1. In order to establish a strong firing-line within decisive range of the enemy’s position, it is desirable that, making allowance for losses, there should be, at the commencement of the attack, at least 125 rifles to every 100 yards of front, exclusive of that portion of the reserves which will furnish the final reinforcement necessary to deliver the assault. These 125 men are disposed in several bodies, the bodies in rear, _i.e._, the supports and reserves, supplying the successive reinforcements which gradually build up the firing-line to its maximum strength. 2. Whether these 125 rifles are furnished by two or more companies must be determined by the commanding officer. 3. To extend whole companies in the firing-line at the outset, the supports being formed from other companies, is a proceeding which can seldom be justified; leading as it must to a premature admixture of tactical units, and to the surrender, at an unnecessarily early period, of the control of the firing-line. The rule that all reinforcements should be furnished as long as possible by the same unit should never be infringed. 4. When the battalion is acting in concert with other units, the frontage assigned to it, if the attack is intended to be decisive, must be in proportion to its strength. 5. Battalions should be constantly exercised in forming for the attack from a position of assembly, the frontage being always varied, and a different number of companies told off to the firing-line and the reserve. It is only by practice that a commanding officer can acquire the facility of recognising at once how many companies should be extended in firing-line, and how many allotted to the reserve. =154.= _The firing-line and supports._ The formation of the firing-line and supports, and the distance of the latter from the firing-line, will be determined by the company commanders. There is no necessity that these should be the same in every company so long as the general principles laid down for the attack are intelligently applied. =155.= _The reserve._