374 
NOTES ON APPLIED FIELD FORTIFICATION. 
bring up guns. The general reserves will probably be used for this. 
If unsuccessful^ and if the enemy is able to utilise his first success for 
further advance and the position is no longer tenable, or if flank attacks 
have proved successful, all that remains is to withdraw the army in as 
good order as possible under cover of any intact reserves and of the 
cavalry and artillery. 
The possibility of attack by masses of cavalry must not be forgotten. 
It is probable that on most battle-fields there will be only certain 
places where such attacks could occur, for they would only be possible 
where cavalry could get within 1000 yards or so of the infantry under 
cover. In such places the greatest care should be taken that infantry 
are never allowed to be exhausted to such an extent that intact bodies 
are not at hand to meet cavalry. It is only if infantry are entirely 
exhausted that cavalry attacks would have a chance of success. On 
the other hand, in a long fight there may very possibly be periods when 
the infantry of the attack is temporarily exhausted, audit would there¬ 
fore be desirable to post any cavalry that can be spared from the flanks 
in positions from which they could sally forth unawares on the attacking 
lines. But, as mentioned before, in all probability the bulk of the 
defender’s cavalry would be required on the flanks. 
Precautions Against Night Attacks. 
It only remains further to indicate the precautions to be taken to 
guard against night attacks. Of course, it is of the first importance 
that the outpost duty should be efficiently carried out so as to prevent 
the enemy from being able to approach the position without ample 
warning. It is further necessary that the troops who are to form the 
firing line with its supports and immediate reserves should bivouac 
sufficiently near the portions of the line they are to occupy as to be able 
to take up their position at the first alarm and be arranged without 
confusion before the attack comes upon them. Their bivouacs should 
also be so arranged that they have direct access to their own portion of 
the line without units having to cross one another. It is necessary that 
the whole line should be occupied continuously so as to prevent the 
enemy being able to penetrate anywhere unawares. As regards the 
various reserves, they would be distributed along the line somewhat as 
they would be in the daytime, but it must be remembered that turning 
movements are improbable at night, both on account of the difficulties 
that would attend circuitous marches, and because the darkness removes 
the great reason for their being adopted, namely, the murderous effect 
of frontal fire with modern weapons, when a clear view can be obtained 
over the ground. Therefore it is probable that the main attacks will 
be made on the keys of the front of the position, and reserves should 
be at hand to meet such attacks. Artillery will have little scope for 
action at night, but machine guns may very usefully be laid before 
nightfall to sweep defiles or to bring flanking fire in front of localities 
considered especially liable to attack. 
