NOTES ON APPLIED FIELD FORTIFICATION. 
367 
regards power of resisting tlie enemy's attack should be left severely 
alone, yet there is a strong inducement to hold on to any that are strong 
in themselves, sufficiently near the position to be effectively flanked 
from it and, therefore, not too much exposed to an encircling attack. 
Villages consisting of scattered houses, straggling along roads, such as 
are so often seen in England, often give rise to much difference of 
opinion as to how they should be held. On the whole it seems best not 
to permit the defence to be attracted out too far to the front from one 
house to another, but to choose some zone parallel to the front where 
the defensive line shall be definitely placed, selected so as to have 
within it all strong and important buildings, and to have before it the 
maximum of clear space, and leave alone any scattered buildings there 
may be in front, levelling, if possible, or getting those nearest to the 
selected line. 
A point that will be looked to during this inspection of the ground 
by the Divisional General and his Brigadiers will be the providing, as 
far as possible, of flanking fire to assist the defence of important pivots 
and to sweep ground imperfectly defended by direct fire from the main 
line. The most important points will be recognised by considering the 
situation from the point of view of an attacker, and noting where the 
decisive attacks are likely to be directed. This subject will be alluded 
to again in considering the employment of the artillery and machine 
guns. 
Battalion Officers. 
The Battalion Commanders having received their instructions from 
the Divisional General and Brigadiers, will then superintend the 
detailed installation of their own battalions. They will minutely 
examine the space allotted to their battalions, and determine in the 
first place how many companies shall be placed in the fighting line, 
and whether it is necessary to push forward any advanced parties or 
to double the line at any points. They may find that although the 
allotted line may generally command the ground in front, yet there 
are places which are hidden from it, and they will have to decide how 
to deal with these. It may be possible simply to fill them with obstacles, 
but in other cases it may be necessary to post an advanced party to 
command them. Again, there may be a spur jutting out towards the 
enemy, constituting a weak point, as being exposed to encircling 
attack, and here it may be desirable to double the line, the first portion 
holding the extremity of the spur, and the second being drawn across 
its neck. In short, the Battalion Commander should place himself in 
the position of an enemy advancing to the attack and note any features 
likely to favour the advance, and then devise means for parrying the 
danger. 
The captain of each company will, in the meantime, arrange for the 
best way of utilising the fences, buildings or other features within the 
front to be occupied by his company, and select the exact position for 
trenches wherever he has to take a position in the open. These oper¬ 
ations will be superintended by the Battalion Commander to ensure 
unity of plan. The best method for selecting the exact position for a 
line of trench is to deploy the men along the approximate line to be 
