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72

forming as in Fig. If you direct your attack upon the centre, instead of a flank, you may do so by double column or by column of divisions or any analogous form but there is no call for anything approaching the wheel in these. (The point is that no wheel, which is a difficult movement is required.)

If the enemy instead of coming in line, come to meet you in an order of one or more columns, or columns of any front, his approach will be directed toward one of your flanks or your centre; you not having yet changed from line abreast. Unless you have allowed too much time to slip away, in case, that is, you have time to manoeuvre, you can at worst make the same formation. If he tries to pass by your flank, as above, CD can form line ahead on D, and the two fleets pass on parallel lines in opposite directions. If he attack your centre with columns of broad front, you can us the like, or with saftey pass your fleet on the two sides of his column. [diagram]

The best defence of CD is to put himself on the line DD' which is reached more shortly and with less confusion by the sides than by the hypotenuse DD', in other words by movement in colum rather than by a wheel. This reduces itself to passing in opposite directions by columns. CD, if equally nimble with AB, might form by his left flank in double column to pierce BA' toward the rear of column.