Temporary Lines of Operations.—Sometimes an army in making a movement employs a line which deviates from that adopted in the general plan of campaign. As soon as the movement is completed the original lines are resumed. Such line adopted for such movement is termed a “temporary line.” The term “manœuvre line” is also applied to it.—Prof. J. B. Wheeler.
Lines of Retreat. The roads passed over as the army advances are ordinarily the roads taken when the army retires or is driven back. In the latter case they are known as “lines of retreat,” and are “single,” “double,” “diverging,” etc., according to their number and position.—Prof. J. B. Wheeler.
Lines of Tenailles. Consist of parapets, forming a series of salient and re-entering angles.
Lines of Torres Vedras. See [Torres Vedras].
Lines Outside. Are a kind of ditches towards the field, to hinder relief, etc.
Lines, Strategical. The lines followed by an army in making a strategical movement are called “strategical lines.” Temporary lines of operations, or manœuvre lines, therefore, are strategical lines. Lines of operations are important strategical lines. And in general, lines connecting two or more strategical points, which lines can be used by an army, and which allow of easy communication between these points, are “strategical lines.” A base of operations is therefore a strategical line.—Prof. J. B. Wheeler.
Lines with Intervals. One or more rows of field-works with large intervals between them, through which the offensive may be assumed.
Linesmen. In the British service, infantrymen of the regular army are so called.
Lingerer. One who pretends to be indisposed, in order to avoid his tour of duty,—a skulker. Hence the term malingerer, or a soldier who avoids duty in a disreputable manner.
Linlithgow-bridge. Near Edinburgh, Scotland, near which the forces of the Earl of Angus, who held James V. in their power, defeated the forces of the Earl of Lennox, who, after receiving promise of quarter, was killed by Sir James Hamilton, 1526.