considerable time; but the matter becomes very different if the
enemy's Artillery is also to be reckoned with, for modern shell fire
will soon involve the destruction of all the horses, and one must be
prepared to find retreat practically impossible once one has allowed
one's self to be committed to an engagement of this nature. Hence such
positions should only be occupied and defended when it is safe to
count on support from following troops, or when it is improbable that
the enemy will be able to bring Artillery into action. Such situations
may frequently arise in the advanced lines of a concentration zone, in
which the villages nearest the enemy form part of the general system
of security.

In all other cases, and particularly as regards the advanced
squadrons, it will be better to take up 'Alarm' quarters, and the more
unexpectedly the enemy can attack us the more stringent must be the
precautions we adopt.

If we decide to retire, a portion of the men will be detached to take
the horses out of the village, or to have them drawn up in readiness
for mounting behind the position selected, and meanwhile the remainder
of the garrison must compensate for their diminution in numbers by a
greater expenditure of ammunition, thus holding the enemy till all is
ready, and then slipping rapidly back to their horses. Without
losses--amounting, perhaps, to the sacrifice of the last covering
party--such withdrawal can hardly hope to succeed; but previous
systematic arrangements give the best chance of success, and the same
prevision will be equally necessary, even if the place is to be held
at all costs, for the situation may always change, and a retreat
become advisable.

At night, however, the aspect of affairs changes; then any attempt at
withdrawal is to be deprecated, and, as a matter of principle, must
not be contemplated. Even if the enemy breaks into the place by
surprise, it is still better to fight him on the spot rather than to
risk the certain destruction of the whole detachment by retreat. A
successful resistance is in such cases all the more probable, since
in the darkness the use of the enemy's Artillery is practically
precluded--at any rate, can attain but little result. Only the
squadrons far out in advance, and thus liable to be surrounded on all
sides and captured before help can arrive, will have to be prepared
for a night withdrawal before the assailants can close in around them.

As to the principles t