expected from that place, and to ensure this it is necessary that the target is big and vulnerable, the range close, and the fire unexpected by the enemy. Captain von Beckmann, speaking of the Russo-Japanese War, says: "Premature fire upon unsuitable targets at long range is to be deprecated. The greater the surprise, and the shorter the time within which heavy loss is inflicted, the greater the moral effect produced. At the battle of Hai-kou-tai on January 27th, 1905, a Japanese company attacked Sha-shan. Four Russian machine guns opened fire at about 1,100 yards upon the extended firing line, without causing any serious loss or affecting its advance. On the other hand, the Japanese on March 1st had approached to within 200 or 300 yards of the Russian position at Wang-*chia-wo-pang and were beginning the final assault. Two Russian machine guns suddenly came into action, and the Japanese assault was repulsed with heavy loss owing to the annihilating fire."
These two instances well illustrate the right and wrong way of using machine guns in the defence. Where a battery is allotted to one section of the defence the guns should be distributed two or four along the front and one or more on each flank. Single guns may be used in the defence where a section cannot be spared, as the assistance of a supporting gun is not essential to its safety when behind entrenchments. In the first instance guns may
