Cover trenches should be made as comfortable as possible. It will often be advisable to make them extensive enough to provide cooking and resting facilities for the garrisons of the corresponding fire trenches.
[593.] Communicating trenches are frequently necessary in order to connect fire trenches with their corresponding cover trenches where natural, covered communication is impracticable. They are generally rectangular in profile, deep, and narrow. They are traversed or zigzagged to escape enfilade.
Returns or pockets should be provided for use as latrines, storerooms, dressing stations, passing points for troops, etc.
Cover from observation while passing through the trench may insure against loss as effectively as material cover from the enemy's fire.
Communicating ways, naturally or artificially screened from the enemy's view, sometimes provide sufficient cover for the passage of troops.
[594.] Dummy trenches frequently draw the enemy's attention and fire and thus protect the true fire trench.
Any type is suitable which presents to the enemy the appearance of a true trench imperfectly concealed.
[595.] When it is uncertain whether time will permit the completion of all the work planned, work should proceed with due regard to the order of importance of the several operations. Ordinarily the order of importance will be:
1. Clearing foreground to improve the field of fire and construction of fire trench.
2. Head or overhead cover; concealment.