FIELD FORTIFICATION. 
9i 
as there are many and small enclosures, there is the more need for a 
very carefully prepared system of communications for the defenders. 
One of the first points to be attended to is the barricading of the main 
communications of the village against penetration by the enemy ; but an 
equally important point is to arrange for free communication through¬ 
out the various parts of the defensive line : this enables the reserves to 
be brought up at once to repel the enemy at any point where they have 
penetrated. The importance of proper communications is not always 
fully realised, and particularly in peace manoeuvres. In large villages, 
in particular, it is specially important, not only that proper communi¬ 
cations should be prepared, but that they should be thoroughly known 
to those who have to lead troops : a free use of signboards is often 
desirable. 
Although the occupation of houses as a first line of defence in 
the face of artillery fire is no longer desirable, they can be usefully 
employed as second lines, or as “ keeps,” wherever they are screened 
from distant artillery fire, either by trees or by other buildings. A 
very broad distinction must be drawn between the effect of the con¬ 
centrated fire of a large mass of artillery on exposed buildings and that 
of one or two guns brought up with great difficulty into a village, the 
outskirts of which have been captured, to attempt to deal at short 
range with defended houses in the interior: it seems probable that guns 
could not be served under such conditions in the face of rifle fire. 
In selecting buildings for defence as a second line or as “ keeps,” it 
is of course desirable to arrange that they shall have a fair extent 
of cleared space in front of them, and that they shall be “ strong ” 
buildings. 
Time does not allow me to go into the detail of the preparation of 
houses for defence, and I would merely observe that the two important 
points to be considered are, that they shall, as far as possible, be pro¬ 
tected from the danger of catching fire, and that they shall be well 
calculated to resist the enemy breaking into them. 
It is sometimes urged against villages being utilised for defence that 
the troops are very much broken up in them; but, on the other hand, 
they take comparatively little labour to place them in a state of defence. 
Woods are also readily placed in a state of defence, and afford good 
cover for supports and reserves. It is generally laid down that when 
troops are so far inside a wood that they cannot see daylight between 
the stems of the trees, they are safe from fire. The preparation of 
proper communications is a matter of much importance, and may involve 
a good deal of labour. In Canada, it is considered that 8 skilled men 
will fell and lop an acre of forest in a day; but as this does not allow 
for removal, and as skilled woodman must not be counted on, at least 
twice that number must be allowed, and it will be wise to provide about 
20 men an acre. The preparation of good obstacles in connection with 
the defence of a wood is an easy matter, and a good second line of de¬ 
fence can be made with a comparatively small clearing in front, because 
very formidable obstacles can be prepared in connection with the clear¬ 
ing. Existing open spaces in the wood should be utilised if possible. 
Arrangement of the obstacles in regard to the communications for 
defence requires careful consideration : it is usual to make the obstacles 
