Captain Jones: “It would not be safe. It is too early to know whether the enemy will counter-attack. If he should counter-attack and drive the infantry out of the position at (t), part of the machine guns should be in position to support the infantry. As soon as it appears that the attack of the infantry has succeeded, part of the guns must be sent forward to give the infantry closer support, but some guns must be retained in position until danger of a counter-attack has passed.”
The Director: “Captain Burt, would you give the platoon leaders any additional instructions?”
Captain Burt: “Yes, sir; I would instruct them to replenish their ammunition before sending their ammunition carts forward. They probably would do this any way, but I would play safe and order it. There has not been a long period of firing so that one cart from each section probably would be all that it would be necessary to send to the rear. This would leave plenty of ammunition with the guns and get additional ammunition forward much sooner than if the ammunition carts were permitted to advance without refilling.”
The Director: “Captain Howe, would you give any further instructions to the platoon leaders?”
Captain Howe: “Yes, sir; I would direct them to move forward with the guns on carts. The carts have been placed at the disposal of the platoon leaders so they should employ them without instructions, as there is no danger in so doing. However, the captain usually determines when the guns shall be moved forward by hand, so I think it is safer to caution them to use their carts. There is a great tendency to continue advancing the guns by hand for the rest of the fight when it has once become necessary to dismount them from the carts.”
The Director: “Captain Smith, give the complete messages that should be sent to the platoon leaders to carry out the decisions we have made.”
Captain Smith: “Captain M would send the following verbal messages:
“To the commander of the 2nd platoon:
“‘Move forward at once with guns on carts to the position from which the enemy has just been driven. Replenish ammunition.’
“To commander of 1st platoon: