the front rank in lancer regiments their lances, to the engage, the horses are put to full speed, and all should endeavour to keep closed to the centre.

To deliver the attack correctly, if the front of the marked enemy is to be attacked, the section should strike with a parallel front, and centre to centre; the enemy's flank is to be attacked obliquely or at right angles, the centre of the section must be directed accordingly.

In practice, after the delivery of the attack, and the marked enemy has wheeled about and been pursued for from 200 to 300 paces, the 'Rally' (Appel) is ordered, and repeated by the leaders and guides, when all fall into a trot and get into regular order behind their leader, who rides on at a trot in the direction of the retreating marked enemy. When all the horses are at a trot, he orders the halt.

In presence of a real enemy, the commander must judge of the opportune moment for ordering the 'Attack,' e.g. in an open terrain he would give the order at about 1,000 paces distant, in a close country as soon as the enemy is made out, or his proximity is reported by the patrols.

The moment for breaking into a gallop must be dependent on circumstances, such as the condition of the horses, the nature of the ground over which the attack is delivered, and again on the arm against which the attack is directed. When from 80 to 60 paces distant, the Charge' should be ordered, the horses put to their full speed, and the rush made with shouts of

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'Hurrah!' The charge should not be ordered at a greater distance than from 80 to 60 paces, for, if made over too great a space, it would tend to an opening out of the files, and the overwhelming shock of an attack with closed ranks would lose its force. When the charge is ordered, every horseman must rush forward with the firm determination to break through the enemy's ranks. The example of the commander will here be the most material guarantee for success, and, riding as he does only two paces in front of his section, he should, after ordering the charge, strain every effort to be the first to reach the enemy. In the ensuing mêlée, each man should always pick out one parti cular opponent; he should never remain standing still, and must endeavour to give as many cuts or points as possible. Cuts should be delivered, in preference, at the head, face, neck, or bridle hand, points at the breast or ribs. The leaders and guides, when the men have never before been in a mêlée, should urge them on, with shouts, to make use of their swords. At the 'Rally,' repeated by all guides, the men assemble as rapidly as possible behind their commander.

In Open Order (Schwarm').

An attack should, under certain circumstances, be made in open order, i.e. in swarm, in preference to close order, e.g. against artillery, in order to suffer as little as possible from its fire; or against advancing infantry, when the object is rather to arrest their advance than actually to charge them, or to attract

their fire, that a body following in close order may have the better chances of success, or when perhaps the appearance only of a body of horse would seem likely to produce the required effect, and the ground does not admit of an advance in close order, &c.

The swarm is formed at the word 'Swarm' (Schwarm); it has no distinct formation; the commander rides at the head, the men in open order, but not so widely apart as to endanger unity of command. At the order' Attack,' swords, if not already drawn, are grasped, the men in lancer regiments trail their lances.

If the commander does not propose to break in on the enemy, he orders the 'About' at a suitable distance. If his intention is to strike home, he orders the Charge,' which, in the attack of the swarm, may commence from a greater distance than in the attack in close order. Swords and lances are brought to the engage.

The Rally.

It is of the greatest importance for cavalry to reform, i.e. rally, rapidly, after delivering an attack: the rally may be effected either towards the enemy or towards the rear.

In practising the rally towards the enemy, the section commander, after following the marked enemy for a certain distance, gives the order 'Rally,' which is answered in the manner previously explained.

In practising the rally towards the rear the com

section turns.

mander, when at from 200 to 150 paces from the marked enemy, orders 'About,' and the whole The leader must endeavour to regain the front of the section before it has got round; he then rides at its head, at a gallop, either directly or obliquely to the rear, the section following him in open order (Rudel), but keeping as much as possible together. When in presence of a real enemy, he would lead obliquely to the rear, if, for example, it were necessary to clear the front for the charge of a succeeding body, or if the opportunity were afforded of renewing the attack and falling on the enemy's flank, &c. After retiring from 800 to 1,000 paces he orders the rally, turns about, and rides at a trot in the direction of the marked enemy; every man must immediately turn with him; the section forms its. ranks, as rapidly as possible, in rear of its leader, and follows him at the pace ordered.

A main point to be observed is that the leader must be very quick in getting round in front of his men, who must pay undivided attention to him. If well trained, a section should be closed up and ready to be led a second time to the attack, when it has covered 20 to 30 paces after turning about at the order Rally.' When practising for instruction, the movement to the rear should at first be always conducted at a trot, and, indeed, should but seldom be performed at a gallop. Once the 'Charge' has been given, the 'About' must on no account be ordered; to do so would only spoil the men, for, in all peace

manœuvres, the soldier must be confirmed in the principle, that, once at the charge, he must imperatively ride home at the enemy. If a body of cavalry is overpowered in the mêlée, the commander should not attempt to rally it until clear of the actual fighting zone; after attacking cavalry, not till the heat of the pursuit has ceased; after an attack on infantry or artillery, not till it has got beyond their most effective range. To attempt a rally earlier would be fruitless, and would tend to undermine the men's confidence in the commander.

ATTACK OF THE SQUADRON.

In Close Order.

A squadron is led to the attack either in line or column; as a rule, in line, since it admits of the maximum number of horsemen being brought simultaneously to the shock. If time will not allow of deployment, either because a surprise is intended, one is oneself surprised, space does not admit of it, or, again, it is imperative to break through at some one point at all hazards, the attack is made in column.

The attack in line is executed in the same manner as laid down for the section; the squadron would not, as a rule, detach a reserve. If an attack on the enemy's flank is to be made simultaneously with the frontal attack, this duty must be entrusted to one of the flank sections (detailed to it during the advance by