In the attack of cavalry against infantry victory can only result when the attack is so sudden that the infantry has no time to fire at all, or when the latter is badly demoralized by previous losses. Cavalry against artillery has a better chance for success, because a firing ar tillery line cannot protect itself toward the flanks, and in the early part of an engagement such unprotected lines will often be found. Fighting on foot enables cavalry to act for a time independently of the other arms, especially when it is supported by horse artillery, and is the only means by which cavalry can continue its advance through defiles, woods, or villages occupied by weak forces of the enemy. The action of dismounted cavalry is limited in general to hold ing particular points, such as defiles or villages, until the arrival of stronger forces. There are, however, instances where cavalry on account of their extreme mobility can be used advantage ously in foot fighting, and modern tacticians are paying increased attention to this point. Such cavalry, however, must be distinguished from mere mounted infantry as they have a far wider tactical use.
The principal duty of the horse artillery at tached to the cavalry is to support the latter, since it can clear out the enemy from positions which a cavalry force would have hard work to take. In the attack of cavalry against cavalry
horse artillery cannot always find application, but it can aid when its cavalry is deploying from a defile. While the opposed cavalries are still maineuvring the artillery takes the enemy's cav alry as its target, and pays no attention to its artillery unless its fire is masked by its own cavalry or to facilitate the deployment of its own cavalry. The artillery should be massed, but artillAy duels to prepare the action would be absurd. There will probably be no time for any change of position until after the cavalry attack is decided, when the artillery takes part in the pursuit. In ease of defeat it will not have time to take up a new position, but must remain firing in its previous position.
These are in outline the principles involved in cavalry tactics, though they are constantly un dergoing modifications and the discussion of the true sphere and use of cavalry is a favorite topic for military authorities. In France more atten tion is given to theoretical forms, and the French tactics prescribe three lines for the division, the third being a reserve in the hands of the division eommander, which is put into action only by squadrons and never entirely, except as a last resort.; and the horse batteries are directed to form about 900 yards on the flank of the field of attack.