8 
possible, their respective positions, and see if the moment ha*s not arrived when a 
final blow may be struck at a shaken adversary. 
According to General Wiebe this estimate is difficult to make, because it is 
easy to be deceived in the extent of the enemy’s exhaustion. Even the slacken¬ 
ing of fire is not a sure indication, as it may be voluntary and temporary, with a 
view to deceiving the enemy or from some other cause. Errors are certainly to 
be feared, but it is doubtful whether the General is right in saying that they are 
equally probable in either direction, that is to say that the enemy’s moral and 
material position is as likely to be over-estimated as the reverse. Is there not a 
natural tendency in the besieged to exaggerate the forces of the besiegers, and 
vice versa ? Does not this frequently happen ? General Wiebe might have done 
better if he had admitted this distinction, but he has not done so. He continues 
his deductions as follows :—“ If we believe the enemy to be more shaken than 
he is, we shall encounter an unexpected resistance, and, perhaps, even be exposed 
to an offensive return on his part; consequently it will be necessary to have at 
hand the means of guarding against this danger, which might place everything in 
jeopardy. If, on the other hand, his situation is judged of too favourably, no 
serious disadvantage will follow, and advantage may be taken of the fact to push 
on the final operations as vigorously as possible, so as to hurry on the 
“ denouement .” 
As has been said above, under certain favourable circumstances the enemy may 
be defeated during the period of execution; but, adds the author, unless it is 
certain that the resisting strength and resources of the enemy are exhausted, an 
enveloping attack round one'flank will be the surest means of obtaining victory. 
This .principle is correct in theory, but it seems very difficult to apply it to siege 
warfare, and General Wiebe goes too far in trying to assimilate the operations 
in an open country to those of the attack of a fortress. As will be seen, the 
explanations which follow do not reply to the numerous objections which can be 
raised to the adoption of this principle. 
The first condition necessary for success in the enveloping attack is to have the 
space necessary for working the batteries, and with that object the occupation of 
one of the collateral forts and the neighbouring ground is an absolute necessity. 
The second condition is to act by surprise so that the deployment of the artillery 
may follow immediately upon the capture. The third and most important con¬ 
dition is to open fire simultaneously with a great number of pieces. It has 
already been seen that, according to General Wiebe, these pieces should be quick- 
firing and easily manoeuvred. There is no reason why they should not be 
supported by heavier pieces, but the latter should be entirely distinct from those 
intended for the developing attack. 
It is to be expected that the enemy will make every effort to take the attacking 
batteries in flank or rear, because they can hardly resist them in front. To 
guard against this danger General Wiebe recommends, first, rapidity of attack, 
and, secondly, a combination of an attack in front with one in flank, so as to give 
the enemy no time, distract his attention, and, if possible, oblige him to divide 
his forces. 
Such is, on the principal points, the course which the artillery should pursue 
during this last period. But, in order to secure the successes obtained by this 
arm, they should be followed up step by step by the infantry and pioneers, who 
will rapidly occupy the points in the enemy’s line where guns have been dis¬ 
mounted, and will put them in a state of defence. 
Lastly, an offensive return on the part of the enemy should always be guarded 
against, which may create a momentary check or even movement in retreat. In 
order to minimise the results of such a contingency, a series of defensive 
positions should be organised during the advance, in order to check such a 
movement if successful. 
