These matters being settled, then tactical regulations should lay down no fixed evolutions, but should confine themselves essentially to forms and principles of action, which should be treated with the utmost clearness and precision. It is hardly necessary to adduce elaborate proof to show that our existing Regulations by no means meet these requirements in all their sections. Above all, the movements and deployments laid down for the Regiment are far too formal, based too much on accurate intervals and fixed prescriptions for the movements of the individual squadrons to be suitable for use on the ground which Cavalry must nowadays be prepared to traverse, or to be executed, exactly as laid down, in face of the enemy. Such evolutions are only possible on the drill-ground, where bugle-sounds and words of command can still be heard, and are far too complicated for practical use. For instance, let us take the case of deployment to the front out of any 'deep' formation--columns of fours, half troops, or the like, which obviously cannot always be executed before the enemy precisely in the manner prescribed, because all must depend on the space available and the distance which separates us from the enemy. The head of the column must suit its movements to these conditions, and in turn the following sections must conform to the movements of the head; greater freedom of choice must, therefore, be left to the latter. On the other hand, there are evolutions of the utmost importance before the enemy for which the book gives no guidance whatever--_e.g._, the rapid passage from the double column into squadron columns, either to the front or flank. Even for the larger units all the prescriptions are by no means adapted to the requirements of active service. For instance, the relief of lines ('Treffen Wechsel') is an operation of no use except on the drill-ground, and is never attempted even in manoeuvres--at least, personally I know no instance of its ever being tried, except as a matter of drill. That a certain measure of justification may be found for this and similar formations, I do not wish to dispute.