306 GOLD MEDAL PRIZE ESsAY, 1896. 
advances it may have full boxes everywhere to start with. As the 
critical phases of the battle approach, he must wait ready to follow a 
general advance, but it will scarcely ever be advisable for him to 
advance until the position is crowned. He may have to send teams to 
get guns out of action in exposed positions, but it will usually be better 
to leave guns where they are, unless there is not sufficient power of 
resistance left in the attack to meet a counter attack, and all this he 
can scarcely know, and can only act in obedience to {direct orders 
received. 
Should, however, defeat and retreat appear certain, the officer 
commanding the Ammunition Column must take steps to retire; 
action similar to that above described for retirement will apply here 
also. In the event of a distinct success, the Ammunition Column must 
be brought up at once to the fighting troops, and everything possible 
done for them. ‘They must rest and should not be asked to work. 
pee? A division making a flank attack cannot be supported during the 
Ammn, Col, attack; this is of the nature of a sudden effort and the ammunition 
oaaek carried regimentally should always suffice. 
Ge a. The Corps Troops Ammunition Column will act in a similar manner 
Orps 0b. . 0 % 
Troops to the divisional; it can, however, only attempt to supply artillery 
Attn during the action. It can send assistance to whatever column is by 
force of circumstances obliged to supply the corps battalion should it 
be engaged. ‘This is, however, a very small portion of its duty. 
Gee The Cavalry Brigade Ammunition Column will remain in rear of 
Brigade Whichever flank of the corps the cavalry brigade may be acting. 
Guu" Regimental carts and some of the artillery ammunition wagons will 
probably stay with it. ‘These can go to the front to supply the brigade 
when it is inactive, which will be always during a considerable portion 
of the engagement. As cavalry in action is nearly always behind the 
infantry the supply of this arm is simple. It will of necessity have to 
find its Ammunition Column and make its demands, as the column 
cannot move about to suit the continually varying position of the 
cavalry brigade. 
Case 3, Here the Ammunition Columns, of whatever nature, can only take 
part during the action when the preliminaries are over, and, as a matter 
of fact, one of the two previously described cases has been assumed by 
the army in question. 
The columns will of necessity have te come up some distance from 
the rear, but must park further off than in either of the above men- 
tioned cases, so as little can be definitely known of what is going to 
take place, that their presence close up would be a grave danger. 
Troops may have to be moved from one flank to another—nothing can 
be considered as settled. A general uniformity of movement at a re- 
spectful distance is all that can be dictated, most careful reports of 
these movements being always sent forward, unless specific orders are 
received. When in this case an Ammunition Column is finally parked, 
the work of replenishing loss will be more arduous than in the 
previous cases, as it is certain to be more or less late in the day, while, 
from the nature of things, the losses in horses and drivers will probably 
be greater than in the other cases, as cover cannot be so well utilised 
