When a patrol is out every man in the section of firing line concerned must be warned, as well as the listening posts, and this cannot be done too carefully. It is not a sufficient warning to tell the sentry on duty at the time a patrol goes out, as men cannot all be trusted to pass on instructions, and generally word is quietly passed down the line by an N. C. O. or officer in person, and never passed from man to man. At the same time care must be taken to see that all firing does not cease, as this is undesirable, obviously arousing the enemy’s suspicions that something is going on. When these patrols have to lie out in trying conditions during winter months, special dugouts should be kept ready for them on their return.
DUTIES OF AN OFFICER
Some of the questions an officer should ask himself on taking over a trench and keep in mind during his stay there, are:
1. I am here for two purposes—to do as much damage as possible to the enemy and to hold my part of the line at all costs. Am I doing everything possible to insure my being able to do this?
2. Do I worry the enemy as much as I might, and are the periscope rifles, rifle grenades, catapults and patrols at my disposal organized in the best way to effect this purpose?
3. Am I doing all I can to make my part of the line as strong as possible?
4. Should the enemy succeed in getting into any part of my line, will I be able to at once bring up a section of bombers for immediate counter-attack?
5. Do I connect properly with units on my right and left? Do I know the position of the nearest support, and the position of all machine guns in my vicinity, as well as their lines of fire?
6. Does every man know his firing position, and can he fire from it over the parapet at the foot of our wire?