We have laid stress on the rally of the squadron,[22] but hardly less important is the maxim that the victory rests with those who can last throw a formed body into the combat. This may be the support of which De Brack says:[23] Almost all the failures of charges are due to the slowness or ignorance of the supports. A charge badly supported, no matter how bravely begun, becomes only a bloody affray, whilst one well supported is always victorious and decisive. Let us, then, for our guidance, and before considering larger forces, formed of many squadrons and supplied with another element of offence in their horse artillery, consider what conclusions are arrived at from the fight of squadron _v._ squadron. They appear to be:-- 1. Provided that there is space to manœuvre and fight, that cavalry which can manœuvre with cohesion at the greatest pace will win. 2. The element of surprise affects the result. 3. The utilization of terrain is a _sine qua non_. 4. A flank attack is the object to be aimed at. 5. On the quickness with which the rally is carried out much depends. 6. A skilled direction of the support influences the action. CHAPTER V CAVALRY _V._ CAVALRY FORMING TO THE FLANK “When you charge make a change of front and attack them in flank. This manœuvre can always be successfully practised against an enemy like the English, who make a vigorous and disunited charge, whose horses are not very manageable, and whose men, brave but uninstructed, begin their charge too far away from the enemy.”--DE BRACK. “Ten men on the flank do more than 100 in front.”--VON SCHMIDT (p. 90). I. THE SQUADRON 1. In the mounted attack of cavalry on cavalry that side will win which makes use of a wall of mounted men, advancing knee to knee with no intervals showing. Two means of quickly forming and launching this wall are as follows: 1st. The head of the squadron column is directed towards the enemy, and line is formed to the front. 2nd. The head is led obliquely to the enemy’s advance, and at such a distance as will enable the troops to wheel into line, get up pace, and attack. 2. _Forming to the Front or to the Flank._--The first plan is that which the beginner almost invariably adopts; the enemy’s squadron has a fatal attraction for him; he distrusts himself and imagines that there is not time to manœuvre. This attack generally “leads to undecided cavalry duels.”