180 GARRISON ARTILLERY WARFARE. 
more daring than when the object is the capture of the 
fortress itself; for this last must necessarily be a lon 
operation, and would‘not beundertaken till the Jeetheld the 
command of the sea, and in that case their time would not 
be limited. 
(c) The character of the defence anticipated.—If the defence is 
likely to be weak, it would be the best policy to crush it at 
once; but if vigorous, then the energies of the garrison 
must be first worn out by harassing them from “long 
range,” combined with frequent “ close” attacks. 
(d) The state of the weather and direction of the wind.—These are - 
important factors. A rough or choppy sea is all in favour 
of the defence, since their guns are on steady platforms. 
The false atmosphere created by the smoke of the guns, and 
the manner on which it is acted by the wind, whether it 
hangs about the ships or batteries, may be turned to the 
advantage of one side or the other. At any moment a 
change or lull in the wind might alter the whole situation. 
The main issue, however, is the vulnerability of the fortress itself. 
Neglecting the strength of the garrison, and the possibility of destroy- 
ing the food and water supply by the fire of the fleet; we may say 
that given the necessary armament, the vulnerability of a fortress, 
from an artillery point of view, depends on the invisibility and con- 
sequent protection from fire of its batteries, range-finding arrange- 
ments, command posts, and communications. 
It is obvious that a target lends itself to be aimed at and struck ; 
consequently a fortress whose works offer no target is in a much better 
position for defence than one whose works do so, and its vulnerability 
is decreased thereby. Its vulnerability will further depend on the 
disposition of its works and the armament mounted therein ; whether 
they give each other mutual support, or are so far apart as to invite 
attack in detail from want of it. But guns should not be dotted 
singly here and there with emplacements “ freckling ” the face of the 
fortress in pursuit of invisibility; rather should they be placed in 
groups of the same calibre, and in as many groups as may be con- 
sidered advisable, with due regard to invisibility of position. The 
effect of dotting guns singly here and there may be well illustrated by 
the fact that one groom can very well look after two or three horses in 
one stable; but if they are in different stables, he cannot possibly look 
after them so well, and there will always be a delay in finding him 
when required to bring out a particular horse without previous orders. 
The introduction of guns of different calibre into a work, means special 
cerrections in ranging each nature, and so should be avoided if 
possible. 
As regards the armament :—The position of the gun should be such 
that its projectiles can most easily penetrate, and its fire generally be 
most injurious to the objective against which itis intended to act. 
As previously noted, the modern warship is built to encounter ships 
whose guns have no great command, consequently all their heavy 
