358 
NOTES ON APPLIED FIELD FORTIFICATION. 
Broken 
Slopes. 
sweep the rear slope of the hill if they miss the main line, yet the 
supports will be hidden from view, so that their movements will be 
unknown, and no aimed or intensified fire can be directed on them 
while reinforcing the fighting line. On the other hand, there will be 
dead ground in advance of B. If, as the other alternative, B be 
chosen for the main line, the supports must move up in full view of the 
enemy while aimed and intense fire can be brought on them from the 
magazine rifles of the assailants as they move up. The data upon 
which would rest the decision Avhich line to occupy would be these :—■ 
first the distance from A to B, and next the amount of dead ground in 
front of B, and whether flanking fire can be easily brought to bear on 
it. If the distance from A to B were not more than from 200 to 250 
yards, while there was a considerable amount of dead ground in front 
of B, undoubtedly the forward position should be held, for the amount 
of space the supports would have to cross under fire is so small that 
the enemy would hardly have time to observe the movement and con¬ 
centrate much fire upon it before it was over; whereas, if the rear 
position were occupied, the enemy could get with comparative ease so 
near the position as to be able to take advantage of any favourable 
circumstance, such as momentary confusion in the defending ranks from 
effective bursts of shell, to rush over the intervening space into the 
position. If, on the contrary, the distance from A to B were 300 or 
more yards and much exposed to the enemy’s fire, it might be better 
to occupy the rear position, especially if the amount of dead ground 
were not great, or if any flanking fire could be brought upon it. But it 
is always a great advantage to the assailant if he can get over any 
considerable space of ground within range of the position under cover, 
so that the writer would always feel inclined to push forward the line 
to a point from which the maximum distance could be seen, unless it 
were actually seriously commanded by ground which the enemy could 
occupy. 
The next case might occur if the defensive force were defending a 
river valley, and would be where a more or less steep and broken 
slope rose from flat, level ground below, as fig. 2. 
Fig. 2. 
Ground of this nature was seen on the fields of Woerth and the 
Lisaine in 1870. 
It is by no means easy to decide upon the best way of holding such 
ground. The slopes of the valley are very likely to be broken by 
lateral valleys and hollows, as at Woerth on the French side, and the 
slopes may be so rough, steep and broken as to render it difficult to 
command them thoroughly with fire. Each case must be judged on 
its own merits, but the following considerations may aid in coming to 
a decision. 
In a case where lateral valleys or hollows exist, it is probable that 
the best position for the main line will be found somewhat retired near 
the heads of the lateral valleys or hollows. A fairly straight line will 
often be found in such a situation which can sweep with its fire the 
