COMMENDED Essay, 1896. 341 
artillery. This reservoir will be spoken of subsequently as the “brigade 
reserve.” 
We have therefore— 
Battalions Batteries 
Battalion reserve Battery reserve 
(Two 8.A.A. carts, two mules (Three ammunition wagons 
per battalion). per battery). 
Brigade reserve Wagon line of brigade-division 
(Two 8.A.A. carts per (The limbers and remaining 
battalion). wagons of all the batteries). 
lee eee = 
Divisional Ammunition Column. 
Ammunition Park. 
The duties of an artillery officer who is in charge of an Ammunition 
Column cease when he has handed over the ammunition to the “ brigade 
reserve” or the “wagon line.” We need not here, therefore, enter 
into the question of its distribution after that point. It is, however, 
laid down that all battalion ammunition transport when emptied, must 
at once proceed to the nearest Divisional Ammunition Column to refill, 
and then return without delay to its position in rear of the troops 
engaged. 
SECTION IV. 
RULES FOR THE GUIDANCE oF OrricerS with AmMuNITION CoLuUMNs. 
The following general rules and memoranda are suggested for the 
use and guidance of officers who may have to deal with the question of 
ammunition supply. 
The Ammunition Columns follow their divisions at a distance which 
is decided by the General officer commanding; if there is more than 
one division on a single road it will have to be decided by him whether 
each Column will follow its own division, or whether all are to move 
in rear of the whole force. 
On the eve of, or during an action, Ammunition Columns must be 
pushed up to the front, and should endeavour to get within about a 
mile of the position which the guns may first take up. 
Owing to the avenues of approach being very likely few in number, 
and movement off them in a close country impossible, or if they should 
become at all blocked or congested with traffic, or to facilitate retreat 
in the event of an obstinate stand not being intended, it will sometimes 
be desirable not to send the whole Column on all the way. In which 
case a portion might be selected on the principle already indicated and 
be pushed on while the remainder is held somewhat further to the rear. 
It is to be remembered that an Ammunition Column for a division 
will require close upon half-a-mile of road when it is in column of route, 
and that in a close country such as England, a column of that length 
would often not find it easy to make its way to the front along a road 
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