552 
MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY PROGRESS. 
Apart from the re-organisation in 1889 of the Mountain Artillery as 
a distinct branch, perhaps tbe most important event with us is the 
publication recently of the first “ Manual of Mountain Artillery Drill” 
ever issued in England. 
It is interesting to note a military treatise, lately published in 
France for the guidance of her Mountain Artillery, entitled “ In¬ 
structions sur le Service de Guerre de l’Artillerie de Montague/” 
Recognising the usual conditions under which mountain warfare has 
frequently to be conducted, that is by small columns acting more or 
less independently along different paths in echelon, with single Moun¬ 
tain Batteries in each column, the instructions laid down for their 
Mountain Artillery deal with the “ Battery 33 as the sole tactical 
artillery unit, not the “ Brigade Division.” 
A few of its instructions are here detailed. 
“ The position of a Mountain Battery in the column when there is a 
probability of being attacked should never be too far to the front, as, 
if exposed suddenly to a heavy fire, it is not only without defence in 
itself, but liable to suddenly lose its means of action, as it is sufficient 
for one of its ordnance mules carrying a component part of gun or 
carriage to be wounded and fall over a precipice, to deprive it of the 
use of one of its pieces. Its place in the “ Group 33 should be after 
the second company of the main body if the advanced guard consists 
of only one company, or after the first company if only two companies 
are in the advanced guard. That is, its natural place is between the 
companies whose duty it is to take part in the reconnoitring engage¬ 
ment and fighting in front, and those which are to carry out the attack 
on the position or act as a reserve. Its formation of march is 
‘ Column of Route 3 (single file) or f Column of Sections/ 
It must, however, be sufficiently far to the front in the main body 
to be able to come into action as soon as the advanced guard is engaged, 
in order to prevent the enemy’s artillery from coming into action, and 
to protect the deployment of its own infantry.” 
“ A battery ought never to be broken up unless under exceptional 
circumstances, such as there being insufficient space in the position 
for the guns in line. In such cases the Section Commanders should 
keep up communication with the Battery Commander, who directs the 
fire generally. This breaking up of the battery does not refer to 
small isolated columns to which sections only may be permanently 
attached.” 
“ Placed in its first position sufficiently far to the front to support 
the troops with which it is co-operating, without endangering a rush 
on the guns, any further change of position, excepting for the critical 
moment of pursuit or retreat, should not be made without some very 
strong reason. The relative slowness of the movements of Mountain 
Artillery, the nature of the roads, and the length of its column render 
changes of position frequently long and difficult. It should always be 
borne in mind that in mountainous countries, in order to get nearer 
the objective by some hundreds of yards, one may have to traverse 
some miles, during which the enemy are profiting by the cessation of 
fire. If a second position should be necessary, the Battery Com- 
