Fighting the Boche Underground

by H. D. Trounce

The attacks must be arranged so as to reach the objective in spite of anything the enemy may do. The vulnerable parts are the flanks; that is, both the flanks of galleries or branch galleries which are first constructed, and also the flanks of the combined scheme.

Usually it is of no advantage to begin an offensive by mining if the enemy has covered his position with countermines; if the distance to be covered is more than 150 yards; or if the water-level is very shallow.

There should be more galleries than the actual number needed to reach the objective.

They should be placed close enough to each other to insure enemy operations being detected from either parallel gallery.

If the enemy tries to bar the way by counter-mining, a breach must be made in his system, so that, in spite of him, the galleries may be driven to their objectives and charges placed as previously arranged.

The underground struggle which ensues must aim at clearing the ground by destroying the enemy's galleries, and at holding him to one part of the front whilst the attack passes elsewhere (to one side, above or below) by working quicker.

In order to do this successfully, it is necessary to get ahead of the enemy and strike before he can do so, to go for the flanks of the enemy's galleries, to strike as hard as possible, and to strike only when within good range.

To insure this it is required to have an accurate plan of the mines, a well-organized system of information, and decision and rapidity in execution. The value of a blow on the enemy's flank by placing the charges at the sides of branches or galleries will be enhanced.

In meeting the enemy underground, maximum-charge camouflets are largely employed. These will naturally vary with the depths at which they are placed.

To strike within good range requires great coolness. Every explosion causes a temporary delay in the attack, because it will damage part of the gallery leading to the charge. A mine should be fired only when it is considered that it is likely to do more damage to the enemy than to ourselves.