The importance of concealed positions from which to ambush the pursuers must not blind machine-gun commanders to the necessity for seizing and holding to the last possible moment, even at the risk of capture, every position from which the retreat can be effectually covered and the pursuit delayed. Should a river or other natural obstacle be encountered on the line of retreat, machine guns must freely sacrifice themselves in covering the retirement of the cavalry across the bridge or beyond the obstacle.
Cavalry is the most costly of all arms, and cannot be replaced during a campaign; machine guns are the least expensive in proportion to their fire value, and the easiest to renew; they must consequently save the cavalry when they can, even if they sacrifice themselves in doing so.
ESCORT TO ARTILLERY
There is one important duty which machine guns are able to perform better than any other arm, and that is escorting artillery, but more especially horse artillery. When cavalry are detailed for this purpose they not only deprive squadrons of much-needed men, but can only provide three rifles in action to every four men of the escort, owing to the necessity of providing horse-holders. In addition to this drawback, the horses provide a costly fire-trap for the shells of the enemy’s guns which may go wide of the battery. For these reasons, where it is possible to spare them, a section of machine guns should be allotted to each battery of artillery when an escort is necessary.
They should march in the rear of the battery when on a road, and on the outer flank when in open country and away from cavalry. The sole object of the machine guns is to afford protection to the battery from cavalry, and to prevent rifle fire from being brought to bear on them from effective range; therefore the section commander must devote his whole attention to this object, and he is not justified in opening fire on any target that does not directly threaten the battery—this especially applies to that stage of the mounted combat immediately before the collision, when the guns are firing on the opposing squadrons.
The section commander will be under the immediate orders of the battery commander, and should be acquainted with his plans and intentions. He should remain with him until the position for action has been selected, when he will immediately seek the best position from which to cover the guns, taking particular care not to mask or limit their radius of fire nor hinder their line of advance or retreat. This will necessitate a careful but rapid survey of the ground in the vicinity of the position, in which good ground scouts, who have been previously trained in this work, will materially assist. The most suitable positions will usually be found well to the front and on the inner flank of the battery from 200 to 600 yards’ distance. It may be occasionally possible to place a machine gun on each flank from which a cross fire can be brought to bear on ground in front of the guns; but such a position on either side of the battery, unless the ground is particularly favourable, has the disadvantage of rendering fire control difficult, and may hamper the fire or movement of the battery. The principal considerations which should govern the choice of a position are as follows:
(1) Good field of fire to protect the battery from attack.
(2) Position clear of the fire and movement of the battery.
(3) Immunity from artillery firing on the battery.
(4) Concealment.