opportunities in practice for the Maxims to render support to the
charge. In the introductory phases of an engagement--_i.e._, when the
enemy is still at a considerable distance--they promise little
results, and in the moments when the 'Masses' are sent forward to the
attack, they would get in the way and hinder their freedom of
movement. On the other hand, they would be of great use in cases where
it is necessary to overcome or parry an Infantry opponent, and in the
battle, or in pursuit, when the Cavalry succeed in getting in on the
flanks or rear of the enemy's chief masses, they might prove
invaluable. Here, where reserves, columns, and trains all form
suitable targets, they would not only add materially to the striking
power of the Cavalry, but increase its radius of action very
materially.

[Footnote 19: The wheel should be so low that the man could
use his rifle without dismounting, and, if possible, it
should be 'transportable' (?'folding').]

By their side the Artillery will always maintain its high importance
for the fight against localities, woods, and defiles, and with this
Arm the German Cavalry is, in my opinion, sufficiently supplied;
only--and this is of the greatest importance--more adequate steps to
insure ammunition supply are essential in the case of the Independent
Cavalry Masses. Here, too, we shall have to reckon with far higher
consumption than in 1870-1871, and the greater distances will make it
impossible to replenish from the general Reserves of the Army. The
Cavalry, therefore, require sufficient ammunition columns of its very
own.

The nature of Cavalry operations indicate yet another
requirement--namely, batteries so organized that to every brigade of
two regiments one battery of four pieces should be assigned. Many will
be the occasions in our strategical operations on which guns will be
required, and in most of these it is more a question of having _some_
Artillery at hand rather than of the development of superior fire
power--_i.e._, a few shells into a village at the right time may be
all that is needed for our purpose. Further, in operating on several
roads it can seldom be foretold with exactness on which road the need
may first arise.

Under these conditions it is of the greatest importance to be able, if
necessary, to assign a battery to each brigade, and at the same time
not to allow the half of the whole available Artillery to escape from
control