utually supporting
tactical points (farmsteads, villages, woods, ridges, knolls, etc.)
will usually be held in groups, under group commanders, with definite
subordinate commanders, and the group commander will probably control
the local reserves of that group, with which he can assist any of the
units in times of need. The units from which such groups are formed
will usually be complete sections.

_He will decide the position of the General Reserve_. This will be the
locality best suited for the advance to the decisive counter-attack, if
it is to be delivered from a distance; or near the point where the
enemy's decisive attack is expected, if it is intended to hurl the
General Reserve into the flank and rear of the enemy's main {95} attack
while it is heavily engaged with the troops holding the position. As
surprise is essential to success, the position of the General Reserve
should be concealed as long as possible. The position of the General
Reserve will depend upon the ascertained intentions of the enemy. At
the _Second Battle of the Somme_ (March 21, 1918) the intentions of the
German commander were ascertained during the first day's fighting. "As
by this time (_i.e._ the evening of March 21) it had become clear that
practically the whole of the enemy's striking force had been committed
to this one battle, my plans already referred to for collecting
reserves from other parts of the British front were put into immediate
execution. By drawing away local reserves and thinning out the front
not attacked, it was possible to reinforce the battle by eight
divisions before the end of the month" (Sir D. Haig's Dispatches).

_He must decide the position_, and to some extent the action, of the
Cavalry. Before defensive action in a War of Manoeuvre the cavalry
have been out on reconnaissance, and during the early stages they have
endeavoured to lure the assailants on to a false position. During the
battle they will frustrate the efforts of opposing mounted troops, will
protect a vulnerable flank, and will assist generally by dismounted
fire action. After the victorious counter-attack they will emerge in
pursuit. In case of a reverse they will delay the enemy's victorious
advance by fire action and by mounted tactics to protect the
withdrawing forces from the depredations of hostile cavalry. A
position near a flank will usually be occupied.

There have been many examples of protection by cavalry of a force that
ha