once grasped the principle of 
this one you will have no diffi¬ 
culty in understanding any 
other chart. 
Fapse of time is thus visual¬ 
ized and drawn to scale, and 
must be looked upon more in 
its analogy to the growth of a 
tree than to che flow of a river. 
In addition to the vertical 
time-scale, a series of head- 
i n g s, arranged horizontally 
along the top of the paper, di¬ 
vide the chart up into columns ~ 
of various subjects. Flg * 1# 
The use of this vertical time-scale in combination with horizontal 
subject-headings is protected by patent. 
Now in the chart before us—considering at first the left hand 
portion only—the vertical time-scale is marked in hours, comencing at 
5 a.m. at the bottom of the chart, and ending at i p.m. at the top. 
The subject-headings, commencing from the left are: Cavalry 
Screen, Advanced Guard, Artillery, Infantry. 
All references in Part V. of the Drill-Book to the Cavalry Screen 
in relation to the attack of a position are entered in the left-hand 
column; all references to the action of the Advanced Guard occur in 
the second column from the left; all references to the role played by 
Artillery are entered in the third column; and the fourth or right' 
hand column is devoted to the doings of the main body of the Infantry. 
As the Cavalry Screen, Advanced Guard, Artillery, and Infantry res¬ 
pectively become predominant on the field of battle their colours on the 
* It is regretted that no block could be procured to permit of this chart being reproduced in the 
“Proceedings” E.A.I. to a larger scale.—Secretary, It.A.I. 
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