Machine Guns in Action.
The Attack.—The guns should be dug in whenever it is possible to do so without giving away their position.
It is often impossible to see anything of the enemy. Therefore likely positions for him to occupy must be looked for.
Surprise, obtained by a concealed advance, is essential to the successful handling of machine guns.
The progress of the infantry must be carefully watched, with a view to pushing on a certain number of guns and to closely support them whenever possible.
The usual methods of supporting the infantry attack will be:—
(a) Fire from the flanks. (b) Overhead fire. (c) Long-range searching fire. (d) Fire from a forward position.
Every opportunity for the use of overhead fire should be seized.
All suitable ground, buildings, etc., that may enable this kind of fire to be used should be looked for.
The enemy’s machine guns are the weapons that are most likely to hold up the attack.