All withdrawals should be pre-arranged and systematic, flanks being securely held, and the principle of mutual support observed. But formalism must be avoided, and procedure must never be permitted to become so stereotyped that the enemy will be able to confidently anticipate the movements of the troops. Men must beware of entering nullahs, or depressions of any kind, until the further edge has been secured; and, when on a hill top, the provision of such cover as will conceal the head-dress is of importance. Transport animals should be clear of the fighting troops before retirement is begun. If the object is to slip away from the enemy, the retirement should be made at a time when movement is not expected. When a valley is to be swept in course of punitive operations, an adequate force should be left to secure the entrance, if the column is to leave by this route. Troops, as has already been suggested, should, in respect of ammunition, food, and warm coats, be independent of transport animals, and it should be understood that units are always to be prepared to remain for the night away from camp. The men should be trained to economise water, which is often scarce across the border. Ammunition and rifles being the main objects of tribal ambition, special care should be taken to prevent them from falling into the enemy's hands. Against the North West Frontier clans, the offensive, as usual, is normally the best defensive, but it may sometimes happen that small British forces are temporarily obliged to act on the defensive. In such circumstances, it is to be expected that the enemy will adopt the tactics, common amongst savages, of seeking the flanks of the troops, both to avoid fire, and to obtain the advantages of enfilade. It follows, then, that defensive measures should include all round protection, whilst a relatively large reserve should be kept ready to attack the hostile levies, as soon as any portion comes within charging distance. Experience tends to prove that a compact body of even a section, if well entrenched and supplied with ammunition, has nothing to fear from Pathans, especially when the British leader is animated by the proper spirit of timely offensive. CAMPS. It is desirable for a column escorting a large baggage train--and this is essentially the predicament of civilised troops engaged in frontier mountain warfare--to be collected in camp before nightfall, otherwise the enemy may be given unduly favourable opportunities of employing harassing methods. But it does not result that the situation of troops unable, for any cause, to reach camp, is at all desperate.