bole oe horse aktillery. 325 
carryin*g out of such a flank attack, the horse artillery batteries will 
naturally be used, and they should be despatched with the cavalry during 
the time that the advanced guard artillery is engaged in carrying on a 
delaying action with the enemy. The cavalry will protect their outer 
flank, and they must endeavour to get round the flank of the enemy, 
and even, if possible, to take him in rear. From this position they will 
be able to take advantage of a successful attack, or to act against the 
flank of the enemy, should he attempt to advance. In such an attack 
the first consideration must ever be the developing of it at the right 
moment. The necessity for timeliness of action has been dwelt upon 
by every artillery writer since the publication of the famous “ Tactical 
Retrospect.’ 3 In the case of a flank attack it will be necessary for the 
artillery not to come into action until the troops destined to assault the 
position are sufficiently near to take advantage of the effect of their 
fire before the enemy can reinforce his threatened flank. The 
remainder of the artillery will co-operate by keeping the enemy 
occupied along the whole front, and by bringing a cross fire upon the 
points which are to be attacked. If the enemy’s flank is thrown back 
to meet the attack, the heavy batteries should endeavour to enfilade it. 
In the critical stages of the attack of a position, opportunities will 
occur for a bold use of the most mobile batteries. Military theorists 
have not yet settled how far it is possible for artillery to venture within 
the range of the effective fire of infantry; few, however, have been 
found to deny that, under certain circumstances, artillery may and 
must be pushed up to close quarters at all hazards. It is not difficult 
to imagine a case. Suppose an infantry attack to be taking place. Up 
to a certain point it progresses rapidly, and with every prospect of 
success. At length comes hesitation, a check, a tendency to lie down 
and fire. All available supports and reserves have been absorbed into 
the firing line. The attack wavers between success and failure. An 
impetus is needed to carry it forward again. This is the opportunity 
for the artillery, and especially for the rapidly moving horse artillery. 
A swift advance on the flank of the wavering infantry will give the 
desired impetus. The infantry will be encouraged by the close support of 
the guns, and the latter, even if they effect little by their fire, will at any 
rate relieve the pressure on the infantry, by drawing upon themselves 
the enemy’s fire. It is hardly possible to study the history of battles 
without being struck by the almost infinitesimal difference which 
frequently separates success from failure. This leads to the conclusion 
that the close support of artillery at critical moments will often be the 
means of enabling infantry to achieve a success which would otherwise 
have been impossible, and will justify almost any sacrifice. But for 
such a use of artillery several conditions are indispensable. (1) The 
commander must be on the watch for the right moment, and must be 
careful neither to anticipate it, nor to advance when the fate of the 
attack has been already decided. (2) The ground over which the 
advance has to be made must have been previously reconnoitred by 
officers, who should, when it is possible, themselves lead the batteries 
into their positions. (3) The advance must be made very rapidly, 
