15. With the Independent Cavalry machine guns form a very valuable addition to the effective strength both for defence and offence. Even in reconnaissance work they will be able to break down the enemy’s resistance at certain points (villages) and to increase the tenacity of their own forces in the defence of similar points. Light machine guns carried on the saddle would be of the greatest assistance to smaller bodies of cavalry in such circumstances. Machine guns are also valuable in purely cavalry engagements, especially when it is possible for them to take the enemy in flank. If this be impossible, they can effectively follow up a success, or cover the retirement of their own cavalry. If some of the machine guns act as escort to the artillery, the cavalry escort can be dispensed with. This will increase the effective strength of the cavalry and also give the artillery a wide choice of position and great security, thus increasing its efficiency. Even if at the beginning the cavalry commander himself directs the working of the machine guns, the officer commanding the latter will have to act on his own initiative later on, in accordance with the tactical situation of the moment. GREAT BRITAIN ORGANISATION.--Great Britain was one of the earliest countries to adopt machine guns, and the Maxim has been in use for the last twenty years. Machine guns are organised in sections of two guns, and a section forms part of each regiment of cavalry and battalion of infantry, who provide and train the personnel. The organisation is as follows:-- A SECTION WITH A CAVALRY REGIMENT ---------------------------+--------------+--------------- Personnel. |Riding horses.|Draught horses. ---------------------------+--------------+--------------- Lieutenant 1 | 3 | -- Sergeant 1 | 1 | -- Corporal 1 | 1 | -- Privates 12 | 12 | -- Drivers 8 | -- | 16 Bâtman 2 | -- | -- ---------------------------+--------------+--------------- 25 (1 officer) | 17 | 16 ---------------------------+--------------+--------------- _Equipment._--6 pack-saddles (the two lead horses of each wagon are provided with pack saddlery); 4 G.S. limbered wagons (2 for guns and 2 for ammunition); 2 machine guns with tripods and pack-saddles on limbered G.S. wagons, each drawn by 4 horses. _Ammunition._--3,500 rounds with each gun; 16,000 with regimental reserve; 10,000 with brigade ammunition column; 10,000 with divisional ammunition column for each gun respectively. SECTION WITH AN INFANTRY BATTALION