The New Tactics of Infantry; (Studies In)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1891 Excerpt: ...The first necessity of the Defence then, if it means to perform its task with its relatively weak forces, is concentration on decisive points. To put the matter in a negative form, we may say that the Defence should never accumulate forces where it will not presumably be exposed to decisive or would-be decisive attack, where in fact the assailant will probably only make demonstrations. It being now established that the general principle of occupation of ground for passive defence is to concentrate on decisive points, and only to remain in observation elsewhere, we now come to the arrangement of details at these centers of concentration. The nature of the case demands that every such center should form an independent whole under one command, whose entire task amounts to this: to maintain himself with the force under his orders at the point assigned to him. Just as we said before, an attack to be successful and decisive should be conducted under the persuasion that the sword severs or snaps asunder, so we may here require the defence to be maintained with the conviction that the shield wards off the blow or splits. It has been remarked of the assailant that he never can tell what force he may chance upon, so now we may assert of the defender that he never knows but what he may yet be relieved. The most determined and stubborn tenacity is alone capable of enabling the Defence to encounter the resolute energy of an attack, pushed to the utmost. The possibility of evacuating the post confided to him must be as far from the defender's mind as the idea of retreat from that of the assailant. This appears to be a fit place to warn the student against conduct on the part of the defender corresponding to those premature and useless engagements ...