120 
ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF A POSITION, 
go on simultaneously. On this account the greater part of the artil¬ 
lery of an advancing army should march not far from the head of the 
column, so that it may be brought up as soon as the plans of the 
General are made, in order that the necessary artillery preparations 
for the attack maybe commenced without delay while the deployment 
of the main body is carried on under cover of the cannonade. 
After the advanced guards have effected their task of reconn aisance, 
they will take up some position with defensive capabilities, wherein 
they may be able to hold at bay any offensive movements of the 
defenders, and protect the artillery from danger. 
When the artillery of the attack has been brought up into its first 
position, an artillery duel is pretty sure to be the next stage of the 
battle. The attacking artillery must try to silence the artillery of 
the defence, or the infantry attacks must fail; while the defender's 
artillery will endeavour so to employ the original advantages which 
they possess, in having been able to previously entrench themselves 
and measure ranges, to prevent the assailants from establishing a 
superiority in artillery which will enable them to carry out success- 
fully the preparations for the infantry attack. On the issue of this 
artillery duel will mainly depend the possibility of an attack being 
successfully delivered. If the attacking artillery cannot obtain a 
superiority, an attack will be pretty sure to fail. The full strength 
of the artillery will therefore be brought forward at once, to endeavour 
to obtain the mastery. The retention of artillery in reserve in the 
case of attack seems neither desirable nor necessary, inasmuch as 
recent experience points out that it is not impossible to withdraw 
batteries from action, and move them, if required, to other parts of 
the field, even under effective hostile fire. 
As soon as the artillery fire of the defence begins to slacken, some 
part of the assailant's guns will be turned on the points where the 
decisive attack is to be made, either some parts of the main defensive 
position, or some advanced points which must be captured before the 
main position is assailed. 
In the meantime the deployment of the army has been taking place, 
in accordance with the plans for attack of the General. 
When it appears to the General that the fire of the defenders has 
been sufficiently got under, and the points selected for attack have 
been subjected to an adequate cannonade, then the infantry will be 
ordered to advance to the attack. Experience in late wars has shewn 
that an advance of infantry in closed bodies of any magnitude is im¬ 
practicable over ground exposed to an effective fire from the defender's 
position. It is therefore necessary to advance in such a manner as to 
minimize the effect of hostile fire. This will in the first place be 
effected by choosing for advance such portions of ground as give the 
greatest cover from the view and fire of the enemy. But at some 
time or other, an advance over open ground is sure to be necessary, 
and the best means of effecting this appears to be by advancing in a 
line of men at open order, either continuously or by successive short 
rushes, either of the whole line simultaneously, or of portions alter*? 
