BATTLE (Fr. bataille. from Lat. batucre, to beat, strike). An engagement or combat be tween opposing military bodies. All strategic operations in war must culminate in the battle, for that alone can give them significance. Whether a commander will attack or fight a defensive battle depends on the previous stra tegical and tactical operations, on the general plans of the commander-in-chief, and on the condition and the particular situation in which his army finds itself at the time it meets the adversary. The tactical offensive is usually preferred as promising more decisive results; bid the tactical defensive is often forced on an army. When the hostile armies meet, the commander of the column in question is prop erly with the advance-guard (q.v.). The lead ing battalion forms line of company, columns of sections, and advances with a light skirmish line in front: the engineers and bridge train halt, and the battery of the advance-guard takes up a preparatory position. The army com mander only learns of the situation after a con siderable interval, and by that time other events have probably transpired; moreover, lie knows nothing of the enemy's strength. plans, or degree of preparedness or deployment. So that in opening battle it is not the information regarding the enemy that decides, but rather the force of circumstances. An energetic com mander always strives to gain the .initiative, and for this end the putting in action of the artillery is of great effect. As soon as the ar tillery enters the field. events move rapidly toward the crisis, and the battle will probably always reach this point before the army com mander's orders begin to have effect. In small commands the commander can use his reserves to bring about decisive action, but in the larger battles the forces must be properly grouped in the strategic advance to effect this, and the commander-in-chief can only assist the sub ordinate commanders by sending in new troops at decisive points. The infantry first occupies all points outside of the enemy's fire that are calculated to give support to the infantry ad vance, and the ground to be passed over is carefully reconnoitred.
Superiority over the enemy can be attained only by being able to fire with greater precision. effect, and rapidity. and this can be accomplished only by surrounding him on one or both flanks. Usually the flank attack can be arranged only after contact with the enemy. It may be direct ed against the outer flanks of the enemy or against the flanks of portions of his line. Re
serves are obtained by taking troops away from points where decisive action is not desired. In case of fortified field positions, the effort is first made to secure some commanding position, and, by effective artillery fire, force the enemy out of them; but if this fails, the same principles of attack apply as before, except that greater care is taken to perfect all preparatory measures, and often the measures resolve themselves into those employed against permanent land forts. An effective pursuit can be attained only when there is sufficient daylight left after the victory, when it can he directed against a flank, and when comparatively fresh troop; are available. But these conditions are rarely found. Never theless, pursuit is essential. The cavalry and horse-artillery are particularly useful for this purpose, turning the enemy's flanks, firing with the artillery on his masses in defiles, and keep ing up with him even in the night. Pursuit is limited only by the condition of the pursuers, and the distance they may travel from their base of supplies.
A defensir6 battle may be purely defensive, or (the usual case) it may be only temporarily defensive, its object being to gain time. The first consideration is a good position. and this must be carefully int•enched, provided there is time: but all intrenehments should be entirely hidden from the enemy. This position is not oc cupied at the beginning, but the troops are first assembled in a preparatory position. The posi tions available for the artillery usually decide the grouping of the forces, except in covered coun try, when the infantry line has the preference, and the artillery finds positions in rear. As the battle advances it takes more and more the character of a truly offensive action. Retreats are difficult, even when voluntary. When night intervenes after the battle.a considerable distance may be placed between the two forces and the units somewhat reorganized. The artillery usually furnishes the first support against pur suit, and it is protected by the cavalry, and this leads gradually to the formation of a rear gua rd.
Reference should be made to the article TAC TICS. MILITARY, where will be found an account of the strategy and tactics used in active mili tary operations, including a complete bibliog raphy. That article also discusses the tactics peculiar to the various arms. See ARMY OR GANIZATION ; ADVANCE-GUARD; ATTACH ; RECON NAISSANCE; COAST DEFENSE; FORTIFICATION; OUTPOST, etc.