COMMENDED EssAy, 1896. 345 
be allowed when empty to proceed direct to the Divisional Ammunition 
Column to refill, and then return to its position in rear of the troops 
engaged. 
All S.A.A. carts should be available for the brigade generally, and 
should not be looked upon as the peculiar property of any particular 
battalion. 
Similarly the aid of Ammunition Columns or Parks is not to be 
limited to batteries of their own unit. The utmost liberality of action 
should here be exercised, and ammunition, men, stores, or horses freely 
given or received during an action from any Ammuuition Column 
which may be at hand. 
As regards captains in charge of an artillery line of wagons of officers 
in a similar position with the brigade ammunition reserve there are a 
few more matters to be noticed. 
The position of the wagon line as regards the guns, or of the brigade 
ammunition reserve as regards the firing line in the case of infantry, is 
dealt with in the drill-books of those arms, and it is not necessary 
therefore here to discuss points with reference to distances or cover. 
It may be mentioned, however, that empty wagons should be kept with 
the wagon line and empty S.A.A. cart with the brigade reserve, until 
full ones to take their place have come up from the Column. 
It will tend to order and regularity, and will facilitate the labour of 
the men if, when full wagons are approaching a “wagon line,” N.-C.0.s 
are sent to meet and lead them directly alongside the exhausted wagons 
which are to be taken away. Confusion and delay will thus be obviated, 
and the exchange of horses, mens’ kits and arms will be rendered more 
easy. 
It will also be advisable, except in a case of great emergency, to 
keep the men and horses of a Column from becoming mixed up with 
those of either the brigade-division or the infantry brigades. Menand 
horses from the Column should therefore not be allowed to advance 
beyond the wagon or brigade reserve line. 
AMMUNITION Parks. 
It is the duty of an officer commanding an Ammunition Park to 
report the arrival and notify the position of his Park to the C.R.A. of 
the army corps, and to the officers commanding the Divisional Am- 
munition Columns. Constant communication with these officers should 
be kept up, and any changes in position should at once be made known 
to them. The Parks should be formed up off the roads, but close to 
them, and should supply all the deficiences which the Ammunition 
Columns are unable to satisfy, and should moreover keep the Columns 
replenished and fit for movement. 
The empty divisional wagons will usually, it may be assumed, be 
sent back and filled up at the Park, but when time presses full wagons 
should be sent forward from the Parks on the same principle as the 
service will work between Divisional Columns and brigade divisions or 
reserves. ‘The position of the Ammunition Parks will be determined 
by General officers commanding corps, who will actin conjunction with 
the officer commanding artillery on their staff. 
