Note 306 — THE FORMAL TACTICS OF INFANTRY. (continued 6)

General von Scherff (Kriegslehren, II, p. 263) believes that a frontal charge made by cavalry of sufficient strength has better chances of succeeding than a charge in deep formation against a flank. In a frontal charge, the suddenly appearing cavalry is exposed “only to the fire at will of individual skirmishers whose continuous front masks the fire of units in rear.” In the other case (charge against a flank) the cavalry receives not only the fire of the closed bodies first encountered, but also that of the supports firing through the gaps between these groups. The frontal attacks executed with superb gallantry by the French cavalry at Sedan rather prove the opposite.