III. Fighting in the Interior of the
Position and Exploitation
Principle of the Fighting. The fundamental principle of the fighting in the interior of the position is that each attacking unit from the division down to the battalion receives a definite objective. This objective is usually an area containing the lines of the hostile position with precise flanking limits. The farthest line in the objective area must be gained by the units at all costs. Beyond this last objective, strong reconnaissance parties and patrols are sent to keep contact with the enemy.
Usually the attacking regiments, which carry out the struggle in the interior of the position, are assigned the mission to capture the third or covering line of the artillery. The continuation of the struggle beyond this line and the capturing of the enemy’s guns is what is called “the tactical exploitation of the success.” The troops that carry out this operation are the reserves of the division held out for this particular purpose. The plan of battle does not include orders for this action.
Details of the Interior Fighting. Let us follow an attacking regiment in its progress in the interior of a hostile position, and consider the use of the different echelons of which it is composed: assaulting companies, reinforcing companies, and reserves.
Assaulting Companies. The advance of the assaulting platoons regulates the advance of all the successive elements. These platoons, after crossing the first hostile line, continue their movement without hesitation. The rate of advance is, of course, variable with the difficulties of the ground and the strength of the hostile organization. For this reason it cannot be very rapid. The pace of the leading elements of the assaulting column is foreseen in the plan of battle (depends upon the strength of the enemy’s position), and this becomes the rate of advance of the moving barrage. If no unforeseen and serious resistance is encountered, the assaulting platoons will be able to keep up with their protective barrage. Sometimes, however, they may halt for a moment in their progress under cover of some shelter to regain their alignment.
As a part of the assaulting platoon comes the trench-cleaner detachment. The trench cleaners are armed with hand grenades and trench knives. Their function is to enter the hostile trenches taken and, profiting by the surprise effect of the attack, to vanquish the last resistance and to make prisoners of the defenders still in the dugouts. They pay special attention to picketing all entrances, exits, and shafts of dugouts so that detachments of the enemy cannot come out and fire into the rear of the waves that have already crossed. If the different lines of the hostile platoon are very far apart, the number of trench cleaners is increased, a detachment dropping off in each line.
As long as the assaulting platoons do not meet resistance, the reinforcing platoons follow the former at the regulation distance to avoid mixing of the different waves of the attack. If, however, the assaulting platoons suffer severe losses, and are unable to continue the progress, the reinforcing platoon, either by order of the captain or upon the initiative of its leader, moves up and reinforces the combat line. Its function then becomes the same as that of the assaulting platoon.
Again, if a gap should occur in the combat line, due to losses or extension of the front, the reinforcing platoon moves in that direction and fills the gap. In general, the tactics of the reinforcing platoon are always to assure continuity of progress by outflanking resistances that have stopped the advance of the platoon in front.
The machine guns attached to an assaulting unit follow and protect the flanks. When halted they fire on retreating hostile troops and on special points of resistance. Their special use, however, is against counterattacks.
Reinforcing Companies. The reinforcing companies, with the machine gun reserve and 37 mm. gun of the assaulting battalion, after they have penetrated the hostile position, follow the progress of the assaulting waves at the prescribed distance. They advance in line of small columns but make use of any cover that the ground affords to minimize losses from hostile fire. During this advance, their mission is to rally all the elements of the assaulting companies and push them forward; and also to watch out for the flanks, pushing out to protect them on their own initiative if necessary. But when the line of combat is held up by resistance the supporting companies are maneuvered by order of the battalion commander. Naturally, the whole line of combat will not progress uniformly. Certain assaulting platoons will be held up by nests of resistance, while others in the intervals will carry on with less interruption. Reinforcing platoons and support companies are maneuvered to outflank such nests of resistance and to fill the resulting gaps in the combat line.
Let us take a concrete example of an assaulting company followed by a supporting company held up by a nest of resistance (a ravine, reverse slope, or woods strongly organized with machine guns) and follow the movements of the reinforcing platoons and supporting company. (Examine the diagram showing maneuvers against a nest of resistance in connection with the following explanation.) The first figure shows the formation of the four platoons of an assaulting company advancing in the interior of a position followed by a supporting company. The 1st and 2nd are the assaulting platoons, and the 3rd and 4th the reinforcing platoons. The supporting company follows in double column of platoons. The second figure shows the 1st assaulting platoon held up by a nest of resistance with the 3rd or reinforcing platoon moved up on the right flank. Platoons 2 and 4 of the same company carry on, and this movement results in a gap in the line of combat between the 2nd and 3rd platoons. The third figure shows the 1st and 2nd platoons of the supporting company moved up in this gap, and the 3rd and 4th platoons acting as reserves. The nest of resistance is thus attacked from the front and flank and the continuity of the combat line maintained. When a nest of resistance is encountered the attacking troops must not accumulate in front, as this will multiply the losses. The line of combat will attack the front of a nest of resistance while the successive reinforcing and supporting waves maneuver against its flanks. The battalion commander will use all the weapons at his disposal as machine guns, 37 mm. guns, and rifle grenades to reduce the nest of resistance. If this method fails he will have to call on the artillery for help, but this necessitates a modification of the artillery barrage time-table.
Rôle of the Artillery during the Attack. During the attack the artillery carries out the following different fires:
Counter-battery fire.
Protective fire on the flanks of the attack.
Accompaniment or barrage fire.
The first two fires are executed by a part of the artillery directly under the chief of artillery of the division, who in turn is under the control of the general.
The third kind of fire is executed by the support artillery, detailed to the different assaulting battalions as in the defensive organization. The action of this artillery directly interests each infantry chief of area, to whom are sent liaison detachments and observers (an officer, N. C. O.’s, and artillery orderlies). This third kind of fire is the only one that we will consider in detail.
Principle of the Accompaniment Fire. During the progress of the attack the support artillery establishes a moving barrage in front of the advancing infantry. This barrage travels by bounds. It remains for a certain time on each defensive line and at intervals between them so as to thoroughly sweep the intervening ground. The time-table, or rate of this moving barrage, is laid down in the plan of action of the artillery. The infantry leaders of course are acquainted with this time-table.
Other Means of Controlling the Barrage. The moving barrage may also be advanced successively by order of the commanding general according to information received from the leading elements of the assaulting battalion, from the artillery or aëroplane observers.
Calls may be made directly from the line of combat by rockets, or other means of liaison. With reference to the barrage there are two uses of rockets; one is for calling the barrage in the defensive, and the other is calling for an advance of the barrage during the attack. It may be remarked that it is impossible to call for a decrease in range of the barrage as this, of course, would be dangerous to your own troops. It is better to decrease the rate of advance of the barrage rather than to have it move too quickly and risk abandoning the infantry.
Lastly, the preceding means for controlling the barrage can be employed in conjunction. That is to say, a time-table for the barrage is adhered to during the first part of the advance when the positions of the hostile lines are well known, while during the last part, when the infantry’s progress is not so regular and the ground is not so well known, each advance of the barrage may be called for by rocket, as each resistance met with is disposed of. If an assaulting battalion meets a resistance which it cannot reduce by its own means, it must call upon the support artillery for help. To do this, the artillery must halt its barrage and for an interval the time-table is not in effect. Such an emergency calls for a special action on the part of the support artillery, and also for the intervention of any other artillery at the disposal of the general. This particular action of the artillery may be called for automatically by rocket or by the other means of liaison. The rôle of the officer and N. C. O. of the artillery liaison detachment is to give the artillery the precise technical information necessary in such a case to establish its fire on a nest of resistance. This action of halting the barrage and giving the artillery a new objective is exceptional and delicate to execute. As soon as the resistance is reduced, the time-table is resumed.
Liaisons During the Attack. The proper co-ordination of all the foreseen developments of the attack lies in a good system of liaison. There must be leadership liaison for the transmission of orders and reports, and infantry-artillery liaison for the proper co-operation of the two arms. The means of liaison in the offensive are the same as those considered in the defensive organization. The principle of their use is the same but made more difficult by the progress of the different attacking echelons. It is the duty of all leaders to foresee the establishment of liaison for the engagement in their plan of battle, and also for the prolongation of these means with the advance of the attacking troops.
The means of liaison are:
Telephone lines (for leadership in artillery. They are lengthened from the parallel of departure to the interior of the enemy’s position.)
Signal communication (established from the enemy’s position to a central point in the rear).
Rockets (precise signification of each kind laid down in orders).
Carried pigeons (headquarters that are to carry these laid down in orders).
Detachment of special runners (essential to be established between all units).
Aviation. During the advance, a particular system of liaison is established with the air service. Each division has at its disposal a certain number of accompanying planes that fly low and follow the assaulting battalions. Their duty is to establish communication between the leading elements of the advancing infantry, and the artillery, and the commanding general. The infantry signal to these airplanes by means of rockets and Bengal fires, and the planes in turn communicate with the artillery and the commanding general by means of wireless.
CHAPTER VII
TRENCH ORDERS
The following outline gives a synopsis of information required in various paragraphs for Battalion Orders in Trench Warfare, followed by models of each.
Six orders are given in these models, viz.:
I. Plan of Attack. II. Order for the Attack. III. Preliminary Order for a Relief. IV. March Order for Relief. V. Plan of Advance. VI. A Raid.
I. Plan of Attack
(Issued several days before attack)
1. Rôle of Battalion, i. e., general description of offensive and whether battalion is in first line or reserve.
2. Zone of Attack. Accurate description of boundaries of hostile position to be attacked.
3. Objectives. Number of trenches to be assaulted and trench at which offensive will halt.
4. Disposition for the Attack. Companies in assaulting line—companies in support—apportionment of objectives to companies—distance between assaulting and supporting companies—disposition of M. G. Co. and 37 mm. gun—location of battalion C. O. during assault.
5. Disposition of Units in Parallels of Departure. Describe accurately trenches each unit will start from: e. g. Assaulting Cos.—first line and cover trenches. Supporting Cos.—intermediate trenches or places d’armes nearby starting points of battalion C. O., M. G. Co. and 37 mm. gun.
6. Direction of the Attack. Landmark to guide on, also compass direction.
7. Tactical Relation with Neighboring Units. Troops on flanks of battalion and responsibility for liaison therewith. Patrolling to establish connection if necessary.
8. Artillery Support during Attack. Barrage to start at hour H. Where and how long it will halt beyond the last objective.
9. Liaison during Attack. Usual liaison with artillery and aëroplanes—telephone lines to be established during attack—signals such as Bengal lights to show progress of assaulting companies.
10. Supply. Detachments (usually from supporting companies) to carry ammunition. Hour at which and points from which they will start.
11. Evacuation. Evacuation point for wounded and assembly point for prisoners.
Details not stated in this order. Time of attack—detailed instructions for barrage. Liaison to be established after attack—equipment to be taken. Information of the enemy not given as all officers have maps of enemy’s trenches as well as of their own trench system.
II. Order for the Attack
(Issued night before attack is to be made)
1. Time; i. e., hour H.
2. Further details of assault than given in previous order.
3. Further details concerning barrage, i. e., Halts to be made by barrage—rate of travel.
4. Liaison to be established after attack.
5. Supplies to be carried.
III. Preliminary Order for a Relief
(Issued night before reconnaissance; i. e. 24 to 36 hours before relief)
1. (Based on regimental order.) Battalion to be relieved—Sector.
General Description of Sector: Centers of resistance—troops in each—troops on right and left of sector—reserve-command post of Colonel, Command Post of artillery support Commander.
Note: Battalion needs know no more about artillery support than location of command post. Details as to location of guns are not given out.
2. Disposition of Battalion in Center. Accurate description of: First line and units occupying it—intermediate line and units occupying it—support line and units occupying it—Battalion Command post—stations of machine gun company—dressing station.
3. Hour at which usual reconnaissance will be completed—each officer to reconnoiter area assigned him in 2.
4. Hour at which Major will assume command of center of resistance.
IV. Order for the March of the Relief
(Issued after reconnaissance and several hours before relief starts)
1. Dispersion point fixed by Colonel—Battalion’s place in regiment—hour at which battalion clears dispersion point.
2. Relief to be made as per preceding order. Order of march of units in battalion. Routes to be followed and formation taken from dispersion point to point of rendezvous of guides.
3. Hour at which the guides will be at rendezvous. Location of rendezvous. Routes by which guides will conduct various units to their places.
4. Hour and place ration details will report to N. C. O. from battalion headquarters to go to kitchens for rations. Hour at which daily requests for material and ammunition will reach Major. Whether Major has depot to fill emergency requests.
5. Reports to be submitted by Captains. Usually written report upon occupation of area and daily reports submitted at same time as requests for material.