GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESSAY, 1896. 299 
direct from the corps head-quariers through the officer commanding 
R.A. who is on the staff of the army corps. 
Having stated the constitution and position in the army corps of the 
Ammunition Columns and Park, we can now, taking an army corps as 
our unit, study their duties, positions and probable movements in 
action. It may be taken as an axiom that an army will be fighting 
one of the following three classes of battles, and that this will have an 
influence on the general conduct of the Ammunition Columns and 
Parks. These are, as everybody knows:—(1.) The defensive action, 
which must be subdivided into two heads. (la.) The army corps 
having taken up a defensive position to meet attack, in which it in- 
tends to fight to the last, and:—(1b.) The rear-guard action. (2.) 
The offensive action, in which an enemy in such a position as (1a.) is 
being systematically attacked. (8.) The unpremeditated action, where 
two opposing armies meet on the march and fight very much as they 
happen to come up. 
It is self-evident that the réle of the Ammunition Columns must be 
very different in each of these cases, and that different orders will 
have to be given in each case. We will first consider the position in 
action which would probably be the best for the Ammunition Columns 
and Parks in each of these cases. (la.) Here much can be arranged 
beforehand. Everything depends on bringing a continuous fire on the 
enemy from the moment that his columns come into sight until the 
time when he delivers his final attack. It will be reasonable to suppose 
that in a defensive position there will be cover available at no great 
distance from the fighting line where the Ammunition Columns can 
be parked. These positions can be clearly shown to the troops 
engaged. They should be near a road or, if possible, two or more roads 
leading to the front. ‘Two openings should be made in the fence if 
the Ammunition Column is parked in an enclosed field; one for empty 
wagons and carts to come in by, and the other as an exit to the front 
for full ones; the rule of the road being observed in the selection of 
these openings to prevent any crossing of wagons and carts. Some 
light guide posts should be placed showing the way to the Ammunition 
Column, each of which should bear the number and designation of the 
Ammunition Column. It is obvious that the position selected should 
be as close to the troops engaged as is consistent with comparative 
safety from fire, and the fact that in case of retreat the Ammunition 
Column may be able to get out of the way and escape capture. A 
distance of a mile should in such a case be amply sufficient unless there 
is some natural defile behind the position which would cause the 
column to be very much exposed had it to retreat over or through it. 
In this contingency, if not too far distant, the further side of the defile 
would appear to be a good place, but the distance should not exceed 
two miles. The Park can, in this case, be advanced to from five or 
six miles from the Ammunition Columns to facilitate the filling of the 
latter, as there will be no immediate danger of its crowding roads 
which should be quite clear of troops, these being already all concen- 
trated at the front. If, however, any rear-guard position has been 
selected in the event of defeat, the Park should be behind this. 
The different 
ositions in 
iff erent en- 
gagements, 
(3). 
Position 
Case “(la.). 
