g
exhausted troops and of dealing with the "decisive counter-attack" of
the enemy.

THE COMMANDER'S PLANS.--Once troops are committed to the assault the
commander is powerless to divert them to another purpose. His control
is exercised in {58} the correct interpretation or adaptation of his
original plan by his subordinate commanders. Before launching his
troops to the attack in accordance with the decisions arrived at from
information received, the commander will assemble his subordinates and
the representatives of co-operating arms or formations in order that
his plans may be explained. This conference should be held at such a
time as will enable his subordinates to explain their _role_ to the
sub-unit commanders. Wherever possible the conference should be
preceded by a personal reconnaissance of the ground over which the
attack is to be made, otherwise a map of the district concerned must be
substituted for the actual view.

The commander will be influenced in his plans by the state of the
campaign at the time of the decision to attack. In the opening stages
of a campaign in a thickly populated country, and generally throughout
a campaign in less settled districts, a war of manoeuvre will lead to
the "Encounter Battle," and the objective to be aimed at will be
limited only by the power of endurance of his troops, the weather
conditions, and the possibility of supplying his victorious troops with
ammunition and food. Under other conditions, the objective will be
subject to further limitations, as the defensive position will be
organised in great depth, and while effective penetration will thus be
more difficult to achieve it must, of necessity, be accompanied by
widening in proportion to its depth in order that space for manoeuvre
and facility for communication may be secured. The Infantry Attack
will be conducted on the same lines in both forms of battle, but the
greater the organisation of the defensive position the more limited
will be the depth to which the attack can be carried on and the greater
difficulty will there be in launching reserves in pursuit.

THE POSITION OF ASSEMBLY.--A column in march formation will very rarely
move to its attack position, or "jumping-off place," from column of
route except {59} where there are concealed lines of approach to the
spot. A Position of Assembly will therefore be assigned, and this will
be chosen with a view to cover for the troops and facilities for the
iss