6 
besiegers can only succeed by making use of such powerful forces that, even after 
suffering considerable losses during the deployment, they will have a sufficient 
number of guns in firing order to be certain of victory. They will be especially 
careful to construct their batteries with rapidity and without attracting their 
enemy’s attention ; lastly, they will only employ shell guns or mortars of medium 
calibre, which are sufficiently portable and yet will produce considerable effect. 
Even after a successful deployment, these batteries will have great, difficulty in 
keeping up the contest unless their flanks are carefully guarded. The nearer they 
approach to the enemy the more easily will their flanks be turned, and the 
support of the batteries of introduction will not be sufficient, especially if the 
defenders construct some counter batteries in front of the collateral forts. Con¬ 
sequently, as the Siege Artillery advances towards the works, vigorous action 
should be taken towards the flanks either by direct attack or by turning move¬ 
ments, in order to silence all the guns which might take the principal attack in 
flank. Easily-manoeuvred pieces, such as shell guns and mortars of medium 
calibre, should be used for this purpose, supported by heavy batteries echeloned 
in rear. 
Lastly, to prevent any mistake, the batteries of introduction, at any rate those 
which are not masked, will continue their fire. They will be a powerful support 
to the batteries of execution, and need not change their position, which, with 
such heavy guns would be hardly practicable. 
As usual, General Wiebe does not specify any precise number of guns which 
the besiegers should put into line at this period. He confines himself to 
laying down general principles. “ The very nature of the artillery combat before 
a fortified place,” he says, “ requires that the besiegers should, during this 
period, only employ on the front of attack the number of pieces strictly necessary 
to hold their own with the defenders. They will endeavour, by powerful con¬ 
centrations of fire on the most favourable points, to exhaust the enemy’s forces 
until he finds it impossible to continue the struggle. As soon as this period 
arrives, the artillery combat passes into the period of c decision.’ ” 
The General’s idea then is, that during the period of execution the besiegers 
should endeavour, not only to increase the losses already sustained by the enemy 
and to diminish his means of action, but also to prepare the way for the decisive 
combat by gaining possession of the ground required for the deployment of the 
pieces held in reserve for this last period. The means proposed with regard to 
this object will occasion surprise, and in order not to misrepresent the author, a 
literal translation of the German text is here given:—“To attain the object 
which has just been set before us,” he says, “ it is necessary first to reduce to 
silence the guns of one of the collateral forts and the batteries which adjoin it, 
and then to take possession of this fort itself, for this work, even though it may 
be only a mass of ruins, may still be well defended by infantry, and may con¬ 
siderably interfere with the turning movement against the flank of the principal 
portion of the defence. Consequently, in addition to the batteries intended to 
act against the flanking positions occupied by the enemy, the assailants should 
construct others specially for the attack of the collateral fort. When the latter 
have produced their effect the time will have come to push forward the infantry 
and pioneers, who, in conjunction with the artillery, will gain possession of the 
fort as soon as circumstances permit. In this way the beginning of the decisive 
combat, which ought to be marked by the deployment of the guns intended 
for the enveloping attack, will -not be put off longer than necessary. In fact, 
there is always a fear that the defenders will find a favourable opportunity to 
withdraw their artillery from the destruction which threatens it, will organise a 
position further in rear, and thus oblige the assailants to pass again through all 
the phases of a new combat.” 
This subject will be alluded to again. 
