=Volley Fire and Fire at Will. Bursts of Fire (Rafales).= “_Il n’y a de feu practicable devant l’ennemi que celui à volonté._” NAPOLEON.[154] [154] “Fire at will is the only kind of fire practicable when engaged with the enemy.” NAPOLEON. “It may be objected that one frequently reads in military history of effective volleys. The explanation of this is that many of the so-called volleys mentioned in accounts were volleys only in name. In a few instances the defender endeavored to fire volleys, but usually their effect was insignificant.” V. BOGUSLAWSKI. “Fire at will was forbidden. Volley fire was used only by direction of the commanders of the battalion sections of the line. The order to fire volleys quickly ran along the trenches. For a few minutes a certain amount of unrest was noticeable among the men, which, if allowed to continue, might have degenerated into confusion and later perhaps into disorderly flight. “The first volley was not quite successful. It was ragged--some men even firing a second time without waiting for the command, an example likely to be followed by the others. The force was on the point of getting out of hand. Volleys fired by neighboring sections drowned the voice of the commander. In such situations only personal experience and resourcefulness can tell a company commander what to do. We recommend a course which has always been attended with success in practice. Let the officer commanding a section jump upon the parapet and from there give the order ‘cease firing.’ Then, if the enemy’s fire permits, and his own heart is stout enough, let him order the next volley from his position on the parapet. When once the force is again under control, the volleys will be as good as if the enemy were not so close.” KUROPATKIN-KRAHMER _Kritische Rückblicke auf den Russisch-Türkischen Krieg_, II, pp. 304 and 310. In his _Comments on Drill Regulations_ (16th Nov., 1840) Prince WILLIAM, subsequently Emperor WILLIAM I. of Germany, says: “I am personally opposed to volleys by battalion. I am of the opinion that in war volleys and file fire will seldom be used. Should this fire be used, however, no one will be able to stop file firing after volley firing, even though not ordered, _because in my opinion it is impossible to combat human nature_, which finds more security in rapid loading and firing than in awaiting the commands....”