NOTES ON APPLIED FIELD FORTIFICATION. 
873 
Conduct of Defence. 
Having considered the manner in which the troops will be arranged 
in the position, it may be well to outline the method in which a defen¬ 
sive action will be conducted. 
The outpost line will repulse as long as possible the attempts of the 
enemy to reconnoitre and the advance of weak bodies, so as to prevent 
the army from being harassed, unless a general action is impending. 
The commencement of the latter will usually be heralded by recon¬ 
naissances in force, some of which may force back the outposts and 
must then be checked by the main line. The enemy will also begin 
to deploy masses of artillery. When this is observed the artillery of 
the defence will do its utmost to prevent the assailant's artillery from 
getting the upper-hand. It may be possible to put infantry in ambush 
in positions from which they could bring destructive fire on the guns if 
they made a rash advance, or possibly cavalry might be so posted as 
to have a chance of surprising them. 
The next phase of the action will be when the artillery of the defence 
is being overpowered and the attacking infantry advances. All avail¬ 
able guns will then be turned on the infantry and the main line of 
defence will be occupied by a firing line of infantry, in full strength 
where the main attacks threaten, thinly at other points : supports and 
reserves will still keep under cover, but the casualties in the firing line 
will of course be filled up as they occur. If the musketry fire of the 
defence can be kept up, it is hardly possible that the enemy will be 
able to advance to the assault against it. But two alternatives must 
be considered—firstly, a flank attack, and secondly, such a concentra¬ 
tion of fire upon some points in the front as to reduce the defenders to 
silence. In the first case the flank attack will be met by the troops 
posted on the flanks for that purpose, either prolonging the original 
line, or occupying a second position in rear or themselves attacking 
the troops making the turning movement. In the second case, if the 
defenders are silenced or nearly so at certain points in the front, 
the local reserves will be prepared to make counter-attacks when the 
enemy get within reach and is wearied with his previous exertions. 
Whilst the infantry attacks are going on the artillery must strain 
every nerve to assist their own infantry in repelling the attacks, and 
on no consideration must guns be withdrawn out of action, 1 but they 
must be fought to the last, as the very last round may turn the balance 
and decide the repulse of the attack. Every endeavour should also be 
made to support the counter-attacks by flanking fire from other parts 
of the line. Counter-attacks made at the right moment and vigorously 
carried out will have many chances of success, especially if they can 
be made on the flank of the assailants. If they are not successful, 
however, and the enemy gets possession of some part of the 1st line, 
he will be checked by the pivots of the 2nd line, and under their 
cover measures should be at once taken to attack him in turn before he 
has had time to recover from the inevitable disorder of even a success¬ 
ful attack, consolidate his possession of the conquered ground and 
1 Except those belonging to bodies in reserve as previously mentioned. 
