BREACH

the aperture or pa age made in the wall of any fortified place, by the ordnance of the besiegers, for the purpose of entering the fortre . They should be made where there is the least defence, that is, in the front or face of the bastions. In order to divide the resistance of the besieged, breaches are commonly made at once in the faces of the attacked bastions, and in the ravelin. This is effected by battering, and at such places as the cannon do not reach, by Uie aid of mines. The breach is called practkaUe, if it is large enough to afford some hope 713 of succe in case of an a ault. This is generally considered to be the case if it allows a pa age to fourteen men abreast. Frequently, however, a breach of much le extent, even of half that width, may be entered.