Should the attack be repulsed, the most rapid and destructive fire from all arms is directed upon the retreating troops with a view to inflicting the greatest possible losses; but a counter-attack is, as a rule, not attempted. When made, however, it should be limited to making an advance upon one or both flanks to a position giving a more effective fire upon the retreating troops, and retiring from this position to the cover of the work as soon as the main attack is completely repulsed and before the advanced troops become compromised by a close engagement with the enemy. BOMBARDMENT. =7.= By a =bombardment=, technically speaking, is meant a more or less continuous shell-fire upon a place with a view to destroying magazines, buildings, materials, and supplies of all kinds, in addition to inflicting the greatest possible losses upon the garrison and producing among the inhabitants a state of terror and unrest, frequently extending to mutiny, and finally causing the surrender of the place. The term bombardment is also frequently applied to a cannonade opened upon a place to silence its artillery prior to an assault or during a siege. A bombardment promises success when the place is small and not well provided with bomb-proofs, when the garrison is weak or of bad morale, when the inhabitants are numerous and not in sympathy with the garrison, or when the commandant is weak. A well-built and well-equipped modern fort can hardly be reduced by bombardment with any reasonable expenditure of time and ammunition; although the successful use of torpedo-shells charged with high explosives will probably render untenable works not designed to resist their effects. When it is designed to reduce a place by bombardment a complete investment is, as a rule, necessary only to prevent the withdrawal of the non-combatants (a severe measure, but one frequently adopted), or to insure the capture of the garrison upon the fall of the place. The disposition of the troops is made for the special object in view. The infantry, cavalry, and field artillery complete the investment, if made; or, when the place is not invested, are concentrated at such points as may be necessary to protect the artillery from any sorties from the place, and to meet and repel attacks from any relieving force. The artillery of larger calibre used for the bombardment proper should consist principally of rifled howitzers and mortars, which are easier to transport and more suitable for high-angle fire. As it is not intended to dismount or silence the guns of the place by direct or enfilade fire, an artillery duel should be avoided. The batteries should be located, so far as possible, in places screened from the artillery of the defence by undulations of the ground, etc.; or, if this is impossible, by artificial screens as a cover from sight, and by trenches as a protection from fire.