There are certain obvious requirements that have to become rules. When required to fill sandbags, always look for the nearest excavation being made and fill from there, if distance permits.
As a matter of fact, in every trench there is a continuous revetting, widening of communications or control trenches, or driving of a tunnel to a listening post.
A—Parapet Traverse
B—Parados Traverse
TRAVERSED & RECESSED TRENCH.
Inasmuch as the time for filling sandbags is never ending, if work is being done and the earth is not absolutely needed for parapet or parados, the earth, if dry, should be put in sandbags, and, if necessary, stored until it is needed. The repair work that is most necessary takes precedent and is about as follows: Any damage to parados or traverses should be immediately attended to. During the night any damage to the wire entanglements must be repaired. Drainage comes next in order of importance, and this involves the digging of sumps and deepening of the drainage bottom. These are the repairs, but improvements must continually be made in the dugouts and communication trenches.
The ultimate design of a fire-trench depends upon its closeness to the enemy. When the latter are within 150 yards, the traversed fire-trench shown in sketch should be employed, as it provides adequate accommodation and protection for men who may at any moment be called upon to make use of bomb, bayonet and bullet; but if the enemy trenches are more than 150 yards distant, the ultimate design would depend upon the number of machine guns and automatic rifles available. Each of these guns has a firing capacity of about 25 rifles. Each gun therefore gives a reduction in the number of men required to hold the line, and in consequence reduces the amount of trench needed to protect these men.
A design, known as the “T” shaped fire-trench, makes an adaptable basis for entrenching under these conditions. Many lengths of a continuous traversed trench have no great field of fire, and yet, having been dug, they must be held, and unless properly held and kept in repair, they naturally become a source of danger.
As shown in the sketch, a traversed trench consists of a series of fire-bays interrupted by a series of traverses. The object of these being to localize the effect of shells or bombs landing in a fire-bay, and preventing enfilade fire down the length of the trench, as well as localizing any entry of the enemy into your line.