our invaders must discover is not one beach fifteen miles long, but six beaches two and a half miles long, each possessing all the attributes detailed above, and, in addition, good anchorage in deep water,"for, no matter what may be the advantages offered on shore, unless there is good anchorage and deep water near shore, no place can be deemed a good one for the disembarkation of an army."[1]
Assuming that these six suitable landingplaces exist, we will now turn to the consideration of the difficulties that will be met with in the attempt to reach them.
There is the weather—any one can see
- ↑ Lord Wolseley's Soldiers' Pocket-book p. 223.
its first line of transport—that is, with its ammunition columns and trains— would, when advancing by one road, require from twelve to twenty hours, according to circumstances, to march a distance of fourteen miles, and deploy into line of battle. " This, then, at once gives us the maximum force that should be moved by one road [the troops being at full war-strength], if it is at once to engage the enemy, or to be drawn up in position ready for battle."—Duties of the General Staff, by General Bronsart von Schellendorfif, pp. 353, 354.
