336 
HOLE OP HORSE ARTILLERY* 
The ad¬ 
vanced 
guard. 
The offen¬ 
sive. 
The chief objections raised against attaching a permanent and 
special escort to artillery are :— 
Firstly, that if the escort be of sufficient strength to be of real 
service, it will weaken too much the cavalry of the army. 
But is not an exaggerated idea generally taken of’ what strength 
is sufficient? 
As it has been endeavoured to show, if the artillery be properly 
handled, the escort need not be large. 
Secondly, that cavalry will seldom be adapted to the ground. 
But if the guns can reach the position so can the cavalry; and 
once there, they will probably find some point from which they can 
operate. 
Moreover, the mere presence of even a few mounted swordsmen will 
give coolness to the gunners, and in this way alone be of great service. 
The covering cavalry will either be driven in or will continue to 
advance till it meets the enemy in force. In either case the advanced 
guards will be called into play. 
If it be intended to act on the offensive, the duties of the latter will 
be to cover the deployment of the main body. 
Artillery will commence the action, and, if possible, both heavy and 
light batteries should be at once brought up. 
The former will be most effective against the entrenchments and 
earthworks which the enemy will throw up, the latter will be best fitted 
for manoeuvring to attack his general dispositions. 
If a defensive attitude be determined on from choice or necessity, 
the duty of the advanced guard will be to contain the enemy and force 
his deployment while the main body prepares itself on the most favour¬ 
able position. There will here be ample opportunity for the employ¬ 
ment of horse artillery. 
“ When an advanced guard is powerful in artillery, the deployment 
of the enemy’s infantry at a distance can probably best be forced by 
the temporary advance of a battery to the front supported by cavalry,” # 
“ The lightest battery would of course be used.” f 
It will also be necessary to manoeuvre against the vigorous attempts 
which will probably be made by the enemy to prevent the execution of 
the defences. 
The first object of the attacking artillery should be to silence that of 
the enemy, the second to demoralize and break down the infantry. 
Heavy batteries will be best suited for the first, while horse artillery 
should be held ready for instant movement; for, on the advance of the 
infantry, the fire from the original position will sooner or later become 
masked ; it will then be necessary to advance some guns in good time 
to be in readiness to maintain, from shorter ranges, that artillery fire 
a which is essential up to the very end,”J and which must be carried on 
without a moment’s interruption. 
Only a portion of the guns can be brought into action in this second 
position, which will be less extensive. 
f Lieut. Pratt, R.A., Prize Essay, 1874. 
J Clery, 1877, 
* Scherf. 
