370 
NOTES ON APPLIED FIELD FORTIFICATION. 
from which the batteries have been carrying on their duel with the 
attacking artillery. Possibly these slopes may be seen from a more 
advanced position, in which case the guns must be pushed forward if 
it is practicable to do so. But as they must have been already getting 
the worst of the artillery duel, for otherwise the enemy's infantry would 
hardly be venturing to attack, an advance of this kind will most likely 
present great difficulties. Therefore, the most careful examination of the 
ground should have been previously made to discover any positions to 
which guns could be moved under cover, and from which they can see 
the slopes in front of the infantry, either directly or in flank. A small 
amount of natural cover, a coppice, a hedgerow, or a few trees will 
often be found to facilitate such a movement and hide the guns in 
their new position. Smokeless powder, too, will render it easier for 
them to conceal themselves. Machine guns would be used to sweep any 
defiles and might be especially useful in flanking any otherwise dead 
ground, as their mobility would enable them to get into queer corners, 
and their unobtrusiveness would cause them to escape the enemy's 
notice from a distance. 
For both artillery and machine guns, protection from view is of the 
utmost importance, much more so than cover from fire, which at the 
best can never be very effective, as the men must be more or less 
exposed when serving the guns. But if guns are placed, in the open 
even, some little distance behind any object which conceals them from 
view, such as a hedgerow, it is very difficult for the enemy to see 
whether his fire is effective or not, and even if he gets the range, a very 
little movement forward or back may put him out altogether and 
enable the batteries to work effectively and without much loss, under 
what would be an annihilating fire, if the enemy could only correct his 
aim. But either gun-pits or epaulments may be used where no better 
cover can be obtained. Or a nick cut in the reverse slope of a gentle 
rise gives very good cover. 
Outpost Line, and Second or Eallying Line. 
Hitherto we have been considering the main line of defence, but a 
properly organised position will have two subsidiary lines, one the 
Outpost Line, and the other the Second or, as it is sometimes called, 
Rallying Line. 
Outpost Line .—The object of the Outpost Line is to give timely 
warning of the approach of the enemy, to prevent small hostile bodies 
from approaching and reconnoitring or harassing the main line, and 
further, in case of serious attack, to offer such a measure of resistance 
as will give the army time to take up its fighting position. The line 
will consist of picquets providing a chain of sentries, supports and 
reserves as laid down in the Regulations. The line of sentries or 
line of observation will be posted in the position from which the best 
view is to be obtained, and a line of resistance will be selected which 
will make use of all available localities which can be easily rendered 
defensible, such as groups of buildings, small coppices, &c. 
It may often be found that localities, concerning which there has 
been some doubt as to whether they should be included in the main 
