nces for the wounded and for the sick and
worn-out troops.

DISTRIBUTION.--The Rear Guard is divided into two parts--the Rear Party
and the Main Guard. The _Rear Party_ consists, like the Vanguard of
the Advanced Guard, of patrols and supports; the rest of the force
forms the _Main Guard_, and marches in the order in which the troops
are required, viz.: Artillery (with escort), Mounted Troops (if any
remain over from the Rear Party), Infantry, Medical Services and
Ambulances, and the Sappers of the Royal Engineers. The guns can thus
open fire whenever required, and the sappers, who are furthest away
from the pursuit, will have the longer time to prepare obstacles and
demolitions, the {121} latter being completed by the Rear Party.
Communication must always be secured and maintained between the Rear
Party and the Main Guard, and between the Rear Guard and the Main Body.

DISTANCE.--The distance at which the Rear Guard works is governed by
the duty it has to perform, viz.: to permit the withdrawal of the Main
Body to be carried out without interruption by the enemy, and to effect
this it will usually be necessary for the Machine Gun and Infantry
Platoons of the Main Guard to keep within effective range of positions
from which hostile artillery might molest the Main Body. The commander
will probably remain with this part of his force, as its work is of the
highest importance; in any case his position must be made known and
there should be definite commanders of the Rear Party and the Main
Guard. But while the distance separating the Rear Guard from the Main
Body must be sufficient, it must not be too great, or the enemy may
penetrate between it and the Main Body, and not only will the Rear
Guard be cut off and liable to destruction but it will cease to protect
the Main Body.

TACTICAL PRINCIPLES.--The tactical work of a Rear Guard is carried out
according to the following principles:--

_The Rear Party watches_, and it must watch _all_ the roads and tracks
by which the pursuing force can advance, and is responsible that the
enemy does not get round the flanks (which may or may not be specially
protected by Flank Guards). Reconnaissance by Aircraft for the
discovery of intended outflanking movements is probably of greater
value in Rear Guard work than in any other military action. The Rear
Party also resists the hostile advanced troops as long as possible,
withdrawing before it is outflanked. "An outflanking mano