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Tactics (MILITARY Cressy and Poitiers)

MILITARY Cressy and Poitiers, but at Bannockburn was ridden down by the Scotch cavalry, because the flanking spearmen had been omitted. Gustavus Adolphus, by employing cartridges, enabled his infantry to fire more quickly than his opponent and so to form on a wider front. The invention of the bayonet, doing away with the necessity for pikemen to protect the musketeers, still further increased the firepower of infantry. The British two-deep line overthrew, by its enveloping fire and charge, the column formation of the French in the Peninsula and of the Russians at the Alma, though in this battle its defects are shown in the confusion caused by moving to the attack over broken ground. In the battles of the Franco-German War of 1870-1871 it was found impossible to advance against the fire of modern breech-loading rifles except by rushes of comparatively thin lines of skirmishers, constantly re-enforced by supports and reserves in rear. The magazine rifle and smokeless powder of to-day still further complicate the forced by supports and reserves in rear. The magazine rifle and smokeless pow- der of to-day still further complicate the how to get to within 500 yards of the enemy without being destroyed.

In warfare against savages large numbers, fanatical courage, and rapid movements have to be met by special tactics. Thus the crescent-shaped enveloping at tack of the Zulus and the rapid attacks of the Sudanese Arabs were received by the British in the impenetrable-square formation or by forming "laagers"; opposing a material obstacle to the onof the Sudanese Arabs were received by artillery. Thus, too, the Indians of the Western plains were met by a style of fighting resembling their own, and which the American troops also found serviceable in encounters with the Filipinos. Cavalry tactics, apart from the excepartillery. Thus, too, the Indians of the Western plains were met by a style of fighting resembling their own, and which the American troops also found servicetine empire. Cavalry fight by shock action on only, and the power of man and horse has not altered. Artillery tactics consist in massing the fire of every gun as soon as possible on important points, and overwhelming the enemy's guns and infantry with projectiles at ranges of 2 miles or more, not shunning closer quarters if the necessity arises. consist in massing the fire of every gun as soon as possible on important points, and overwhelming the enemy's guns and but follow the same general course as other combined tactics. Thus in defense the guns oblige early deployment and co-operate with the infantry in repelling the advance, while in the attack they destroy the material defenses and keep down the fire of the place so as to enable the assault to be delivered. During the siege mining tactics will be made use of on both sides. The functions of the