In all the regulations, those of Germany excepted, the rencontre is treated with marked reserve.
Austria. "When a collision occurs with an opponent who is likewise in the act of advancing—rencontre—the different parts of the force and their subdivisions must make strenuous efforts to advance in the designated direction. In a rencontre, it will be proper to concentrate the main forces, prior to making the attack, only in case it becomes apparent during the preparatory stage of the action that the enemy has gained a visible start in deployment. The endeavor to forestall the enemy, and the necessity of promptly reinforcing the troops already engaged, will often curtail or preclude the preparatory concentration of the main body in a rencontre, and force the commander to permit at least parts of his approaching troops to go directly into action." If conditions are eminently favorable for the enemy at the point where the collision occurs, it may sometimes be more desirable to stand provisionally on the defensive with the advance guard until other troops come up.
"Under such circumstances, it may even be advisable to withdraw the troops covering the march; but in that event, the relation of the force to neighboring columns should be considered."
France. The commander should decide promptly whether to attack, to stand on the defensive, or to avoid an engagement for the time being. The regulations do not provide for employing the troops directly from route column. The advance guard is frequently thrown on its own resources; it is often forced to fight on a very broad front, and to place all of its troops into action at the very beginning of an engagement for the purpose of seizing and holding supporting points necessary for the subsequent deployment.
Examples.
1. The deployment for action of the 5th Infantry Division from the defile of Gorze, against the French Division Vergé, at the battle of Vionville (16th August, 1870), is especially instructive.[1]
2. The engagement of the 2nd Bavarian Division at La Thibaudine (Beaumont). The French concentration for action had progressed farther than that of the Bavarians. The reconnaissance by the cavalry was insufficient.[2]
3. The fight of Mondel's Brigade at Trautenau.[3] Likewise the fight of the Vth Army Corps at Nachod on June 27th, 1866.
