5 
executed under such circumstances must evidently be slow and partake of the 
character of siege-firing, rather than that of field-firing. 
From the preceding remarks, it is evident that it would be a great mistake for 
the defenders to abandon the ground in front of their works too soon. On the 
contrary they should hold on to it as long as possible and force the enemy to 
make a first deployment of the artillerie @armée. If the defender’s works are only 
of a temporary, instead of a permanent nature, the same series of obstacles will have 
to be confronted. Of course it will not be necessary to employ so great a number 
of heavy pieces, and shell-guns would probably be used in preference to mortars, 
but it would still be necessary to bring a considerable number of pieces of large 
calibre into action, in order to force the line. : 
Even when the assailants have succeeded in approaching within easy range of 
the works and have got a part, at any rate, of their heavy guns into position, the 
defenders need not abandon exterior action, Curved fire has little effect against 
objects in motion, such as infantry marching to the attack, and under favourable 
circumstances, the defenders might attempt to capture the batteries intended for 
this class of fire, which can change their aim but slowly, and which are conse- 
quently more exposed to sudden attack than the other. 
General Speck does not attempt to ignore this danger, but recommends that in 
such cases recourse should be had to the neighbouring field batteries which, with 
their low trajectories are better suited for checking troops on the march. This, 
however, would require a good deal of vigour and decision, as these batteries would 
have to change their aim rapidly when already engaged in the combat. 
It is evident from General Speck’s essay, as well as from the previous essays of 
General Von Sauer and General Wiebe, which were noticed sometime ago in the 
“ Proceedings,” that the Germans are convinced that curved fire will render works 
of fortification of every kind untenable in a comparatively short time, and the 
creation of batteries of foot artillery with horsed-carriages is intended to provide 
for its use. Considered from the point of view of siege-warfare the new organi- 
zation is perhaps a step in advance of the old, but in field-warfare we may believe 
that the employment of these heavy batteries will always be attended with 
difficulties on account of the weight of their matériel. In order to bring them 
into effective action, considerable efforts will be necessary and numerous precautions 
must be taken, which will often cause delays, from which the enemy will sometimes 
derive great advantage. 
