[77] On one occasion in the operations in South Africa, 1899-1902, a troop, ordered to gallop a kopje, halted at 700 yards from it, dismounted, and began to shoot; a troop of a rival corps was at once sent to gallop through them and did what they had been told to do--took the kopje; a salutary and effective lesson. Another time a squadron attacking was held up by wire whilst under fire, and began to come back; another squadron was led at a gallop through them. The irresolute squadron at once turned and followed them. The art is to loose the support at the right moment and with due emphasis. [78] _German Cavalry Regulations_, 1909, par. 398. [79] The French _Service de la cavalerie en campagne_, 1909, at page 190, thus lays down the rôle of the commanding officer: “To direct his officers towards a common doctrine, that of resolves which are determined, even rash, but well considered; to develop in them initiative and personality, and to make them not merely carriers-out of orders, but leaders who know how to reflect, decide, and take responsibility on themselves.” [80] Supplement No. 86 to the _International Revue über die gesammten Armeen und Flotten_, May 1907. [81] Curély, the hero of countless brave deeds and daring reconnaissances in Napoleon’s campaigns, had by 1814 got as far as the command of a regiment, the 10th Hussars. On the 12th February at Château-Thierry he got an opportunity, and successfully threw his regiment at the flank of thirty squadrons of Landwehr. This gave an opportunity to Letort with the Dragoons of the Guard to charge the front. Napoleon in his bulletin only put: “Colonel Curély made himself conspicuous”; but he at once promoted him to the rank of general for this feat of arms. [82] Langlois, _Lessons from Two Recent Wars_, p. 70. [83] Von Schmidt, _Instructions for Cavalry_, p. 7. [84] Von Schmidt, p. 227. [85] _Ibid._ p. 73. [86] _Ibid._ p. 13. [87] Every manœuvre which is not founded upon the nature of the ground is absurd and ridiculous.--Lloyd’s Maxims. [88] The tests in map-reading for a field officer for tactical fitness for command and for a cavalry trooper for service pay were at one time almost identical. [89] There is an additional reason for this, in that, if one horse refuses, the next two or three who have seen him do so will probably do the same. Horses are extremely impressionable. [90] Von Bernhardi, _Cavalry in Future Wars_, p. 90. [91] Taking an instance which comes to mind: a troop of cavalry on outpost duty at Colesberg found themselves cut off at dawn by some 500 Boers; instantly they rode at the enemy, and, with small loss and doing some execution with their lances, came out.