ashore, thus protecting and concealing the disembarkation of the rest and of the stores, materials,

and provisions.

Looking at the measures which the enemy is likely to take to safe-guard all those points which lend themselves to a disembarkation, an invader may find it preferable to let the choice fall on one, which, though not the most desirable for the purpose, has been overlooked. As the defenders may not have assigned to it sufficient importance, and may not have calculated on the possibility of the adversary selecting such a locality, they will not be prepared to oppose a vigorous resistance, if taken by surprise.

CHAPTER X.

THE LANDING.

Landing effected in a friendly country-Orderly array of the transports-Division of the expeditionary force-Sequence of action of the three arms-Detachments to go ashore with the first landing party-Horses need time to recover the effects of a sea voyage-Provision for the wounded-Orders for landing-Water reserve-Need for an adequate number of boats-Each transport to carry a sufficient numberAdditional crews very desirable-Sir William Mends on the working of the boats-Rafts used by the French at SfaxHorse boats and rafts-Special boats constructed in 1854 for landing artillery-Landing in Egypt and in the Crimea— Swimming horses ashore-Steam launches-Boats to advance on a wide front-Surf boats-Accommodation ladders-The arrangements for boats to be placed in the hands of a naval officer-Subdivision of the force for landing-The embarkation and landing to be rehearsed when an opportunity occurs -Demeanour of the troops in the boats-Landing stores, provisions, etc.-A conciliating policy to be observed.

THE disembarkation of a large force may be effected under essentially different conditions. In some, as would be the case when the landing is carried out in a friendly country whose ports are not closed to our vessels, the preliminary arrangements for getting everything quickly ashore can be made beforehand. In others, in which a descent is conducted on a hostile country, our measures are entirely dependent

on existing circumstances and admit of no previous preparation.

In the first case, should the locality destined for the disembarkation be at a reasonable distance from our shores, the troops can be despatched by divisions. The transports which have conveyed the first division would then return for the second, and continue to go backwards and forwards till the whole of the expeditionary force was over. would be unnecessary in such a case to appoint a rendezvous for the flotilla, and, if there is no prospect of being molested, we might well dispense with a convoying squadron.

It

Leaving on one side those cases in which the disembarkation can be effected in a commodious harbour, well furnished with wharves, with plenty of manual labour and appliances, we shall devote our attention in this chapter to the best measures for a landing on the open shore. The general dispositions for such an operation, whether the enemy contests the landing or not, are nearly the same; we shall, therefore, deal simply with the operation of landing, leaving for a future chapter the consideration of the special arrangements that require to be made when a disembarkation is only too plainly the prelude of an assault.

An expeditious landing, the sea and weather being good, is simply a matter of good arrangements. As we can generally count on the eagerness of the troops to get ashore, we can be sure that there

will be no other delays than those which are inherent to the intricacy of the operation.

Anchoring a large convoy is a process which demands very careful attention, for without an orderly disposition of the transports it will be impossible to impart the necessary rapidity to the landing. As it would be inconvenient to allow them to occupy too great an extent of front, they are generally anchored in several parallel lines; the ships in each line as a rule being made to contain one of the large tactical units of the army.

In Kalamita Bay the front extended over nine miles. The transports with the British troops were drawn up in six parallel lines, in the following order -light division, first division, second division, third division, fourth division, cavalry division. The French anchored in three lines. The first, composed of war-ships, held the 1st division; in the second line was the 2nd division; in the last the

3rd division. A distinctive flag was assigned to each division; red for the first, white for the second, blue for the third. When proceeding to land, the leading boats carried at the bows flags of the colour of the division they were conveying, and others were ordered to be planted on shore where each division was to land; the brigades were ordered to form, the first to the south, the second to the north of their respective flags.

Large vessels in line should not be at less than two cables' distance apart. On these data, and