TACTICAL FORMATIONS. The line and the column are the two elementary tactical formations, their corollaries being the skirmishing line and the square. All other formations spring from these, and the smallest unit which can evolve them is one of four men and a leader. In practice, however, it has been found necessary to double the number of men so that they may work in pairs when an open square formation is required.
Organized warfare begins with the line, that is a row of men in shoulder to shoulder formation, cemented into a unit through mutual protection, co-ordinated movement and combined offensive power. The strength of a line of men depends on main taining an unbroken front, consequently its power of resistance can be increased by deepening it by ranks, that is by placing line behind line so that should any of the front rank become casualties their places may be filled by the men in rear of them who, until called upon to fight, are in reserve. Whilst in ancient times the ranks were close together, because fighting was carried out with shock weapons, in modern times the distances between the ranks of the line have been greatly enlarged. The weak points in the line are its two flanks and particularly its rear. If held in front, the rear of a line can offer little resistance, and if the line is attacked in flank the number of fighters is so small when com pared to the attackers that the front is generally rolled up.
The column is mainly a logistical formation, its simplest form being that of single, or Indian file. Its underlying idea is that of "follow my leader," for wherever the column leader goes all the men have to do is to follow him. A column is not an offensive formation but a mobile one, a reservoir of offensive power which only becomes dynamic when deployed into line. It is a misnomer to suppose that a charging column gains strength if its numbers are increased. This is not so, because its offensive power is concentrated in its front rank; but its depth gives it moral support, and above all provides reserves immediately at hand to take advantage of a break through. The Grecian phalanx was a
formation of single file columns, eight deep, marshalled in close order, and it is interesting to note that a return to this formation was made by most armies during the World War of 1914-18, but with this difference, that the single files, each a section of 6 to 8 men, were spaced at considerable intervals, the whole front being covered by bullets in place of pikes.
A skirmishing line is a line in open order, and is generally formed by deploying men in pairs at fixed inter vals between each pair. It is a more flexible formation than the line, and better suited to individual fighting and the development of missile fire; its power of resistance, save in broken country, is however slight. The skirmishing line is probably the oldest of all formations, it is also the most modern, because solid lines of men can no longer operate on the battlefield. The skirmishing line to-day is one composed of sections of men rather than of indi viduals, or pairs, which advance in single file and extend into skirmishing order.
The square is essentially a protective formation as it has four potential fronts, and so can guard itself on all sides.
Solid squares of men were frequently used in classical warfare, and were the normal formation during the 16th century. Rallying squares formed by hastily grouping men together were mainly used to meet cavalry. In modern times the hollow square, such as used by the British in the Napoleonic wars and the Egyptian campaigns, was a common protective formation; and to-day a column secured by advanced, rear and flank guards is nothing more than an elastic, or open, square with a central reserve. The future of the square formation is likely to be considerable, seeing that in mechanized warfare fronts may be anywhere. See also