DEFILE

From Agepedia

DEFILE ; a narrow way, admitting only a few persons abreast. The term is often erroneously confined to mountain passes. As they delay the inarch of troops, and expos*; them to the fire of the enemy, they must be avoided if possible, particularly by artillery and wagons. A defile is defended in different ways. When it is fonned bjr heights (particularly if they are covered With wood), it is advisable to occupy the entrance, and station the troops en masse behind: when this is not the case, the best way will be to render the passage as im practicable as possible, and to make a stand behind the outlet of the defile, so tiiat the enemies advancing from it, may be checked by an effectual fire, and prevented from developing themselves. A position before the defile, for the purpose of defending it, is only to be thought of when the passage of another division is to be covered. This method may be more or less varied in the defence of bridges. In passing a defile in sight of the enemy, after the usual precautions of patrols, &c, the vanguard must first march rapidly through, and take a position before the outlet,*so as to cover the developement Of the succeeding masses, the preventing of which will be the object of the enemy. To defile is, therefore, to pass through a narrow passage. To march before any one with a narrow front, that is, en colonne, or by files, is also called defiling.