Troops in rear, not directly fired upon and exposed only to accidental shots, should employ narrow rather than broad formations. It might therefore seem advisable to remain in route column so long as no flanking fire is received. The Italian Firing Regulations contain the following figure showing the effect of fire directed on troops in the formations indicated.
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Company Column.[A Line of platoons.[1] Line of skirmishers. Line of platoons in columns of fours, at 15-pace intervals
Range in meters]
According to the figure, the Italian Company Column (German Column of Platoons) suffers the greatest losses; the least losses are sustained by the company formed in line of platoons, each in route column, at intervals of 15 paces. According to French experiments, this formation is said to be no longer suitable when subjected to infantry fire at ranges under 1300 m.
According to French firing tests made in Châlons,[2] the following percentages of hits may be expected when using the Lebel rifle firing old model steel jacketed bullets:
