4 
' The advanced-guard encounters the enemy and takes up an artillery position at 
‘a distance generally estimated at something between 2000 ™-and 4000 ™. 
Whilst this artillery comes into action, the main-body of the column is massed 
in rear at a point selected by the General Commanding. The latter would wish 
to employ the time required for this concentration by making use of all his means 
of information in order to determine the position of the enemy’s troops, and ‘to 
find out whether reinforcements are coming up to him. If the balloon is then 
near at hand, it will-be able to render him good service. 
We have already seen that the balloon ought to be kept at a distance of about 
5000™ from the hostile artillery, that is to say, from 1000™ to 3000™ in rear of 
the-position of the friendly batteries. It would seem then that the balloon-park 
ought to march at about 3000 in rear of the artillery of the advanced-guard 
and nearly at the head of the main-body. 
As it-is well to give a:certain amount of play between the different parts of ‘a 
column, the best place for the balloon-park would be, in this case, between the 
advanced-guard and the main-body from 300™ to 500™ in advance of the latter. 
There would, however, be no hard and fast rule. It is evident that everything 
will depend upon the situation and upon the intentions of the General Com- 
manding. If, for instance, he wishes to avoid fighting and the orders of the 
‘advanced-guard, on meeting the enemy, are only to contain him so as to give time 
for the main body to change direction, then in that case the balloon-park, if placed 
at the head of the main body, would only be in the way and likely to impede the 
movements of the troops. 
Without prejudice to any conclusions which may be arrived at from past or 
future experiments, there is no doubt that, just as the losses of troops, which 
cannot be covered from the view of the enemy’s artillery, may be diminished by 
the adoption of suitable formations, by keeping them out of dangerously close 
ranges and in motion, so, in order to protect a captive balloon, advantage should 
be taken of altitude, of distance, and of movement. 
