4 
proposed to be occupied by the batteries. These assembling positions must, as 
far as possible, be utilised by the artillery as preparatory positions. 
When the special reconnaissance of the artillery has been completed, the 
batteries are ordered up from the assembling position either into a preparatory 
pésition or directly into the position for action. In this latter case the brigade 
division commander gives the necessary orders as to the extent of front to be 
covered, the first elevation and the position to be occupied by the limbers. 
Battery commanders lead their battery till there can be no longer any doubt of 
the line of advance into position, they then rapidly join the brigade division com- 
mander to carry out their own reconnaissance. 
e ° ° ° ° ° e e ° e 
(17.) It is now-a-days most important not only to make the reconnaissance 
of the first position under cover, but to advance under cover and eventually place 
the batteries on covered positions. ‘The assailant must neglect nothing which, 
may further increase the advantages inherent to the defenders, a delay in opening 
fire resulting from caution cannot be weighed in the balance with the evils 
resulting from coming precipitously into action. 
Particular attention must be paid to the following points :— 
(1.) Advancing the batteries each one in the formation and to the point 
most likely to keep it under cover, not hesitating for this purpose 
to make necessary détours. 
(2.) Bringing the batteries into action independently. 
(3.) Pointing out the target and ranging point to the section commanders 
and layers before running the guns up into position. 
(4) Running the guns up by hand into the firing position only at the 
moment of opening fire. A regular disposition of the guns is only 
a secondary consideration in the choice of each of their positions, 
which must, above all things, be governed by the ground; thus a 
gun may be moved to the front, rear or laterally as much as the 
equivalent of one third of the interval between two guns, from its 
normal position. 
(18.) The limbers are, as far as possible, placed under cover in any 
formation most suitable to the particular case and ground; they must not, how- 
ever, in any case be more than 220 yards distant from the guns. 
(20.) While the fire is proceeding, the brigade division commander makes 
the necessary dispositions for reconnoitring the ground in front and the second 
position, which he thinks he will be ordered to take up. With this object in 
view, besides information gained from the map and his own observation, he makes 
use of his scouts by sending them to the front on particular missions. 
(22.) As soon as the brigade division commander has been warned that a 
change of position is about to take place, he informs the battery commanders and 
gives them preliminary instructions, in time for them, without checking the 
fire, to inform the section commanders, who in their turn warn the layers. 
The more complete and clear the instructions given before advancing, the more 
favourable will be the conditions under which the change of position takes place 
and the less confusion and delay will then be in reopening fire from the second 
position. 
(23.) As soon as the brigade division commander has given the preliminary 
instructions he proceeds to the second position, battery commanders joining him 
as soon as they can leave their batteries without danger of delaying the advance, 
