FIELD FORTIFICATION. 
61 
up the necessary works, because they are. accustomed to digging, 
and so long as fortification was only applied to small isolated por¬ 
tions of a battle-field, this was sometimes possible. But when it is 
remembered that Engineers only form to of the strength of 
field armies, and that there are many other special duties they are called 
upon to perform which no one else can do (for want of the necessary 
technical training), it will at once be seen that it would be quite im¬ 
possible to attempt any effectual fortification of a battle-field if the 
labour of Engineers only were to be relied on, or even were to be 
mainly relied upon, for executing the work. It is quite clear, therefore, 
that the works must, for the most part, be executed by those troops for 
whom they are chiefly intended, and who form the bulk of the army, viz., 
the infantry, aided as far as may be possible by local labour. Engineers 
must only be looked to, first, to provide the supervision and technical 
skill (gained by executing works themselves in peace time), which shall 
enable the infantry to accomplish their work with the least difficulty ; 
and, secondly, to execute themselves any work within the power of 
their numbers which is particularly difficult or dangerous, or which 
requires special knowledge. 
Bearing in mind the distaste of infantry for this kind of work, and 
the war conditions under which they will be called upon to do it, such 
as toilsome marches, possibly indifferent and insufficient food, broken 
rest, and want of shelter during inclement weather, it must clearly be a 
‘■practical” consideration of the utmost importance in designing works 
that they shall involve the least possible labour that is compatible with 
their being efficient—that is, that all existing cover which is at all 
suitable must be utilised to the utmost, and that the construction of 
entirely new works is only to be undertaken in places where cover 
does not already exist, or where, from its position or its nature, it 
cannot be made use of. It should be remembered that, by utilising and 
improving existing cover, a much less conspicuous line of defence is 
obtained than where a considerable extent of newly turned-up earth 
has to be employed: an advantage by no means to be lost sight of. 
(2.) A gainst, whom the icorks are to be constructed. 
This is of special importance in our service, for while our organisation 
and training is mainly based on the requirements of a European war, 
yet our actual war experience is mainly gained in conflicts with 
enemies ordinarily very warlike, but not highly organised or well 
armed. Types of works that are well suited for a European battle¬ 
field may be very much out of place in “frontier warfare.” 
The important considerations in this connection are, the weapons 
we have opposed to us and the kind of attack we have to resist. In 
our wars, against uncivilised or partially civilised enemies, our tactical 
practice is generally to attack, and, therefore, “battle-field” defences 
are not ordinarily required; but as the main difficulty in such warfare is 
to move and feed large bodies of men, we must expect to be numerically 
very inferior to our foes : and the defence of camping grounds and of 
“posts” on the line of communication becomes very important. The 
condition the works must fulfil in such cases is not so much resistance 
