Page:Tactics (Balck 1915).djvu/209

 a matter of accident. A body of troops in broad formation will in this case receive a greater number of hits than a column, since each meter of front of the crest line receives a certain number of projectiles. It is otherwise, however, where the slope rises in respect to the line of sight. A line is more easily missed than a column of considerable depth on the march.

The following data in regard to the increase (diminution) of the depth of the beaten zones is taken from the work of Lieutenant-General on Das gefechtsmäszige Abteilungsschieszen der Infanterie, p. 44:

=+
=========+================ Range.| Rising Slope. | Falling Slope. m. |   1°  |   2°  |   1°  |   2° -+-+-+-+ 800  |  1/2  |  1/3  |    |  1000  |  2/3  |  3/4  |   2   |    1200  |  3/4  |  3/5  |  3/2  |   3 1400  |  4/5  |  4/6                       |  4/3                               |   2 -+-+-+-+

The above figure, taken from Lieutenant-General work, Schieszlehre für die Infanterie, p. 128, shows the influence of the ground on the efficacy of fire when "poor" shots are firing at a target, 100, 200 m. etc., in rear of which are other targets of the same dimensions but situated either on level ground, on a 2-degree rising slope, or a 1-degree falling slope. On a rising slope of 2 degrees the depth of the beaten zone is decreased by half, and on a downward slope of 1 degree increased by half.

"The knowledge of this influence of the ground is of great impor