DEVICES TO DRAW THE ENEMY'S FIRE.
42.—To make enemy waste ammunition.
Any devices which lead the enemy to waste ammunition or to expose themselves is a clear gain.
Many may be readily devised and officers and men should be encouraged to do so. The following have often proved successful:
43.—Pretend abandoning trench.
Remain absolutely quiescent during several days. This may lead the enemy to send out patrols or raiding parties which may be the more surely destroyed. They should be allowed to approach to the wire entanglements before a shot is fired.
44.—Pretend a raid.
On dark nights, have all firing stop. Throw stones by hand or with slings, a dozen at a time toward the enemy's trench. This will lead him to fire repeated volleys and waste ammunition in his fear of an attack, especially if the trenches are in wooded terrain and there are leaves on the ground. Repeat several times during the night.
Patrols may also tie strings to the enemy's barb wire. On dark nights pulling on the string may lead the enemy to fire.
45.—Use decoys.
Decoys may be arranged in trees or stuck up momentarily over the parapet. They will draw the enemy's fire.
46.—Pretend a fire attack.
If the enemy's trenches are near enough for the sound to carry, whistles may be blown all along the line before a volley. They may be blown again after the command to omit the volley. The enemy may continue to fire indefinitely.
47.—Watch out for enemy's ruses.
Let the aim of all these devices be to make the enemy waste ammunition and to save your own. On the other hand, the enemy is likely to attempt like ruses and many others which are not permissible such as the use of white flags or raising hands to indicate pretended surrender.
48.—His use of blank cartridges.
A legitimate ruse, of which the enemy is fond and which should be guarded against, consists in their firing blank cartridges to mask an advance of their men. It is clear that men do not advance while bullets are fired from their own trenches. Nor does one fire in retaliation until the enemy's fire ceases. A little attention will be sufficient to spoil this plan as, when only blank cartridges are fired, no bullets will whiz by. As long as the enemy fires blank cartridges, withhold your own fire, be on guard against the appearance of patrols and be ready to receive them when they draw near.
49.—His use of flares.
In case the enemy sends up flares, patrols should lie flat and motionless till after the volley which often follows. The sentinels in the fire trench should note spot where flare was sent up and abstain from firing unless enemy is sighted out of his trenches.
50.—His machine guns.
If a machine gun opens fire from the trench opposite, try to locate it through the light and sound at night, through sound and actual sight during the day.
Fire a converging volley of two rounds in its direction, and repeat, but not over six rounds if unsuccessful.
At the same time let trench mortars fire bombs in the same direction.
51.—His field and trench artillery fire.
If enemy's artillery fires upon trenches (Cf. [par. 69] ff.)
AN ATTACK.
THE REPULSE.
As has been stated ([par. 15] and [22]) in case enemy patrols approach, volleys of two, then of three rounds should be fired. Keep cool. Do not fire prematurely.
53.—Fire above parapet.
The firing should be done over the parapet and not through the loopholes.
54.—When alarm is given.
If the sentinels report that an attack is developing, every one on duty takes his post.
55.—Flares.
Flares are sent up from each section.
56.—Trench Mortars.
Trench mortars fire bombs with the first volley.
57.—How to repulse an attack.
If the attack materializes, repeat volleys and trench mortar discharge and open fire with the machine guns.
(On dark nights, in covered terrain, the machine guns should be fired with the first volley.)
58.—Use of hand grenades.
Hand grenades should be thrown as soon as the enemy is within 30 yards.
The grenadiers of the odd number squads should aim to throw their grenades upon the assailants while those of the even number squads should try to establish a barrage by throwing behind the assailants.
59.—Use of trench mortars.
The trench mortars are aimed at the enemy's trench.
60.—Use of the machine guns.
The machine guns fire directly at the assailants, with slight differences in height of aim, (knee high, waist high, etc.) according to the directions previously given to each man.
61.—Fire Control.
Carefully keep fire rifle under control and avoid wasting ammunition.
Never fire without aiming. If the ground ahead is flat, aim waist-high; if it slopes down, aim close to the soil; if it slopes up, aim at height of chest.
62.—Repulse with the bayonet.
If some of the enemy reach the trench, dispose of them with the bayonet.
63.—Save ammunition.
Cease firing and abstain from further firing as soon as the attack is repulsed.