Infantry training, 1905

by Great Britain. War Office

As soon as it becomes evident that superiority of fire has been attained, which is generally made known by movements to the rear along the enemy’s line, or by the decreasing accuracy and volume of his fire, the troops detailed to drive home the attack will close in on the firing line, and carry it forward to the assault.

The signal for this decisive movement should, as a rule, come from the senior officers present, and be sounded on the bugle. But the method of advance must be left to the company officers, for at such short range it is not possible to transmit the necessary orders all along the line.

During the delivery of the assault on the enemy’s position, the men will cheer, bugles be sounded, and the pipes played.

If the assault is successful, the attacking troops should pursue the enemy with their fire and re-form for a further advance.

138. Rallying and Redistribution.

After each successful assault, the task of rallying the men, and of forming a defensive line until the advance can be resumed, will generally fall to the subordinate leaders. This will be much facilitated if there are bodies in rear, well in hand, which can be sent forward to carry on the attack, and, as may sometimes be possible, rush the enemy’s second position before he has recovered from the loss of the first.

All important points won should be at once placed in a state of defence, with a view to serving as supporting points for a fresh advance, S. 136 (7), and “Combined Training,” S. 122.

139. Holding Attacks.

1. In order to prevent the enemy from reinforcing that portion of his line against which it is intended to drive home the decisive attack, other portions of his line, and particularly that portion near which his reserves are believed to be, must be threatened or held by a display of force. In order to mislead the enemy as to the direction of the main attack, and to prevent him, when the crisis of the fight approaches, from thinning those portions of the line which are only threatened, and meeting the decisive attack with nearly his whole strength, the troops engaged in the holding attack must act with vigour when the attack develops, and be prepared to convert their demonstration into a real attack as soon as the right moment arrives.

2. These troops must therefore be in sufficient strength to enable them to advance against the enemy’s position with a good chance of success. As a rule, it will be advisable in the preliminary stages of the action to extend the firing-line at wide intervals, to keep the reinforcing lines well back, and, owing to the danger of a counter-attack, not to permit the firing-line, unless the ground is peculiarly favourable, to advance within decisive range, S. 145 (2). Sudden outbursts of heavy fire at different points, and the use of machine guns, will give effect to demonstrations.