At all ranges the men should be allowed to throw any number of dummy bombs, but should not be permitted to fatigue their arms.
B is a diagram showing the arrangement for trench practice with dummy bombs. Small trenches are built on the surface of the ground by screens of wire mesh covered with burlap or other similar material. 1 is the thrower’s trench and is built so high that he cannot see over the top. From this he throws, using a periscope for observation. 2 represents part of a traverse and fire-bay, the front part of which is about 20 yards from the throwing trench. 3 is a section of straight trench about 25 yards half right from the thrower’s front. 4 is a section of curved trench about 20 yards half left from the thrower’s front.
The general custom in the practice trenches is to give the man any desirable number of dummy bombs, say 18; 6 for each trench. Four out of six are required to be put in No. 2, and 3 out of 6 in Nos. 3 & 4. Men must not be kept at bombing practice too long at a time as it spoils both their interest and their aim.
In taking a line of trenches, it is well to remember that the attack will take place on a relatively small front by a large number of men, and therefore when the trenches are finally reached, there is liable to be great overcrowding in them. This can only be prevented by extending them along the trenches as quickly as possible, and is of the utmost importance as heavy casualties will result from allowing this overcrowding. To make this extending possible, it is the duty of the bombing parties to work along to both flanks of the trenches and take advantage of the temporary confusion of the enemy by obtaining as much of his trenches as possible, thus allowing for the extension of men. In a narrow trench the only portion of an attacking party coming into contact with the enemy is the head, or what is known as the Bayonet Man. The bombing party is composed of the following:
1. Bayonet man,
2. First thrower,
3. First carrier,
4. First spade man,
5. N. C. O. first squad,
6. Second bayonet man,
7. Second thrower,
8. Second carrier,
9. Spade man, in charge of second party.
These parties will work up a trench until they come to a junction, when the first party in charge of the N. C. O. will continue straight on and the second party branch to the right or left, as the case may be, and as they come on other parties keep working up behind them, and the infantry gradually following taking possession of the line and starting consolidation work at once.
Communication throughout these lengths of grenade parties is very difficult with men extended in single file, and the attendant confusion which accompanies such a stand.
A system is required which will enable supplies of bombs to be passed up and casualties replaced automatically. This system cannot be laid down on any cut and dried lines, but must be figured out before the attack, with due consideration being given to the line of trenches to be attacked and the difficulties which will be encountered in getting supplies to that line, and it is only on the spot that such a system can be worked out.
During an attack three grenades per man are issued to each unit detailed to open the attack, and these grenades are turned over to the bombers or used by the men themselves if necessary. When out of grenades themselves, the men take over the casualty’s, and it is the duty of a casualty when he is so able to, to leave his grenades and ammunition to the care of some other man before “going down.” Small depots should be established at frequent intervals along the trenches from which the attack starts, with careful consideration given to their safety from shell fire, if at all possible. Other depots must be established in the support and assembly trenches, and these will generally be supplied through a central station probably controlled by a brigade or division.
Before starting the attack, every man and party should have had explained them in detail exactly what is required of them, and generally the following system is adopted: