132 
ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF A POSITION. 
defence to prepare the way for its own infantry, under pain of being 
itself silenced. On the other hand, if the artillery of the defence does 
not engage the attacking artillery, the latter can accomplish its task 
unmolested, and, further, at the commencement of an action, in all 
probability, but little will show itself on the assailant’s side except 
artillery. As soon, however, as the assailant’s infantry begins to show 
itself in sufficient force to present a good object to fire at, the defen¬ 
sive artillery should, without doubt, direct a part at least of their fire 
at it, as the grand object of the whole fighting is to beat the infantry. 
At later stages of the action, in fact, the artillery of the defence should 
direct its whole attention to the attacking infantry. 
The artillery of the defence in this artillery duel will have an advan¬ 
tage in being, in all probability, protected by entrenchments, and in 
having had the opportunity of measuring beforehand the ranges to all 
points where the artillery of the attack is likely to place itself. With 
the aid of these advantages it is possible that the defence may maintain 
a superiority of fire. If this be the case, it will be hardly possible for 
a direct attack to succeed. But in all probability, inasmuch as the 
assailant can choose the point where he will attack and bring up large 
masses of artillery to bear upon that point, he will eventually obtain 
a superiority over the artillery of the defence, and will begin to direct 
part of his fire upon the part of the main defensive line where his in¬ 
fantry attack is to be delivered. After this artillery preparation, the 
infantry attack will begin. 
When the infantry attack begins the artillery of the defence will 
direct its principal attention to repelling it. No definite rule can be 
laid down as to the objects of its tire, whether firing line, supports, or 
reserves ; any of these may be the object at various times. If masses 
of infantry should, however, at any time show themselves, they will 
afford a better mark than thin lines of men at open order. 
When it becomes evidently no longer possible to cope with the 
attacking artillery successfully, it will be for the superior authorities 
to decide whether any of the batteries should be withdrawn tempora¬ 
rily from action, in order that they may be kept in readiness to come 
forward again later in the action when the assault is immediately 
threatened, to aid the infantry in the final struggle. This will pro¬ 
bably only be necessary if the batteries run the risk of being entirely 
disabled if they remain in action, and when the artillery that was in 
reserve has been employed elsewhere, so that if some batteries were 
not withdrawn for a time there would be no artillery to take part in 
the fight at the critical period. 
When the infantry attack develops itself, the skirmishers that were 
originally sent out to keep the enemy’s tirailleurs from annoying the 
guns of the defence and to keep at as great distance as possible the 
attacking batteries, should fall back and clear the front so that the 
fire of the main line, which should now be fully occupied, may be un¬ 
impeded The defenders should remain in their covered position as 
long as the enemy is kept at a respectful distance, for to advance will 
give up the advantage of cover without any corresponding gain, for 
