Lines

Lines: The term applies to various phases of military operations. "Regiments of the Line" are those which are kept in a high state of efficiency and usually ordered immediately to the front on proclamation of war.

The honour of being on the "right of the line" in the British Army belongs to the Royal Regiment of Artillery.

"Lines of communication" are guarded roads, usually railways, along with our reinforcements and supplies travel from the military bases to the fighting front. When an army cuts such a line of communication the belligerent army is seriously impeded. The lines of communications are often sea routes, as was often the case in the Peninsula War, when Wellington kept in touch with his base, i.e., England, by altering his disembarkating points as he proceeded on the campaign.

When an army is in camp the tents of the various regiments are arranged in "lines" across which the other regiments are not supposed to pass.

See also Exterior lines.