92 
FIELD FORTIFICATION. 
“ radiating 99 to some extent in order that bodies of the enemy, pene¬ 
trating into the wood, may be broken up and laid open to attacks in 
flank. 
It is difficult for an attacker to fight a decisive action in a wood; his 
object must be to push through as rapidly as possible to the further 
edg*e : well arranged communications, good obstacles, and a strong 
second line of defence will give the defender every advantage in repel¬ 
ling inroads that may be made in portions of his line. 
In open country, where there is no existing cover suitable for placing 
in a state of defence, field redoubts are constructed to furnish strong 
points in a position. Their main disadvantages are, that they require 
much time and labour to construct, and when provided with bombproof 
cover, they require a large amount of timber and other materials ; that 
they only furnish a small front of fire, and that until nearly completed, 
they are not of much use. The garrisons they hold cannot generally 
construct them within the time that may be considered as likely to be 
available. But strong field redoubts afford excellent shelter to their 
garrisons from fire, and with magazine rifles and machine guns, a much 
larger volume of fire will be obtained from them. It is essential that 
ample means of exit should be provided from the bombproof cover, 
in order that the parapet may be quickly manned. I cannot now 
go into the details of the design of redoubts : where they are 
used there will generally be some Engineers available for laying them 
out and superintending their construction : the proper arrangement of 
working parties requires some care and experience. Under ordinary 
circumstances, it is well to start with a simple design, which can be 
carried out within a short time, but which can be developed easily if 
more time and the necessary materials are available. 
Good field redoubts have an appearance of strength which is morally 
favourable to the defenders, but the disadvantages stated above are 
sufficient to prevent an extensive use of them, except under special 
conditions. In the case of Plevna, the great modern instance of defence 
by redoubts, “ existing cover ” in the shape of villages, woods, 
enclosures in suitable places, was markedly absent and time was not 
limited. A great absence of “ obstacles 99 is to bo observed there, 
probably due to want of materials. 
In conclusion, I would say that in preparing a position for defence 
it is of the utmost importance to decide rapidly on the general lines of 
the scheme of defence, and to tell off the troops to their several sections 
as soon as possible : the officers charged with the supervision of the work 
should arrange for the immediate collection of all tools and materials, 
and of such labour, horses, carts, &c., as can be obtained locally. As 
far as possible, the troops should be set to execute, under their own 
officers, such work as they will have to defend. It must be clearly under¬ 
stood it is no matter of the troops having to work “for the Engineers,” 
but that Engineers are only there to help them, to the extent that 
their small numbers will allow, in preparing by their own labour works 
suited to their own requirements, works which, having constructed 
with their own toil, they should be the more resolute to hold with 
determination. 
(Conclusion.) 
