138 
ATTACK AND DEFENCE OF A POSITION. 
Common and the Buckle Bow plateau. The advanced guards pro¬ 
tect the batteries, and the deployment of the rest of the troops. The 
batteries try to silence such guns of the defence as show themselves, 
and direct as much fire as can be spared from this object on the strong 
points visible in the position and the points which must first be 
assailed, i e ., Quick Green and Basildon Green. 
The General keeps the 2nd brigade of the division marching on 
road Y in reserve, and the 1 st brigade of that division and the brigade 
on road X advance to the attack. Each of these brigades keeps one 
battalion in second line, and sends two forward in first line. The 
battalions in first line form according to the method laid down in the 
appendix to G.O. already alluded to. 
The divisional battalion is ordered to advance in the centre with its 
two half battalions alongside one another to connect the wings of the 
attack, to cover the guns, to annoy the hostile batteries with the fire 
of skirmishers, and to keep the enemy fast by demonstrations; but it 
is not anticipated that it will be able to carry through a serious attack. 
The cavalry guards the flanks of the attack. 
The attack is carried out according to the principles laid down in 
the body of this paper. As the 1st brigade advances, some of the 
batteries may be sent round to its right flank to co-operate more 
effectively in the attack. 
In reality, the situation of the troops could never be so regular as 
is shown in the plate. Probably the battalions of the advanced guard 
would have remained engaged with the enemy, and not have been re¬ 
formed in their brigades before the regular attack commenced. The 
second battalions of the brigades would, in that case, be sent to their 
assistance in the direction most suitable to the existing circumstances. 
The battalions also in first line would have been obliged to extend 
more, and bring up some of their supports before they got so near the 
enemy as is shewn in the plate. All that has been aimed at in the 
Plate is to show the general arrangement of the troops for the com¬ 
mencement of the attack. The details would have to be varied, in 
reality, according to the varying features of the struggle. 
In conclusion, the writer desires to express his grateful acknow¬ 
ledgments to Captain F. Boberts, B.A., for the great assistance he 
has rendered him in preparing the plate that accompanies the paper. 
