Therefore every effort should be made to locate them, and to concentrate the fire of our own machine guns upon them.
It may sometimes be possible to use machine guns to search systematically all places in the area of attack likely to be held by the enemy.
This searching fire has undoubtedly considerable moral effect on the troops subjected to it, and may greatly assist the subsequent infantry advance. It requires, however, a large expenditure of ammunition.
If the preliminary reconnaissance is properly carried out, it is quite possible for the guns employed for this purpose to remain undetected, even though pushed well forward.
The general rules as to position of machine guns in attack are as follows:—
(a) The fire of a large proportion of the available guns should be carefully organized to cover the infantry advance. (b) This covering fire is no longer possible, move up a proportion of the available guns either into, or on to, the flanks of the infantry firing-line. (c) A proportion of the guns should usually be held back as a reserve in the hands of the commander. (d) Thus each gun has a definite duty to perform, and co-operation between guns is assured.
It may be possible, and advantageous, to move forward a proportion of the guns with the attacking lines of the infantry.
The guns allotted to this duty will not take part in the covering fire, but will keep themselves fresh and their ammunition intact, in readiness for the advance.
Their duties will be to:—
(a) Help the infantry to gain fire superiority at the decisive point. (b) Make good and hold positions won. (c) Pursue the enemy by fire. (d) Watch for and repel counterattacks. (e) Enable the infantry to re-organize.