The three lines of the field services are the regimental help-stations, the ambulance brigade depot and the field hospitals.
Help Stations.— On the battle-field nothing ca . be done for the wounded, while under fire, but to lift them upon stretchers and carry them off speedily to the help-station_ Here they are rapidly examined and given such im mediate attention as may be required to secure their safe transport to the ambulance depot The modern formation of infantry advanc ing against an enemy may be practically de scribed as consisting of three lines: Firing line, line of support, regimental reserves, with an interval of 300 yards between them. The line of support, placed 300 yards behind the skir mishing or firing line, is supposed by tacticians to be comparatively safe from the fire aimed at the first line, while the regimental reserves are entirely safe from bullets. The help-station should not therefore be further than just in rear of the reserves. This will place it about 600 yards behind the firing line. In certain cases, where good shelter is available, and the reserves can get nearer to the front, the station, of course, follows them.
The German and French regiment of in fantry, made up of three battalions, is 3,000 men strong; one help-station for each is provided, and considered sufficient. Our formation cor responding in number to the above regiment is the brigade, which seldom would exceed but often fall short of 3,000 men. Such brigade in battle array would only cover a front of from 300 to 500 yards, and, therefore, obviously needs but one station. To have three or more stations 100 or 200 yards apart would be a waste of means and detrimental to the wounded.
A medicine wagon containing the supplies of the help-station and carrying the regimental stretchers should follow each brigade to the field, and advance to the station or as near it as possible.
Ambulance Depot.— The depot of the ambulance brigade constitutes the second line of help. It is the centre and rallying point of
the brigade. Here, as a battle becomes im pending, all the ambulances which follow the regiments on the march rejoin the brigade train. If no suitable building can be found, the grounds are cleared by the attendants and hospital tents pitched; the necessary medicines and appliances are drawn from the wagons and held in readiness.
The stretcher-bearers are divided into as many platoons as there are help-stations; each platoon, under command of a lieutenant or the senior chief of section, marches toward its assigned station, followed by a picket of am bulances; these are driven as near the station as possible; as soon as halted, the bearers re move the stretchers and with them proceed to the front, or else first carry off the wounded collected at the help-station. The patients brought to the depot are carefully but rapidly examined, and assorted according to their in juries; one surgeon applies simple dressings, a second attends to serious wounds, a third, with assistants, performs urgent operations.
At what distance in the rear should the ambulance de. i it be established? We have seen that at yards behind the firing line one was practically safe from bullets; at the distance of about a mile, rather less than more, we shall not only be beyond the range of musketry fire hut also beyond the aim of artillery projectiles, and there seems the proper place for the depot. Whatever danger there may be at this distance is reduced to a minimum by a judicious selection of the spot.
Field The field hospitals form the third line of help. They should be at an absolutely safe distance from the scene of con flict — that is, two or three miles behind the ambulance depot—and have a free outlet toward the line of evacuation. There should be three provided for a division, and all com pletely equipped. Each accommodates 200 patients and is divided in two equal sections. See FIELD SANITARY SERVICE.