ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF A POSITION. 
127 
part only (from a half to three-fourths) of the whole force There is, 
however, an advantage in extending the position to the utmost ex¬ 
tent possible, consistent with the above condition, for the following 
reason: —The enemy, in consequence of the frontal strengh of a 
position, under modern conditions will be very apt to try and turn 
one or both flanks of a position. If the front, then, is of small ex¬ 
tent, a comparatively small part of the attacking army will suffice to 
act against it, leaving a large part available for the turning move¬ 
ment, so dangerous to the defence; whereas, if the front be broad, as 
the assailant must keep the defenders employed along the whole of 
it, but a small proportion will be available to act against the flanks. 
Carrying this consideration a little further it will appear that the 
strength of the attacking force should be taken into consideration to 
a certain degree in determining the extent of ground the defenders 
should occupy, for the stronger the attacking force the greater should 
be the extent of ground that he should be obliged to attack frontally 
so that the strength of the force he can use for turning movements 
may be diminished as much as possible. A small force can safely 
occupy a greater space in proportion than a large one, because the 
commander can overlook the whole field, and one reserve in a central 
position will suffice, whereas in the case of large forces the commander 
will not be able personally to superintend the whole field, and two or 
more large reserves must be formed to be at the disposal of the officers 
to whom may be entrusted certain portions of the line of battle. For 
a small force under 20,000 men, 6,000 to 10,000 men per mile of 
front might suffice to adequately occupy the position. In the case of 
large forces, 15,000 men per mile would seem to be a fair average 
proportion of troops to ground. 
It will, however, not usually be the case that a position can be 
fcund exactly fitting the number of men available, but the above con¬ 
siderations will give a basis for selecting the nearest approach that 
can be found to what would be theoretically advisable, and the 
General must then occupy it in the best way he can with the troops 
he possesses. 
The other points that have to be taken into consideration in se¬ 
lecting a position are the following:—In the first place,.as regards 
the ground within the position itself. There should be sufficient 
depth for the posting of reserves and moving them from one part of 
the position to another, with good communications parallel to and 
behind the front. The flanks should be strong, either by nature, or 
art, on account of the modern tendency to outflanking movements. 
There should, besides, be good points of observation, from which the 
enemy's movements may be scanned, and there should be no ground 
unseen that the enemy can advance over. There should be open ground 
in front of the position at least to the limits of the range of effective 
musketry fire. The main line should be as even as possible, without any 
marked salient points; the latter, should they occur, will be weak 
points, because of the chance they offer to the enemy of bringing con- 
