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Maxim 15.-Every position must afford easy communication, in rear of the line, between the different parts of your line of battle.

This is a deduction from Principle 1; for without the power of moving troops rapidly from one part of your line to every other, the enemy would be enabled to apply the principle at your expense, by bringing a superior force to bear upon that part of your line which you are unable to reinforce. Therefore where easy communications do not exist they must be made, by throwing bridges across streams or ravines, causeways across marshes, and levelling walls or hedges, in such a manner that artillery may be able to pass rapidly from one end of the line to the other.

The advantage of the communication between different parts of the line being in rear, is twofold.

1st. The flank movement of the troops which march to reinforce any threatened portion is protected by the front of the line.

2nd. Such movements are thereby more likely to be concealed from the observation of the enemy, and they should always be entirely concealed from such observation, if possible.

Maxim 16.-The ground in front of your position should be such as to impede the movements of an enemy advancing to attack you, and should be so completely commanded by your position as to

insure its being swept by your artillery to the full extent of its range.

Such ground will be more slowly traversed by the enemy; he will be exposed for a longer time to the fire of your guns, which will have the effect of disordering his march and damping his ardour in a degree proportioned to the difficulty of the ground he has to pass over. The impediments to the march of an enemy to attack your position in front may be of different descriptions

1st. The most effective is a large river or impassable marsh running parallel to your front.

2nd. Villages, which may in a short time be converted into strong posts, and occupied by your troops, so situated that the enemy must take them before advancing beyond them.

3rd. Any favourable ground (naturally or artificially strong, or both) on the line of the enemy's advance, the occupation of which by your troops will delay his march.

In all the above cases it is necessary that the obstacles to the march of the enemy shall be under the full fire of the guns of your position, otherwise the troops posted for their defence may be captured.

It is desirable that the fire of your guns shall cross in front of the points where the enemy may cross the river, or in front of the villages or posts occupied by your troops as advanced posts.

Maxim 17.- Every position must afford secure protection to the flanks of your army.

This is a deduction from Principles 1 and 2, since its observance will prevent the enemy from applying them at your expense.

Principle 1, by his placing himself in such a position as will enable him to attack the flank of your line, the nature of which manœuvre is to bring masses of the attacking force in contact with successive fractions of the line attacked.

Principle 2, by turning your flank and acting on your line of retreat.

Strong natural obstacles afford the best protection, such as mountains, large rivers, impenetrable woods, marshes, &c. Where these do not exist the flanks must be strengthened by artificial

means.

Maxim 18.-A position cannot be too strong; lose no opportunity of strengthening it by means of field works.

Napoleon says: "The natural positions which are generally met with cannot protect an army from the attacks of a superior force without the aid of art."

Towards the end of the Peninsular war no position was taken up without entrenching; first, the guns were covered, then the weakest parts of the line.

Maxim 19.-Occupy your position in such a manner that you can defend a part of it with a

smaller force than that which the enemy can bring against it, so that the greater part of your force may be available to assail the weaker of the enemy.

e. g. If two armies A and B, of 20,000 men each, occupy lines of equal length; but A, by reason of the ground being naturally stronger on the right half of his line, or by reason of entrenchments, is able to occupy that half effectively with only 5000 men, while the force of B is equally disseminated, then (to use a technical term) the 5000 of a contain 10,000 of B; while A has 15,000 wherewith to overwhelm the opposing 10,000 of B.

Jomini says, that to insure the success of an attack made by one wing which is reinforced for that purpose at the expense of the other, it is necessary to refuse the weakened wing. This is undoubtedly true, if every part of your position were occupied (before reinforcing one wing) only in sufficient strength to defend each part from attack; but this is only a particular application of the above maxim which is general.

This maxim is a deduction from Principle 1, as it prescribes the mode of acting to enable you to apply that principle.

An important corollary may be drawn from the above, viz.:

If your force is superior to that of the enemy, you should not therefore occupy a greater front than that

of the enemy, but hold your surplus troops in hand ready to take advantage of any opening that may be afforded. You will thus be able to insure the superiority at the decisive point and time.

If A and B consist respectively of 20,000 and 10,000 men, and A occupies a front twice as extended as that of B, then A loses the advantage of numbers, for B can bring to bear on an opposite part of A's line a force equal to that which can oppose it, and that part may be broken before succour from the distant portions of A's line can arrive.

It must never be forgotten that it is not the number of troops ranged in order of battle which decides the victory, but the number which is actually put in vigorous action by a commander.

The battle of Prague in 1756 exemplifies this.

All the different orders of battle, ancient and modern, may be reduced in principle to this maxim (19). In ancient history the battles of Leuctra, Mantinæa, Arbela, Cannæ, and the Metaurus, furnish examples. So, indeed, do nearly all battles which have been skilfully fought.

Maxim 20. When on the eve of a battle recall all your detachments, do not neglect one however small, one battalion the more sometimes decides the day. (Napoleon.) From Principle 1.

In the same manner as no part of a position can be too strong, a master of the art of war will never

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