enemy in flank, but it will be correspondingly more difficult to conceal it. The necessity of pushing the general reserve far to a flank decreases, as the scope of the attacker's envelopment of the defensive line increases. It may frequently be to the defender's advantage to induce the assailant to make a far-*reaching envelopment, provided the line defending the position is not placed in an unfavorable tactical situation by so doing. Since the attacker will probably have detachments echeloned in rear of his flank, the troops entrusted with the counter-attack must similarly have an echelon in rear of their exposed flank in order to protect themselves against a flank attack.
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It is impossible to lay down a fixed, normal strength for
the reserve. This depends upon the strength of the position,
and the degree of resistance the intrenchments are capable of
rendering; but, in any case, the force intended for local defense
should be strong enough to compel the enemy to deploy completely,
and prevent his carrying the defenses before the
counter-attack is made. Large quantities of ammunition and
intrenchments capable of rendering effective resistance must
compensate for the shortage of men in warding off the enemy,
in order that the general reserve may be made as strong as
possible. The question, as to how thinly the position must be
occupied, and how strong the general reserve may be made,
can only be answered in each particular case. If the attack
