NOTES ON APPLIED FIELD FORTIFICATION. 
369 
hand, as the features of the country, especially woods and trees, will 
limit the possible artillery positions. The guns of the defence should 
therefore be arranged so as to bring the utmost weight of fire upon 
such obvious artillery positions of the enemy, and render that fire as 
effective as possible by occupying points whence the enemy’s line of 
guns can be taken obliquely as well as in front. As a rule the 
Divisional batteries should be kept together and in immediate con¬ 
nection with their own Divisions, and probably it will be best at first 
only to put in position the batteries of the Divisions in first line, 
keeping back to begin with the Corps Artilleries and the batteries of 
the Divisions in reserve. But positions (alternative if the ground 
permits) should have been carefully selected and prepared for the 
Corps Artilleries, and they should only be held back until it becomes 
evident where they will be best employed, for as much artillery as 
possible should be early brought into action, so as to prevent batteries 
from being destroyed by being subjected to the concentrated fire of a 
greatly superior force of artillery, and to keep the upper-hand of the 
enemy for as long as possible. The introduction of smokeless powder 
would diminish the danger of retaining the Corps Artilleries in hand at 
first, for if the Divisional Artilleries are skilfully placed, it will be very 
difficult for the enemy to make them out or rapidly overwhelm them. 
It may be a.question whether the batteries of the Divisions in reserve 
should be kept back during the first phase of the action or not. Probably 
it would be best not to do so if a favourable position for their action 
could be found not far from where their Division is posted. For it is all 
important to hinder the enemy as long as possible from establishing a 
superiority of artillery fire. Until he can do so his infantry attacks 
will have small chance of success, and therefore it is worth while to use 
all possible guns to prevent his affecting this object, and until he does 
so they will not be wanted elsewhere. When, however, the defender’s 
artillery is seen to be becoming manifestly overpowered, so that decisive 
infantry attacks may be expected, it will then probably be wise to with¬ 
draw the batteries of the Reserve Divisions so as to refit and replenish 
ammunition and be ready to act with their Divisions in repelling the 
assault, either by counter-attacks or reinforcing the line at the critical 
moment. Corps or Divisions, however, posted at a distance from the 
front, either on the flanks to meet turning movements, or elsewhere for 
any other purpose, would, as a rule, keep their artillery always with 
them. 
The first positions, therefore, of the artillery will be chosen with a 
view to most effectively meeting the assailant’s guns, keeping in mind, 
however, the further object of harassing the enemy’s other arms, if he 
should attempt to bring them up or move them within range. After 
the preliminary artillery duel the next phase of the battle will be the 
infantry attacks. When these begin as many guns as possible should 
be turned on the advancing infantry. For this purpose they should be 
moved to such positions as will enable them to sweep with their fire 
the immediate foreground of the position, if they are unable to do so 
from their original situation. It is quite likely that the slopes immedi¬ 
ately in front of the infantry line have not been visible from the ground 
