MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY PROGRESS. 
553 
mander should first assure himself that he can reach it in time to carry 
out his idea, and without the liability of experiencing heavy loss, and 
so placing the battery at a disadvantage to the enemy’s artillery, or 
even infantry.” 
Prior to coming into action, the battery is divided into two lines, the 
“ Batterie de Tir ” corresponding to our fighting line, including the 
six guns and twelve ammunition mules, and the “ Echelon de Combat” 
corresponding to our ammunition line and artificers line, comprising 
the remaining ammunition mules and spare material mules of the 
battery. The supply of ammunition is kept up as follows :—In action 
the boxes of the first ammunition males are unloaded and placed in 
rear of the guns, or if the ground permits in rear of the flanks of 
the battery. The non-commissioned officer in charge of the second 
ammunition mules places them under cover in the position indicated. 
The unloaded 1st ammunition mules are put under cover by the 
N.-C.O.’s of odd sub-divisions of each section. When the whole of 
the 1st line mules are under cover, the Quartermaster-Sergeant, who 
is in charge of the “ Echelon de Combat,” and has conformed to the 
movements of the “ Batterie de Tir,” at a distance in rear of from 300 
to 400 yards, now selects a position under cover, from which the nature 
of the path to the fighting line will enable the ammunition mules to 
arrive in relief of the empty box mules within five minutes of 
quitting the “ Echelon de Combat.” When in position he tells off the 
six ammunition mules held first in readiness to proceed with a N.-C.O. 
to the fighting line when required. 
The first ammunition boxes when unloaded, have their contents 
distributed by the N.-C.O. in charge to the ammunition numbers of 
the gun detachment, and as soon as the contents of three pairs of 
boxes have been fired away three of the second ammunition mules are 
sent up to the front, their boxes taken off, and re-loaded with empty 
boxes they are sent back to their position under cover. The boxes 
of the odd sub-divisions are emptied and fired away first. The relief 
in the fighting line is, therefore, by three mules at a time, so that 
there are never more than three or six mules in rear of the guns at 
the same time under fire. 
The supply to the fighting line from the “ Echelon de Combat ” in 
rear of ammunition is maintained thus. When the first shot is fired, 
the Q.-M.-S. sends up six ammunition mules to the position under cover 
where are the first and second ammunition mules. As soon as the six 
first ammunition mules, laden with empty boxes, have returned from 
the guns under cover to the second ammunition mules, the N.-C.O. in 
charge at this spot sends them back to the “ Echelon de Combat ” 
(ammunition line) with a gunner or junior N.-C.O., and they are 
replaced by six other ammunition mules. The supply of ammunition 
between the battery and the ammunition line is thus by six mules at a 
time. The reserve ammunition columns if in the neighbourhood 
replaces by six or twelve mules at a time the deficient ammunition of 
the “ Echelon de Combat.” 
I have gone into this rather fully, as, except in the briefest manner 
in the new manual, no instructions are laid down on this important 
