When the actual assault takes place the second line—and the third line, if there is one—will be halted to await developments; should their assistance be required they will act in prolongation of the first line, and strive to envelop the enemy.
If a force is formed in two lines only the commander must beware of allowing the second line to be drawn into the fight, unless it is absolutely necessary. The retention of some portion of the force intact and ready for instant action is quite as important at night as in the daytime. The commander himself must remain with his reserve.
Should the assault succeed, no attempt to pursue is to be permitted; the reserve must be at once disposed to meet the counter-attack, and the remainder reformed under its protection.
Whether the attackers should cheer at the moment of the assault or not is a moot question. The arguments in favour of it are:—
1. It encourages your own men.
2. It discourages the enemy.
3. It notifies the assault to neighbouring columns.
1. It gives warning to the enemy.
2. It gives an indication of the strength of the attacking force.
Personally, I am in favour of training men to deliver the assault at night in silence, for the following reason: Sudden outbursts of fire without any due cause occasionally occur in all armies, when the outposts are near those of the enemy, and it is quite possible that the enemy’s supports and reserves will not move until they have obtained information of what is happening. If, however, the assault is delivered with cheers they can be in no doubt as to what has occurred, and will, therefore, act at once.