BASE OF OP'ERA'TIONS. The base or point from which active operations against an enemy are directed or organized, and from which are issued such stores and munitions of war as may be required by the force whose base it is. In countries sparsely populated, armies—and particularly the invading army—must be vic tualed and supplied from their own base. Lines of operation, therefore, follow navigable rivers or railroads; and the base is fixed at such a point on the line or route as to be as secure as pos sible from molestation, and yet, if necessary, give protection and shelter to the troops. should they be driven back. The more important field hospitals are also stationed at the base. To separate or cut off an army from its base, is to practically defeat it; the attainment or defeat of such an end being a consummation ardently sought for. The history of the American Civil War (1861-65) is full of instances of such manamvering. Grant's operations against Vicks burg in December. 18(12, are a case in point. He
was prevented from carrying out the movement he had planned, because of the severe attacks made upon his lines by Van Dorn and Forrest, the Confederate raiders. holly Springs, an im portant base of Grant's forces, was rushed and captured by Van Dorn, together with large stores of food. arms, and ammunition. Grant's advance was made impossible, for starvation stared him in the face, and he was compelled to fa]] back to reestablish his base. In the British-Boer War of 1899-1902, England was forced to keep nearly twice as many troops as there were Boers actually in the field for the sole purpose of guarding the various bases of supplies and operations. This was due to the wide area of the theatre of operations, the absence of available rivers, and the necessity of transporting the large quantities of food and ammunition required for the vast armies in the field.