officers and brave privates, whose example will revive his courage.” (Par. 268 German I. D. R.). [264] V. TETTAU, _Die Jagdkommandos der russischen Armee_, Berlin, 1901. HOPPENSTEDT, _Patrouillen- und Radfahr-Kommandos_, 1907. If it becomes necessary to despatch a stronger infantry force on a mission of minor importance, it will usually be better to detail an entire company than to improvise a detachment whose leader would know his men only imperfectly. Before the 95th Infantry (French) made its attack on the brewery of =l’Amitié= (south of =Noisseville=), on August 31st, 1870, a reconnoitering detachment had ascertained the strength of the position and the manner in which it was held by the defender.[265] [265] _Wald- und Ortsgefecht_, p. 192. =Examples of the successful employment of flanking fire by small forces:= The flanking fire, delivered from the =Bois des Ognons= by about 30 men of the 12th Company, 72nd Infantry, compelled the French to withdraw their left flank. (Combat on the Gorze--Rezonville road, 16th August, 1870).[266] [266] KUNZ, _Kriegsgeschichtliche Beispiele_, 8-9, p. 146. At =Gravelotte-St. Privat=, flanking fire is said to have caused the withdrawal of nine French battalions which had until then delivered an effective fire upon the Prussian Guard Artillery.[267] [267] _Ibid._, 10, p. 24, and 12, p. 24, et seq. 8. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TERRAIN. The defense requires extensive, open terrain, permitting unobstructed view, while the attack requires stretches of ground hidden from the observation of the enemy and sheltered from his fire, in order that the troops may be deployed for action at the decisive ranges. A piece of ground will rarely possess all these advantages, but, nevertheless, well-trained infantry will be able to defend successfully a piece of ground that has a poor field of fire, and infantry which is energetically and skillfully led will be able to cross even an open plain. At the longer ranges, a force will, in the first place, endeavor to keep concealed. While advancing, troops will rarely be able to take advantage of available cover, but at a halt and while firing they will be able to do so. Their taking advantage of the ground should not lead to a diminution of the energy of the advance, and should not cause parts of the force to fall behind.[268] “The terrain exerts considerable influence on the formation of troops. Open country requires that distances be increased so that the losses may be minimized, while close country permits distances to be reduced. The commander should take particular care not to let this advantage escape him, since it is often necessary in this case to reinforce the first line promptly. Close order formations may be retained longest on covered terrain.” (Par. 307 German I. D. R.).