here are several reasons why darkness is preferable to daylight in
certain military operations. Secrecy is usually the aim of all movement,
and the increased power of observation due to the advent of the Air
Service has caused an increase in the necessity for certain movements
being made during the hours of darkness. In all Night Operations (except
marches undertaken by night to avoid the heat of the day) surprise is the
main object; secrecy of preparation is therefore essential, and steps
must be taken to prevent discovery of the intended movement, and to
prevent the information leaking out through the indiscretion of
subordinates. Orders will be communicated beforehand only to those
officers from whom action is required, and until the troops reach the
position of assembly no more should be made known to them than is
absolutely necessary. It may even be advisable, in order to deceive
spies, that misleading orders should originally be given out. Secrecy of
intention as well as of preparation is essential. Frederick the Great is
reported to have said, "If I thought my coat knew my plans I would burn
it!"

NIGHT MARCHES.--Night Marches are the movement of columns in march
formation, and their object may be merely to avoid the heat of the day;
but they are also one of the chief means by which a commander can outwit,
deceive, and surprise the enemy--the principal aim of the strategist--by
outflanking his position, by anticipating him in the occupation of a
locality, or by eluding him by the secret withdrawal of a force which
appeared to be in a situation favourable to his plans. {145} Forces may
also be secretly concentrated to decide the issue of a battle that is
imminent, or of a battle that has begun in daylight. Long marches of
this nature rarely culminate in an attack, and when shorter movements are
made with such an object in view, the "March" may be said to terminate
when the Position of Assembly is reached, and from that point to become
an "Advance" or an "Assault." There are certain essentials to success:--

I. _Direction_ towards the objective must always be maintained. The
route must therefore be reconnoitred beforehand, and marked by the
Advanced Guard during the march, and if there are any intricacies in the
route, such as deviations from a well-defined road, local guides should
be secured. Across open country a general direction can be maintained by
means of the stars, and when these are not visibl