15. Artillery co-operates more closely than ever with infantry. Its reconnaissance officers accompany infantry lines in order to obtain information. There is a certain number of artillery observers attached to each battalion of infantry.
The general method of attack is to smother the defense with a torrent of explosive shells, kept up incessantly for one or more days, and shatter the defense so they will offer but slight resistance to the infantry; then rush forward with the infantry and seize the positions while the enemy is demoralized, and consolidate them before reenforcements can be brought up.
The artillery bombardment is necessary to prepare the way for the infantry advance. It has for its objects:
- To destroy the hostile artillery, wire entanglements and infantry trenches.
- To produce curtains of fire and prevent bringing up reenforcements.
Light guns are assigned to Each Battalion Of Infantry, subject only to orders of regimental and battalion commanders concerned.
Save under exceptional circumstances the light gun is always attached to the Machine Gun Company for the attack.
The essential role of the light gun is to destroy with direct fire the visible machine guns; they are employed separately and not grouped.
The infantry is divided into two classes: Holding troops—and attacking or shock troops. Holding troops are those doing routine or trench duty; shock troops are picked organizations of young and vigorous men and are kept in camps well behind the battle front. Holding troops are two weeks in and two weeks out of the trenches.
All specialist groups, i.e., Machine Gun Companies, etc., are officered, allowing company and battalion commanders to concentrate them, if the situation requires.
They play the normal part in combat if they do not receive special instructions.