When taking over a line of trenches the machine gun officer must make careful arrangements for controlling the fire of his guns.
The machine gun officer must:—
(a) Establish himself at a place where he can always be found. (b) Keep in touch with his guns with the officers of the line of trenches he is assisting to defend. (c) Arrange for ammunition supply. (d) Arrange for reliefs.
Towers, windmills and other high buildings may often be used with advantage:—
For overhead fire. (a) Cover the advance of friendly troops. (b) Fire at attacking enemy over the heads of our own troops. (c) Enable fire to be directed into enemy’s trenches. (d) To direct the fire of guns situated in other positions.
Woods, especially when in leaf, are often most valuable for concealing the position of guns.
Care must be taken that the guns are not placed too near the edge of the wood or individual men expose themselves.
All communications between guns should be made in the wood, well in rear of the guns.
Alternative positions should be selected, so that the guns may be moved rapidly from one to another if desired, with as little loss of time as possible.
Lines of retirement through the woods must be arranged and also lines of communication between guns and limbers thought out.