Positions in rear must be chosen before the guns leave the position they are holding.
A proportion of the guns should occupy the position in rear, before all guns retire from the forward position, thus the retirement of the last guns can be covered.
Village Fighting.—As soon as the infantry have made good one edge of the village, the guns will be brought up as close to the firing-line as possible.
They will then search windows, doorways, roofs, etc., likely to be held by the enemy.
Guns will be used to command cross-streets, etc., so as to guard against attacks on the flanks or rear of the infantry.
Guns should also be posted on the edges of the village, to prevent flank attacks.
During village fighting every use should be made of windows, doors, etc., as machine gun positions (see page [102]).
Co-operation.—The necessity for co-operation between the machine guns taking part in any particular action cannot be overestimated.
Not only should the individual gun of a particular unit work upon some definite plan for mutual support, but the sections of all units that are operating together should co-operate with a view to obtaining the best results from their combined action.
This cannot be done in action unless it has been previously practised.