Whole book · 15 sections
Elements of
Trench Warfare
Waldron
By
Captain William H. Waldron
29th U. S. Infantry
DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE INFANTRY AND
CAVALRY SCHOOL, 1905
GRADUATE ARMY STAFF COLLEGE, 1906
GRADUATE ARMY WAR COLLEGE, 1911
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ARMY WAR
COLLEGE COURSE, 1911-12
Author of
"Scouting and Patrolling"
"Tactical Walks"
Price 60 cents
Washington
1917
Copyright, 1917, by
William H. Waldron
NATIONAL CAPITAL PRESS, INC., WASHINGTON, D. C.
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There is a wealth of material in this little book that will interest the soldier. From the illustrations alone he will be able to obtain a good general idea of the subject.
It is essentially a soldier's book, written in language that he can understand. The price has been kept within the limits of his pocketbook.
With a view to securing a wide distribution of the book I desire to secure a representative in every organization in the Army. I have an attractive proposition to make to competent parties.
A letter will bring particulars. My address will be found in the Army List and Directory. If this is not available, a letter addressed as follows will be forwarded to me:
Captain W. H. Waldron,
29th Infantry,
Care of "Infantry Journal,"
Washington, D. C.
(Signed) W. H. Waldron.
| Page | |
| CHAPTER I—The Organization of a Section of the Position | 1 |
| CHAPTER II—Obstacles. Construction, repair. Wire entanglements, barricades, land mines, inundation | 4 |
| CHAPTER III—Lookout and Listening Posts: Types. Construction, service | 18 |
| CHAPTER IV—Field Trenches: Traversed trenches. Types of trenches. Drainage. Communication trenches. Dugouts. Penetration of projectiles. Communication. Trench mortar positions. Machine guns. Supporting points | 24 |
| CHAPTER V—Use and Improvement of Natural Cover | 50 |
| CHAPTER VI—Revetments: Sandbags. Fascines. Hurdles. Gabions | 64 |
| CHAPTER VII—Working Parties: Details of organization. Laying out tasks. Operations | 80 |
| CHAPTER VIII—Grenade Warfare: Organization and tactics of grenadiers. Offensive operations. Clearing fire trenches. Clearing communication trenches. Night operations. Grenade patrols. Notes on grenade warfare | 86 |
| CHAPTER IX—Gas Warfare: Methods of dissemination of gas. Gas helmets, care and use of. Sprayers | 105 |
| CHAPTER X—Service in the Trenches: Preparations for entering. Inspection of trenches. Tactical dispositions. Going into the trenches. Information routine. Observation field glasses. Snipers. What to fire at. Use of rifle grenades. Scouting and patrolling. Care of arms. Care of trenches. Latrines. Maps. Frost bite. The trench soldier's creed | 114 |
| CHAPTER XI—The Attack in Trench Warfare | 146 |
This little book has been prepared with a view to placing before the soldier a store of information on the subject of Trench Warfare as it has been developed on the battle fronts of Europe, and giving him some idea of the nature of the service that he will be called upon to perform when the time arrives for him to do his "bit."
The illustrations have been carefully prepared and arranged to the end that the soldier may gain a fair knowledge of the subject from them alone. The text is intended to treat the subject in a purely elementary manner that the soldier may be able to understand.
The size of the book is such that it may be conveniently carried in the pocket and referred to as occasion requires. The price has been kept down to the point where it is available to the soldier.
If the book assists in his preparation for the front and, by reason of the knowledge that he has gained from it, helps to make him more efficient when he gets there, it will have served its purpose.
The Author.
Organization
The normal organization of an intrenched position includes the following elements from front to rear:
1. In front of the position and at a variable distance from the first line fire trench there is a line of wire entanglements. (See Obstacles, p. 4.)
2. Close up to the wire entanglements there is an intrenched post known as the "listening post," which is connected with the first line fire trench by a zigzag communicating trench. (See Listening Posts, p. 18.)
3. Then comes the first line fire trench with attached machine-gun emplacements at convenient points. (See Fire Trench and Machine-Gun Emplacements, pp. 24 and 44.)
4. The fire trench is so narrow that lateral communication along it is effected only with difficulty. In order to provide a passageway a communication or supervision trench is provided a few yards in rear of the fire trench. Passageways lead from this communication trench to the fire trench and to the dugouts located along it.
5. At a variable distance in rear of the fire trench (100 to 200 yards) the emplacements for bomb-throwing apparatus and trench mortars are located. These are connected up laterally by a communication trench which joins with the main communication trench running from front to rear through the position. (See Emplacements for Trench Mortars, p. 41.)
6. From 100 to 400 yards to the rear of the first line fire trench, and generally parallel to it, is the supporting trench or cover for the supports. This trench is invariably provided with strong overhead cover and a system of dugouts for the protection of the troops. (See Cover for Supports, p. 48.)
7. This whole arrangement of trenches is connected throughout from front to rear, and laterally, by a system of zigzag communication trenches.
Take this brief description together with Plate 1, the drawing that accompanies this volume, and study the two until you get the entire system fixed firmly in your mind; that is, until you get a mental picture of all the elements included in the system.
After you have done this, study on through the book in order that you may know the purpose of each of these elements and how one links up with the other.
This is the typical system now in use in the European war theaters. Circumstances at certain places may render some variations necessary, and it must not be inferred that the trace of the works is the same throughout. As a rule the types of trenches (altered when necessary to meet local conditions) illustrated herein are the ones in actual use on the war fronts.
All of these trenches and their accessories constitute what is known as the first line. At a distance of from 2,000 to 5,000 yards in rear of this first line a second line, organized in a similar manner, is to be found.
At intervals of from 800 to 1,500 yards along the first line-centers of resistance, or what we know as "supporting points," are located. These consist of fortified villages, or a network (labyrinth) of trenches, provided with every defensive device known to modern warfare. The object of these supporting points is to bring a flanking fire to bear on the intervals between them, with the idea that an attacking force cannot advance beyond them without capturing them.
Plate 2 shows the general scheme of the occupation of a sector of the line by a field army of two divisions.
Obstacles
The element of the defensive line nearest the enemy is a line or series of lines of obstacles which are designed for the purpose of:
1. Protecting the lines from surprise.
2. Reducing the momentum of the attack, by breaking up the unity of action and cohesion.
3. Holding the enemy under the effective fires of the defenders.
The conditions that obstacles should fulfil are as follows. They must—
1. Be close to the defender's position. As a rule on the western front they are not more than from 50 to 100 yards distant. If they are too close it may be possible to throw hand grenades from the far edge of them into the defender's trenches.
2. As far as practicable, be sheltered and screened from the enemy. Shell fire is the most effective method of destroying obstacles. If they are not concealed they may furnish aiming points for the enemy's fire against the first line fire trench by his being able to estimate its location with reference to the obstacle.
3. Afford no cover or screen to the enemy.
4. Be so placed that the enemy will come upon them as a surprise.
5. Be so constructed as to be difficult of removal under fire and impracticable to negotiate while still reasonably intact.
6. Be arranged so as not to interfere with a counter attack. The obstacles may have occasional gaps left in them which may be mined.
The different classes of obstacles are: Abatis, low wire entanglements, high wire entanglements, barricades, mines, fougasses, crows feet, military pits with wire entanglements, inundations, etc.
Abatis (pronounced abatee) consists of branches of trees lying parallel to each other, butts pointing to the rear, and the branches interlaced with barbed wire. All leaves and small twigs should be removed and the stiff ends of branches pointed. The butts are staked or tied down of, anchored by covering them with earth. When more than one row is used the branches overlap the butts of those in front so as to make the abatis about 5 feet high. An abatis formed by felling trees towards the enemy, leaving the butt hanging to the stump, is called slashing.
Barbed wire is the material most employed in the construction of obstacles. It may be used in the following manner:
1. As a simple trip, for giving the alarm. It is stretched just above the ground and attached to some object that will cause a noise to be made if molested.
2. A simple wire fence, to cause delay and confusion to the enemy in his advance.
3. As an adjunct to tree and brushwood entanglement.
4. As a wire entanglement.
5. As a covering for portable cylinders.
The advantages of the barbed wire entanglement are:
1. It is easily and quickly made,
2. It is difficult to destroy.
3. It is difficult to get through.
4. It offers no obstruction to the view and fire of the defense.
The low wire entanglement is constructed as follows:
1. Drive stakes in the ground until they project about 18 inches. The stakes should be about 6 feet apart, those in each row being opposite the intervals in adjacent rows,
2. The wire is then passed loosely from the head of one stake to another, wound around each and stapled.
3. Where two or more wires cross they should be tied together.
A more useful and efficient modification of the low wire entanglement is made by stapling the wire down the sides of the stakes, allowing five or more feet of slack wire between stakes. Drive the stakes in the ground until the top is flush. This results in a loose network of tangled wires difficult to get through, easily concealed, and difficult to remove.
The high wire entanglement is made by driving stakes so that they protrude from 4 to 6 feet above the ground. They are placed at irregular intervals 5 to 8 feet apart. The head of each stake is connected with the foot of adjoining stakes with the wire loosely drawn, wound around the stakes and stapled fast. Each center post should be stayed by four wires. There should be a trip wire about 9 inches from the ground all the way across the front and another about a foot from the top of the center posts. Barbed wire may then be hung in festoons throughout the entanglement, with no fixed pattern. To increase the entanglement wire may be stapled to the foot of the posts, as indicated in the paragraph above, before they are driven. Large nails should be driven in the tops of the posts with half their length protruding. A number of the wires in the entanglement should be fastened together where they cross. The wire should be passed through paint, if practicable, to take away the bright color. The posts should be painted the color of the surrounding country. Under the conditions encountered on the western front this work has to be done hastily. It is best, therefore, to limit the first stage of construction to just so many strands as will form a nucleus for the whole entanglement, in order that the area may be covered by an obstacle before interruption occurs.
Tight wires help the enemy's advance by forming supports for hurdles. It must be constantly borne in mind that the wires must not be stretched taut.
A portable wire entanglement is constructed by stretching wire loosely around a wooden framework, either circular or square or made on a knife rest, and rolling it into position to close up gaps that may have been made in the entanglement. The illustration shows the wooden framework.
The ordinary repairs to entanglements are made under cover of darkness by working parties detailed for the purpose. Iron posts that can be quickly placed in position are advantageous, their disadvantage being that they may retard bullets that would go through the ordinary wooden posts, thus furnishing just that much cover and protection to attacking parties.
In the construction and repair of entanglements care must be taken to see that they are firmly fastened into the ground with numerous stay posts or "deadmen." This is to prevent the enemy from pulling them to pieces with grappling hooks connected to ropes that lead to his trenches and are attached to powerful windlasses or capstans.
Barricades are employed for the defense of streets, roads, bridges, etc. They may be made out of any available material such as furniture, vehicles (overturned or with wheels removed), carts filled with stones, bales of goods, etc.
Where trees grow along the roadside they may be felled across the road. If necessary, barbed wire may be run through the branches to make the passage more difficult.
Barricades should not as a rule close the road entirely to traffic. Passages are required to allow the defenders to pass through when it is necessary to do so. Hence they should be made in two parts, one overlapping the other, as shown in the illustration.
A fougass is a mine so arranged that upon explosion a large mass of stones is projected against the enemy. An excavation is made in the shape of a frustum of a cone, inclining the axis in the direction of the enemy so as to make an angle with the horizon of about 45 degrees. The sides splay outward slightly. A box of powder is placed in a recess at the bottom. This is covered with a platform of wood several inches thick, on which the stones are piled.
The fuse is placed in a groove cut at the back of the excavation, or the mine may be exploded by means of electricity.
The line of least resistance for the charge must be arranged so that the powder will act in the direction of the axis and not vertically. This is accomplished by throwing the excavated earth on the crest towards the defender's side and ramming it well.
To ascertain the powder charge for any fougass, divide the number of pounds of stone in the charge by 150. This gives the number of pounds of powder in the powder charge. Thus a fougass charged with about 70 pounds of powder will throw about 5 tons of stone over a surface about 160 yards long and 120 yards wide.
When broken up a cubic foot of stone weighs about 100 pounds.
A vertical type of fougass is also shown. A charge of 25 pounds of powder should scatter a cubic yard of stones over an area about 200 by 100 yards.
Small Land Mines
Land mines are placed in the line of the advance of the enemy and exploded either by electricity or fuse from the defense. They are made by digging holes from 2 to 3 yards deep, either by excavation or by boring. In the former case the charge is placed in a recess which extends into the solid earth at the side of the hole, which is then refilled and tamped. In the latter case the charge is placed in the bottom of the hole, which is then refilled and solidly tamped. In common earth the powder charge for a 2-yard hole is 25 pounds. That for a 3-yard hole is 80 pounds. The diameter of the crater formed will be about twice the depth of the charge.
The mines may be arranged in one or more rows. The intervals between mines should be such that the craters will nearly but not quite join. The position of the mines should be concealed as much as possible and further sophisticated by disturbing the ground slightly at points where there are no mines and so situated as to suggest a systematic arrangement.
Inundation
Backing up the water of a stream so that it overflows a considerable area forms a good obstacle, even though of fordable depth. If shallow, the difficulty of fording may be increased by irregular holes or ditches dug before the water comes up, or by constructing wire entanglements in the water. It may be employed with advantage when the drainage of a considerable area passes through a restricted opening, as a natural gorge, culvert or bridge.
Open cribs filled with stones, or tighter ones filled with gravel, may form the basis of the obstruction to the flow of the water. The usual method of tightening spaces or cracks between cribs is by throwing in earth or alternate layers of straw, hay, grass, earth, or sacks of clay. A continuous construction, as shown in the illustration, may be employed. The ends of the dam must be carried well into the solid earth to prevent the water from cutting around them. This type of dam is easily destroyed by artillery fire, and cannot be depended upon.
Lookout and Listening Posts
Except when the garrison are actually required to man the parapet, they will be kept under cover, with the exception of a few lookouts, whose duty it is to give timely warning of the movements of the enemy.
When the opposing forces are in close proximity to each other mining operations are generally resorted to by both sides to compass the destruction of the opposing works and open the way for an attack.
Lookout and listening posts serve the double purpose of having a few men at the most advantageous places for observation at the front and flanks and providing points at some distance to the front of the first line fire trenches from which listeners may be able to discover the location and direction of enemy mining operations before they really menace the fire trench.
In the normal case there will be some natural cover available. Such, however, is not always the case, and specially constructed observation stations have to be provided.
The posts should be placed in advance of the first line trench, the distance depending upon circumstances which have to be determined in each particular instance. They must be fully protected from reverse fire so that there will be no chance of the observer masking the fire of his comrades manning the fire trench.
Unless the ground is very favorable it will be found difficult to provide for observation above ground. Where there are natural features such as embankments, mounds, hedgerows, ruins of buildings, etc., it may be possible to make provision for observation even by day.
Where a loophole is used, the type having the narrower end outward should be provided.
In the open type of post the observation directly to the front may be greatly facilitated by the use of the periscope. (Plate 11.)
A good, strong parapet thrown up and chopped off at the corners will enable the observer to cover areas from an oblique direction from the post and protect him from fire from the front.
In the covered type the observer is provided loopholes having the splay towards him. These may also be constructed to the oblique rather than to the front. When this is done, provision must be made to cover the entire front of the position from the several posts. (Plate 12.)
The post may be connected with the first line fire trench by a narrow zigzag trench or by an underground passage. If the former, it must be thoroughly concealed and have no excavated earth visible. If it can be located along a hedge or some other natural feature its location may remain unknown to the enemy for a considerable length of time. Where a communication gallery is constructed the roof and walls must be suitably shored up by casing and supports.
The sentinel in the listening post carries no accouterments. It has been found that the creaking noise made by equipment when the sentinel moves has been taken for mining operations of the enemy by his comrades.
Listening galleries should never be left without a sentinel. There should be a depot of arms and hand grenades near the entrance to the gallery in case men are attacked while on duty from either above or below ground.
Listening will be conducted at specified times, or on some prearranged signal, and for a definite period. During this time all within the listening area, including the trenches, must remain absolutely motionless.
Infantry manning a trench can assist listening by digging a small pit, 6 feet deep below the trench, and running a bore-hole out 20 feet or more.
The enemy is always listening for indications of the direction and position of gallery heads. Work must therefore be carried on with a minimum of noise. Shouting down the shafts of galleries is absolutely forbidden.
When the mining operations of the enemy are detected a report should be made at once to the officer in charge of that section of the trench.
Field Trenches
The next element of the defensive position is the first line fire trenches. These are located so as to have a good field of fire to the front for several hundred yards and so constructed as to give the greatest cover and protection from the fire of the enemy.
An unbroken, continuous trench would be exposed to enfilade fire. A shell, shrapnel or grenade bursting therein would have widespread effect. To overcome these elements the trench is constructed in short lengths, with traverses between them, and technically known as the traverse type.
Better defilade is thus secured and the material effect of any burst is confined to narrow limits.
The trench interval between the traverses is known as the "bay," which should not ordinarily be longer than 18 feet. Longer bays invite heavy casualties in case the trench is enfiladed or a high explosive shell finds its mark.
The illustration, Plate 14, shows a trace of the traversed type of fire trench.
Type of Trench
Formerly, protection from the enemy's fire was obtained by thickness of parapet. In the trench warfare of today it is obtained by completely concealing the riflemen in a deep, narrow trench with a very low parapet.
The height over which the average man can fire is about 5 feet or about five-sixths of his own height. This factor determines the height of the parapet above the firing banquet of the trench or the height of bottom of loophole above the same point, when the latter is employed.
The type of trench in general use today is the simple standing trench shown in Plate 15.
Plate 15.—Simple standing trench. 1. Width at top, 3 feet 4 inches. 2. Width at bottom, over all, 2 feet 8 inches. 3. Width of firing banquet, 1 foot 4 inches. 4. Height of parapet above firing banquet, 5 feet. 5. Height of parapet above bottom of trench, 6 feet 4 inches.
PLATE 15a.
Type of INSTRUCTION FIRE TRENCH AT VALCARTIER CANADA
Used in the instruction of Canadian Troops.
Drainage
If a trench is to be occupied for any length of time, especially if much ground or falling water is to be encountered, drainage becomes of prime importance. Many years ago a celebrated military authority asserted that "nothing so saps the courage of a soldier as to wet the seat of his breeches." This may be accepted as a true maxim, especially in cold weather. The trench should therefore be made as dry as possible. The floor of the trench should be given a sufficient slope to the rear where an intercepting drain should carry the water to prepared sumps or to a point from which it can be disposed of by drainage. Provision should also be made to exclude surface drainage from the trenches.
A scheme for trench drainage is shown in the illustrations (Plates 16, 17 and 18).
Overhead cover may be provided as shown in Plates 19 and 20.
Loopholes are made wherever head cover is provided. Where the enemy's trenches are close, there is considerable danger in using them. Collective firing takes place over the parapet. When loopholes are used they should face half-right or half-left and not directly to the front.
The disadvantages of loopholes are:
1. The difficulty of concealing firing points. Loopholes give the enemy's snipers an easy mark.
2. They lessen the number of rifles that can be used at a given point.
3. The necessary head cover makes it difficult to get out of the trench quickly.
4. Damaged head cover often spoils a good firing point.
The three types of loopholes are:
1. Narrowest point of the opening nearest the marksman. This type is most difficult to conceal, much of the parapet thickness is cut away and, if of hard material, tends to deflect the bullets into the firer's face. This defect may be remedied somewhat by stepping the surface of the loophole.
2. Narrowest point to the front. Easiest to conceal but gives a limited field of view.
3. Narrowest point midway between the front and rear. A compromise between the first two types.
The following general remarks on the construction of loopholes are taken from a work based upon the experience gained during the war in Europe:
1. The angle of splay is usually 60 degrees. The thicker the parapet the smaller must be the angle of splay.
2. The marksman holds his rifle in a line connecting
the right shoulder, the eye and the object,
hence most of the body lies to the left of the
rifle. The loophole should be made to the
right,
with a niche in the wall of the parapet
from the hip to the armpit, to bring the left
shoulder well forward. It will be found that
this permits the right elbow to be placed on the edge of the parapet.
3. Box loopholes with screens or blindage may be used, but should be placed by a skilled marksman. The great disadvantage is that the enemy notes these parapet alterations. Steel loophole plates are now provided for this type of loophole, As the Germans sometimes use a steel bullet with great penetrating power, it is advisable to place two plates together to insure protection.
4. With every precaution that may be taken it is difficult to conceal a loophole. A good plan is to deceive the enemy by using painted sandbags and preparing plenty of dummy loopholes.
5. The minimum width of loopholes should be 2-1/2 inches. If narrower than this, it is impossible to use both eyes to judge distances correctly.
6. The parapet should be so sloped that there is a maximum grazing fire when the rifle is fired as it lies on the parapet.
To insure that the bullet will not graze the parapet, although the sights are clear, look through the barrel with the bolt removed.
In the first line fire trenches there are so many crooks and turns and the trench itself is so narrow that passage along the same is very difficult. To provide for this lateral communication a trench known as the communication or supervision trench is dug. It runs generally parallel to and a short distance in rear of the fire trench and is connected therewith by zigzag approaches. The factor that determines the distance between the fire trench and the communication trench is that it should be at such a distance that a shell bursting in one of the bays would not destroy the communication trench.
The location of the communication trench with respect to the fire trench and the arrangements of the approaches is shown in detail in Plate 1.
The profile of the ordinary communication trench is shown in Plate 23.
During the artillery bombardment few men are left in the fire trenches. The remainder of the garrison is held under cover a short distance to the rear. This cover is provided by a system of dugouts connected with the fire trench through underground passageways that lead to the communication trench. This arrangement is shown in Plate 1.
A profile of the latest type of dugout is shown in Plate 24.
The solid earth cover is from 12 to 18 feet thick, which gives protection from all but the very largest caliber shells.
Effective resistance is supplied by roofing materials as follows:
1. From shrapnel bullets: 2-inch planks covered with 12 inches of earth.
2. From 3-inch shells: 4-inch planks supporting 4 feet of earth with a top layer of heavy stones to cause an early shell burst.
3. From howitzers of less than 6 inches caliber: 12-inch beams or logs covered with 8 feet of earth.
4. From the largest caliber guns: 15 to 25 feet of earth.
The following table shows the penetration of the German S bullet at a range of 200 yards:
| Inches | |
| Steel plate | ⅜ |
| Broken stone | 6 |
| Brickwork, cement and mortar | 9 |
| Brickwork, lime and mortar | 14 |
| Sandbags | 24 |
| Sand, loose | 30 |
| Hardwood, oak, etc. | 38 |
| Earth | 50 |
| Soft wood, poplar, etc. | 58 |
| Clay | 60 |
| Dry turf | 80 |
In addition to the regular "dugouts" for the supports, the latest type trenches have squad dugouts just in rear of the bays of the fire trench. These provide shelter during bombardment for the members of the squad not actually required on duty in the trench bay.
The fire trench is connected with the cover for supports by a system of zigzag trenches having the profile shown in Plate 23. The arrangement is shown in Plate 1.
Somewhere between the first line fire trench and the cover for the supports is a line of emplacements for the trench mortars. Plate 25 shows a profile of the emplacement.
The arrangement of the position is shown in Plate 1.
These trench mortars are used to hurl charges of high explosives varying from 25 to 100 pounds into the enemy's lines. They have a range of from 300 to 1,800 yards.
At a variable distance to the rear of the first line fire trench is located the cover for supports, which is organized much in the same manner as the first line system of trenches and affords a second position in the system to fall back to in case of necessity. These trenches are provided with overhead cover and numerous dugouts for the protection of the men.
At every available place throughout the defensive position machine guns are located, typical positions of which are shown in Plate 1.
The typical types of cover are shown in Plates 26 and 27.
Machine guns are a very potent factor in trench warfare. They are now being employed to a far greater extent than ever before, and the number is increasing on all the battle fronts as fast as they can be manufactured. The machine-gun positions are carefully concealed from the enemy, and fire is not opened until it is certain that it will be effective.
The selection of the sites for the emplacements should be made with a view to bringing a powerful enfilade or oblique fire on the attacking enemy at effective range, to provide a flanking fire for supporting troops, and to sweep gaps in the line of obstacles.
Their fire should come as a surprise to the attacking party.
In the construction of cover for machine guns the following points should be observed:
1. They must have a platform for the gun and gunner. This may be provided for in the construction of the emplacement or built up with sandbags. The platform should be 3 feet wide and 6-1/2 feet in length.
2. If head cover is provided, it should not differ in appearance from that constructed elsewhere in the trenches. The loopholes must be blinded with gunny sacks.
3. The front of the emplacement should be cut under to receive the leg of the tripod, thus bringing the gun up closer to the parapet and furnishing more cover for the gunner.
4. Splinter-proof shelters should be provided near at hand for the members of the gun detachment.
5. Where the enemy's trenches are near, the position for the emplacement should be selected by day and the actual work done under cover of darkness.
6. The guns should be located so that they support each other by their fire. Alternate positions should be constructed.
7. When located to enfilade straight lines of trenches, special capioniers should be constructed.
At intervals from 800 to 1,500 yards along the first line, supporting points are established. They may consist of a fortified village or a specially prepared position having a "labyrinth" of trenches and rendered well nigh impregnable to infantry assault by every defensive device known to modern warfare. They are designed to bring a flanking fire to bear upon the intervening intervals with the idea that troops cannot pass beyond them until they are reduced.
The following was the actual scheme employed for the defense of a French village, and exemplifies the thoroughness with which defenses must be organized.
The village was about 700 yards in rear of the front line, and had three keeps surrounded with wire entanglements and independent of each other, but with an elaborate system of communication trenches. Water and four days' rations were stored in each keep, and wells dug. Each of the keeps held about one company. The communication trenches were about 6 feet deep, used as far as possible as fire trenches, and well traversed. Firing platforms were revetted with brushwood, and shelters made all over the village. In addition to keeps, a series of lines existed in the rear of the front line, intercommunicating and provided with barbed wire. A small wood on one point of the front was defended by a network of low wire entanglements and a line of high wire netting.
Every officer had to know all about his section and its communications with right and left. Telephone wires were laid low down in communication trenches and fastened a few inches from ground with wooden pickets.
Machine guns were placed so as to flank salients. A 65-mm. field gun was placed in the front line to sweep the village, and an observation station placed in a tree. The observer wore a green mask and green sheet.
Great use was made of brushwood and undergrowth to revet steps of firing platform.
All work was carried out by regimental officers and men without help from the engineers, who were fully employed in mining. The garrison of the village and the front line trenches in the vicinity was about one battalion, but the fire trenches were sufficient for three battalions.
[1]: This chapter reprinted from Infantry Journal.
Use and Improvement of Natural Cover
A screen or mask consists of hedges, crops, underbrush, etc., which hide the rifleman without, however, protecting him from fire.
Cover or shelter consists of walls, earthworks, etc., which protect the rifleman from fire.
On the battlefield, natural features that screen and shelter should be utilized as much as possible, as they possess the following advantages over artificial works:
(a) Their organization demands less work.
(b) Concealment is easier.
(c) From their nature, it is difficult for the enemy to estimate, for a given length, the number of men sheltered.
They possess, however, certain disadvantages:
(a) The protection is sometimes so excellent that, morally as well as materially, it becomes difficult to leave the shelter. Example: quarries with obstructed exits. Therefore, good judgment must be exercised in the selection.
(b) Some of them are too visible. Example: large hedges. In this case their range can be easily found.
As a general rule, do not occupy them uniformly and do not change the appearance of the organized parts.
Organization of the cover:
To organize the cover which protects troops from fire, construct suitable positions for firing and resting. To utilize the screens which merely hide the troops without protecting them from fire, dig trenches behind these screens in the following manner:
(a) Choose the points which give the best field of fire.
(b) Construct cover for firing.
(c) Construct a shelter.
The constructions are usually "individual" in the first period of work; afterwards, they are organized "collectively." The covers are: (1) for riflemen lying down, (2) for riflemen sitting down, and (3) for riflemen standing up.
Individual Organization of Natural Cover
Examples of hasty individual cover behind trees, bushes, or branches:
(a) Fallen tree (logs or branches), the height of which is at a maximum of 1 foot above the ground:
(b) Fallen tree, the top of which is more than 1 foot above the ground.
Wood which does not afford sufficient protection against bullets must be reinforced by earth at the right and against the cover 1 foot behind. Plates 27d, 27e, and 27f show the progressive improvement of the cover.
Examples of hasty individual covers behind a furrow, a crest, a heap of sand or earth:
Dig the ground as near as possible to crest A of the furrow in the manner indicated for the cover installed behind a fallen tree more than 1 foot high.
Use the earth excavated between furrows A and B to build up the earth between furrows B and C and fill up furrow C; continue afterwards as for the sharp ridge.
(A) Lower the height about 8 inches; throw the earth forward. Dig a trench as indicated in the figure.
(B) Make a loophole in the pile of earth, showing oneself as little as possible. Improve the firing position by making a place for the right leg and an elbow rest.
Examples of hasty shelters (individual) arranged behind a large stone or heap of stones:
A heap of stones, the top of which is 1 foot at a maximum above the ground:
General Organization of Natural Cover
This consists in connecting up and coordinating the individual work under the direction of the squad commander. The work should be carried out on the lines adopted for the individual work; and the rules prescribed for the construction of artificial cover (profiles, depths, various shelters) should be followed as far as possible. In arranging the cover, the squads should utilize the natural features of the terrain.
Ditches full of water, drains, streams:
Ordinary roads, road and railroad embankments, and sunken roads:
Hedges and woods:
Dig a trench behind the hedge and throw the earth against it; make openings in the hedge to facilitate view and fire (Plate 27w). If the hedge is low, deepen the trench, but make the parapet lower than the hedge which masks it.
Avoid destroying the natural appearance of the wood; do not cut the trees and brush on a certain depth, but cut off branches where necessary to obtain a field of fire. Behind this strip cut the brush and small trees so as to make a path 3 to 4 yards wide. Construct a trench behind the mask of trees. The parapet can be raised up to 2 or even 3 feet. Construct abatis on the parts of the border of the wood, where it will not interfere with the fire.
Walls:
Revetments
A revetment is a covering or facing placed upon an earth slope to enable it to stand at an inclination greater than it would naturally assume. Some revetments also increase the tenacity of slopes and diminish the injury by fire. The upper parts of revetments that may be struck by projectiles which penetrate the cover of earth must not be made of materials of large units which will splinter when struck. The upper part of the revetments is technically known as crowning.
Sandbags are made of coarse canvas or burlap. They are 33 inches long and 14 inches wide. They are filled loosely with earth or sand about 1/2 cubic foot to a bag. Having been placed in position they are pounded down with a shovel to a rectangular form when they will fill a space about 20 by 13 by 5 inches.
The sandbag revetment is constructed by laying alternate rows of headers and stretchers, breaking joints. The tied ends of the headers and seams of the stretchers are put into the parapet. Men working in pairs lay the bags and set them firmly in place with a spade or mallet.
The advantages are:
1. The portability of the empty bags. Only 62 pounds per one hundred bags.
2. They may be filled with any kind of soil.
3. They are rapidly filled and easily placed in position.
4. They are invaluable in making repairs.
5. They will not splinter.
The only disadvantage is that they are not durable. The cloth soon goes to decay and the filling material crumbles away.
Plate 29 shows the appearance of a sandbag revetment as seen from the front and from the end.
A squad of six men with two shovels and one pick should fill 150 bags in an hour. One man uses the pick, two shovel the dirt into the bag, one holds the bag open and two men tie the bags. Having the filled bags ready to hand ten men will lay 75 square feet of revetment in an hour. Four men lay the bags and flatten them out while six carry them.
Brush is used in many forms for revetting. Almost any kind will serve the purpose. For weaving, it must be live and is most pliable when not in leaf. It should not be more than 1 inch in diameter at the butt. When cut it should be assorted in sizes for the different class of revetments. Poles 2-1/2 inches in diameter are cut for the supports.
A fascine is a cylindrical bundle of brushwood tightly bound. The usual length is 18 feet, the diameter 9 inches, and the weight normally about 140 pounds. Lengths of 6 and 9 feet, which are sometimes used, are most conveniently obtained by sawing a standard fascine into two or three pieces.
Fascines are made in a cradle which consists of five trestles, the outer ones being 16 feet apart. The trestle is made by driving two sticks about 6-1/2 feet long and 3 inches in diameter in the ground and lashed at the intersection as shown in Plate 29a. In making the cradle, plant the two end trestles first. Stretch a line from one to the other over the intersection. Place the others 4 feet apart and lash them so that each intersection comes fairly to the line.
To build a fascine, straight pieces of brush, 1 or 2 inches at the butt, are laid on, the butts projecting at the end 1 foot beyond the trestle. Leaves should be stripped and unruly branches cut off, or partially cut through, so that they will lie close. The larger, straighter brush should be laid on the outside, butts alternating in direction, and smaller stuff in the center. The general object is to so dispose the brush as to make the fascine of uniform size, strength, and stiffness from end to end.
When the cradle is nearly filled, the fascine is compressed or choked by the fascine choker (Plate 30), which consists of two bars, 4 feet long, joined 18 inches from the ends by a chain 4 feet long. The chain is marked at 14 inches each way from the middle by inserting a ring or special link. To use, two men standing on opposite sides pass the chain under the brush, place the short ends of the handles on top and pass the bars, short end first, across to each other. They then bear down on the long ends until the marks on the chain come together. Chokers may be improvised from sticks and rope or wire.
Binding will be done with a double turn of wire or tarred rope. It should be done in twelve places 18 inches apart, the end binders 3 inches outside the end trestles. To bind a fascine will require 66 feet of wire.
Improvised binders may be made from rods of live brush; hickory or hazel is the best. Place the butt under the foot and twist the rod to partially separate the fibers and make it flexible. A rod so prepared is called a withe. To use a withe, make a half-turn and twist at the smaller end. Pass the withe around the brush and the large end through the eye. Draw taut and double the large end back, taking two half-hitches over its own standing part.
A fascine revetment is made by placing the fascines as shown in Plate 31. The use of headers and anchors is absolutely necessary in loose soils only, but they greatly strengthen the revetment in any case. A fascine revetment must always be crowned with sod or bags.
In all brush weaving the following terms have been adopted and are convenient to use:
Randing.—Weaving a single rod in and out between pickets.
Slewing.—Weaving two or more rods together in the same way.
Pairing.—Carrying two rods together, crossing each other in and out at each picket.
Wattling.—A general term applied to the woven part of brush construction.
A hurdle is a basket work made of brushwood. If made in pieces the usual size is 2 feet 9 inches by 6 feet, though the width may be varied so that it will cover the desired height of slope.
A hurdle is made by describing on the ground an arc of a circle of 8-foot radius and on the arc driving ten pickets, 8 inches apart, covering 6 feet out to out. Brush is then woven in and out and well compacted. The concave side of a hurdle should be placed next the earth. It warps less than if made flat.
In weaving the hurdle, begin randing at the middle space at the bottom. Reaching the end, twist the rod as described for a withe but at one point only, bend it around the end picket and work back. Start a second rod before the first one is quite out, slewing the two for a short distance. Hammer the wattling down snug on the pickets with a block of wood and continue until the top is reached. It improves the hurdle to finish the edges with two selected rods paired. A pairing may be introduced in the middle, if desired, to give the hurdle extra endurance if it is to be used as a pavement or floor. If the hurdle is not to be used at once, or if it is to be transported, it must be sewed. The sewing is done with wire, twine or withes at each end and in the middle, with stitches about 6 inches long, as shown in Plate 33. About 40 feet of wire is required to sew one hurdle. No. 14 is about the right size, and a coil of 100 pounds will sew forty hurdles. Three men should make a hurdle in two hours, two wattling and the third preparing the rods.
Continuous Hurdle.—If conditions permit the revetment to be built in place, the hurdle is made continuous for considerable lengths. The pickets may be larger; they are driven further apart, 12 or 18 inches, and the brush may be heavier. The construction is more rapid. The pickets are driven with a little more slant than is intended and must be anchored to the parapet. A line of poles, with wire attached at intervals of two or three pickets, will answer. The wires should be made fast to the pickets after the wattling is done. They will interfere with the weaving if fastened sooner. Two men should make 4 yards of continuous hurdling of ordinary height in one hour.
Brush Revetment.—Pickets may be set as above described and the brush laid inside them without weaving, being held in place by bringing the earth up with it. In this case the anchors must be fastened before the brush laying begins. The wires are not much in the way in this operation.
Gabion Making.—A gabion is a cylindrical basket with open ends, made of brush woven on pickets or stakes as described for hurdles. The usual size is 2 feet outside diameter and 2 feet 9 inches height of wattling. On account of the sharp curvature somewhat better brush is required for gabions than will do for hurdles. The gabion form is made of wood, 21 inches diameter, with equidistant notches around the circumference, equal in number to the number of pickets to be used, usually eight to fourteen; less if the brush is large and stiff, more if small and pliable. The notches should be of such depth that the pickets will project to 1 inch outside the circle. The pickets should be 1-1/2 to 2 inches in diameter, 3 feet 6 inches long, sharpened, half at the small and half at the large end.
To Make a Gabion.—The form is placed on the ground. The pickets are driven vertically in the ground, large and small ends down, alternately. The form is then raised a foot and held by placing a lashing around outside the pickets, tightened with a rack stick. (See Plate 36.)
The wattling is randed or slewed from the form up. The form is then dropped down, the gabion inverted, and the wattling completed. If the brush is small, uniform, and pliable, pairing will make a better wattling than randing. If not for immediate use, the gabion must be sewed as described for hurdles, the same quantity of wire being required.
The gabion, when wattled and sewed, is completed by cutting off the tops of the pickets, 1 inch from the web, the bottom 3 inches. The latter are sharpened after cutting and driving a pairing picket through the middle of its length and a little to one side of the axis. Three men should make a gabion in an hour.
Gabions may be made without the forms, but the work is slower and not so good. The circle is struck on the ground and the pickets driven at the proper points. The weaving is done from the ground up. The entire time of one man is required to keep the pickets in their proper positions.
If brush is scarce, gabions may be made with 6 inches of wattling at each end, the middle being left open. In filling, the open parts may be lined with straw, grass, brush, or grain sacks to keep the earth from running out.
Gabion Revetment.—The use of gabions in revetment is illustrated in Plate 37. If more than two tiers are used, the separating fascines should be anchored back. Gabion revetment should be crowned with sod or sandbag.
The advantages of gabion revetment are very great. It can be put in place without extra labor, faster and with less exposure than any other. It is self-supporting and gives cover from view and partial cover from fire quicker than any other form. Several forms of gabions made of material other than brush have been used. Some of them are sheet iron, empty barrels and hoops. The disadvantages of iron are that it splinters badly, is heavy, and has not given satisfaction. If any special materials are supplied, the methods of using them will, in view of the foregoing explanation, be obvious.
Timber or Pole Revetment.—Poles too large for use in any other way may be cut to length and stood on end to form a revetment. The lower end should be in a small trench and have a waling piece in front of them. There must also be a waling piece or cap at or near the top, anchored back. Plate 38 shows this form.
Miscellaneous Revetments.—Any receptacles for earth which will make a stable, compact pile, such as boxes, baskets, cans, etc., may be used for a revetment. Canvas or burlap stretched behind pickets is being used to a great extent on the battle fronts of Europe. If the soil will make adobe, an excellent revetment may be made of them, but it will not stand wet weather.
Working Parties
The infantryman will always be called upon to construct the trench which he is to occupy. Each company is provided with portable tools, which the men carry, and each infantry regiment is provided with tools for the purpose. The digging tools consist of picks and shovels.
When it has been decided to locate fire trenches along a certain line officers will lay out the cutting lines and mark them with tape or otherwise. A company will be assigned for the construction of a definite section of the trench.
Let us work out the procedure, assuming that the work may go on unmolested by the enemy. Such, however, is not usually the case. The enemy will do anything in his power to prevent construction work. If, however, we are familiar with the details of the work and know how to go about it in an orderly and systematic manner under conditions of noninterference by the enemy, we will be able to carry out these details of organization and procedure under more or less trying conditions when the time comes.
Officers have established the trace of the trench and marked the cutting lines. It is the ordinary traversed type, 18 feet bays with traverses 5 feet wide and 5 feet deep, as shown in Plate 14.
The company is composed of, say twelve squads organized into three platoons of four squads each. Six bays of the trench have been assigned to the organization for construction. This gives a task to each platoon of two bays, including one complete traverse and a half traverse on each flank.
Tools have been issued to the first and third squads of each platoon, the front rank men carrying picks and the rear rank men shovels.
The company is marched in column of squads to the site of the trench, approaching it from the rear, and halted with the head of the column fifteen paces in rear of and opposite the right of the section assigned; that is, in rear of the first bay of the section. The second platoon is then conducted by the platoon commander and halted with its head opposite the third bay. The third platoon is in like manner conducted to the rear of the fifth bay. Each platoon commander then has the two rear squads of his platoon, conducted to a point behind the bay on his left, i. e., the second, fourth and sixth respectively. This allows two squads for the work in each bay, the leading squad furnishing the first relief and the rear squad the second.
The leading squad of each column is then marched to a point two paces in rear of the rear cutting line of the trench, where they take off their packs and lay their rifles on them. The corporal and his rear rank man fall out. The corporal assigns tasks, number ones to the first 2-yard section, number twos to the second and number threes the third.
The tasks are shown in Plate 39. The corporal superintends the work. Number 4 rear rank marks out the cutting lines with his shovel around the traverses and starts work on them.
Experience has shown that the best method of dividing up the work is to group the men in pairs, one man with a pick and one with a shovel and to prescribe that they relieve each other.
The leading squads assigned to each bay work at top speed for 30 minutes. At the end of the twenty-eighth minute the corporal of the rear squad brings his men up and deploys them. At a signal from the platoon commander the men of the first and third squads drop their tools, get out of the trench, and proceed to the rear, where they rest. The men of the second and fourth squads jump into the trench and take up the task. At the end of another 30 minutes this procedure is again carried out.
This scheme of assigning tasks and procedure was given an exhaustive test in 1915 in the course of testing out various types of intrenching tools. It worked to perfection.
The bays are first completed, after which the traverses begun by No. 4 rear rank are finished up. Great care should be taken to make the dimensions of the trench as accurate as possible. The squad leader is held responsible for this. He should provide himself with two sticks. On one the following lengths are laid off: 1 foot, width of berms, and height of parapet; 1 foot 4 inches, width of firing banquet, height of firing banquet above bottom of trench, and width of bottom of trench. The other stick has the following lengths measured on it: 4 feet, depth of trench from ground surface to the top of firing banquet; 5 feet 4 inches, depth of trench from ground surface to bottom of trench. (See Plate 15 for dimensions of standing trench.)
When the circumstances are such that the work of trench construction is interfered with by the enemy, a modification of the system outlined here will have to be made, but the details should be adhered to as closely as possible.
When night work is necessary the trace should be staked out before complete darkness sets in. If the trace can only be made after dark, visible reference points needed with white paper, white tape or screened flashlights may be utilized. Stick to the details of the deployment, the laying out of tasks and the procedure as indicated for day work as closely as possible. Avoid making any more noise than is absolutely necessary; allow no smoking and require such conversation as is necessary to be made in whispers. Protect the workers by a system of patrols to the front.
Noncommissioned officers are held responsible for a systematic and orderly execution of the work being performed by their units. The captain cannot be everywhere along the line. He has to depend upon the platoon and squad leaders in the work. That is why you should study it and know about it so as to be able to make good when the time comes.
Grenade Warfare
The use of hand grenades as an implement of warfare dates back many centuries. History records their use as far back as 1536. Up to the close of the eighteenth century soldiers were trained in the throwing of hand grenades, and for this reason were called "grenadiers." At first there were a few in each regiment, later entire companies were formed, and finally each infantry unit that corresponds to our battalion of today had its own grenadier unit.
Then there was a period of time when more open formations were adopted, when there was less opportunity for the employment of grenades and their use was practically eliminated from the battlefield and confined to sieges, where they have been used more or less since the dawn of military history.
With the advent of the Russo-Japanese War came the extensive use of trenches on the battlefield, and with the trenches came the hand grenades which were used in large quantities by both sides. This was especially the case when the fighting lines came to close quarters and in the assaults against the forts at Port Arthur.
When the European war resolved itself into trench warfare, such as it is today, the use of hand-thrown projectiles assumed an importance heretofore never attained, and today we find ourselves employing hand grenades in every phase of the conflict.
Employment of Grenadiers
Grenadiers are employed on both the offensive and defensive. They accompany the attacking lines in the advance on the enemy's positions, they clear the fire trenches and communication trenches after parts of the enemy's lines have been taken, and on the defense they assist the riflemen in repelling attack and engage the enemy whenever he has obtained a lodgment in the trenches.
While every infantryman receives a certain amount of instruction in grenade throwing, there should be a grenadier squad in each platoon specially instructed and trained in this most effective auxiliary method of trench warfare. Not all men possess the temperament and qualifications necessary to make efficient grenadiers. Hence the personnel of the grenadier squad should be carefully selected. Strong physique, personal courage and steadiness in emergencies are the qualifications that count. Men fond of outdoor sports, other things being equal, will be found the best.
The grenadier squad is organized as follows:
Front Rank.
No. 1. First bayonet man.
No. 2. Second bayonet man.
No. 3. Grenade thrower.
No. 4. Squad leader, observer and director.
Rear Rank.
No. 1. First carrier.
No. 2. Second carrier.
No. 3. Barricader.
No. 4. Barricader.
The duties of the several members of the squad vary under different circumstances of their tactical employment which will be fully explained below. In general they are as follows:
Bayonet Men.—The bayonet men move in advance of the grenade throwers. When the grenade thrower has thrown his grenades into the objective trench the bayonet men must be ready to take instant advantage of the temporary demoralization of the enemy caused by the explosions and clear the way for a repetition of the operation.
Grenade Thrower.—The grenade thrower must be ready and able to throw a grenade at once whenever the bayonet men or squad leader may direct.
Squad Leader.—The squad leader directs the operations of the squad. He goes wherever his presence is necessary. He keeps a close watch to the flanks. He replaces casualties and attends to the forwarding of grenades to the thrower. He acts as a grenade thrower whenever he can assist the operations in that capacity.
Carriers.—The carriers carry as many grenades as possible, and when their supply is exhausted they go to the reserve depots and replenish. They are responsible for a continuous supply of grenades to the throwers.
Barricaders.—The barricaders are charged with the construction of barricades. They carry sandbags and tools for filling them. In addition they carry as many grenades as possible. They hold themselves in readiness to go forward and construct a barricade or cover at any point designated by the squad leader.
General.—All the men of the squad must be trained and prepared to take over the duties of any other member. Before undertaking any operation each man of the squad should thoroughly understand the part he is to play in it.
Formation.—The formation for the several classes of tactical employment will be explained when each is considered below.
Offensive Operations
When it has been decided to attack a certain sector of the enemy's position a detailed reconnaissance is made with a view to locating and developing every element of the position, detailed plans are made and imparted to all concerned. (See Chapter XI.)
The phases of the attack consist of: (1) The artillery preparation; (2) the infantry assault; (3) the occupation and organization of the captured position, and preparation to meet a counter attack.
During the course of the artillery preparation grenadier squads work their way across "no man's land" and establish themselves sufficiently close to throw grenades into the fire trenches. Failing in this they accompany the assaulting troops.
When they are able to work up close they cover the advance of the infantry assaulting lines by showering grenades into the enemy's fire trenches after the curtain of artillery fire has been extended back into his position to prevent the supports and reserves from coming up to the front.
All men of the squad carry as many grenades as possible and such number as the squad leader may designate act as throwers, while the others act as carriers and prepare the grenades for throwing. Accurate throwing, properly observed and distributed, will greatly assist in preparing for a successful assault.
Clearing Fire Trenches
No matter how well the infantry assault on the enemy's fire trenches may be conducted, it rarely succeeds in occupying the hostile position throughout its entire length. Casualties, loss of direction, and unexpected obstacles encountered are bound to break up the assaulting line more or less, thereby leaving gaps in the captured position. Furthermore the attack on a line of trenches takes place on a relatively small front by a large number of men. When the trenches are finally reached and a lodgment effected there will be great overcrowding. Provision must be made immediately for extending the line, otherwise the casualties at these points will be exceedingly heavy.
It is the particular duty of the grenadier squads to clear these "gaps" of the enemy as quickly as possible. For this purpose an efficient and well-organized storming party must be immediately available.
Let us say that, after careful artillery preparation, the assault has reached the enemy's fire trench. There is much overcrowding at the points where lodgments have been effected. There is a gap in the line between two adjacent elements. How is this cleared of the enemy?
The grenadier squad immediately forms for action. Two bayonet men are in the lead, followed by the grenade thrower, who is in turn followed by the two carriers. Further to the rear are the two barricaders, who carry a reserve supply of grenades in addition to their sandbags and shovels. The squad leader is where he can best direct the operations.
The grenadier squad is formed as shown in the first position, Plate 40.
1. The grenade thrower puts grenades: (1) into bay 1, at A; (2) into bay 2, at D; (3) into bay 1, at B; (4) into the traverse leg at C.
2. When the four grenades have exploded the bayonet men rush into bay 1, the leader advancing into the first leg of the traverse trench below B, while his mate remains in the bay for a moment.
3. The squad leader rushes around the traverse to A, followed by the grenade thrower.
4. When the bay and the next traverse passages are all cleared of the enemy the word "O. K." is passed back to the squad leader by the bayonet men. The bayonet men get into their proper positions and the remainder of the squad rush into the cleared bay 1 and prepare for the further clearing of succeeding bays in the same manner as described above.
Take the diagram on Plate 40. Study it out in connection with the text and you will see how this system works out.
The men work in pairs, the two bayonet men together; the two carriers behind the thrower; the two barricaders sufficiently far to the rear to be protected by a corner of solid earth. The squad leader must of necessity go where his presence is necessary. Usually he stays as near the grenade thrower as possible.
When the enemy's grenadier parties are also very active in the sector, the distances between pairs are extended so that no more than two men are exposed in any one bay or traverse leg.
The formation of the squad must be preserved as long as possible. You will appreciate that when losses occur the squad leader will have to replace men and the formation will have to be modified to meet the changed conditions. This makes it absolutely necessary that every member of the squad be competent to take over the duties of any other member.
When the squad has reached the limit of its advance the barricaders will come forward and construct a barricade in such position that it is well in view from a corner some distance behind.
No passing of bombs forward from man to man is permitted. When the first carrier's supply is exhausted he returns to the rear to secure a fresh supply from the reserve grenade carriers who are following the grenade squad, and who have by now advanced to a point where their supply is available. As soon as his supply is replenished he returns to his proper position in the formation. Should the second carrier run out of grenades the squad leader may cause one of the barricaders to take all the grenades in the possession of the two and replace him while he goes to the rear to secure a fresh supply.
In the meantime other grenadier squads are clearing out the communication and supervision trenches, blocking up the exits to dugouts and destroying machine-gun detachments that have thus far escaped. The assaulting troops have passed on towards the second line, covered by the curtain of fire of the artillery.
Clearing Communication Trenches
The clearing of communication trenches is effected much in the same manner as explained for the fire trench. The grenadier squad is organized and formed in the same manner. The squad works its way into the communication trench by bombing each leg until they arrive at a point where the formation, as illustrated in Plate 41, can be assumed. The grenade thrower throws grenades into the trench at B and then at C. As soon as these have exploded the bayonet men take advantage of the confusion to advance into the leg A-B under cover of the shoulder b, the squad leader and thrower advance to A, the carriers to the point formerly occupied by the squad leader, and the barricaders to the point formerly occupied by the carriers. The thrower then puts grenades into the trench at C and then at D, after which the whole squad advances another notch as formerly explained.
Where island traverses are encountered the thrower puts a grenade on each side of the traverse and one in the rear of it. The bayonet men, one on a side, assault around the traverse and meet on the far side, and the operation proceeds as heretofore explained.
Night Operations
The grenadier squads may be called upon at night, to perform any of the services that are theirs by day, and in addition may be called upon to make night reconnaissances. For this work the men must be able to organize and reorganize the squad quickly and noiselessly. The throwers must be particularly efficient. There must be the highest order of team work.
Grenadier patrols are sent out at night to make reconnaissances of the enemy's lines with a view to getting information which may include:
1. Location and organization of line.
2. The length of line occupied.
3. Numbers and disposition of occupying troops.
4. To get an accurate description of the ground.
5. To locate observation and listening posts or any other advanced positions.
6. To locate machine guns.
These patrols may consist of from two men to the entire grenadier squad. In a patrol of six or eight men two of them carry rifles and belts, bayonets fixed. The remaining members of the patrol carry no equipment except a haversack filled with grenades. The grenades are used only in case of emergency. It is a reconnoitering patrol charged with gaining information and therefore does not enter into an encounter with the enemy except as a last resort.
The men move or crawl without noise and take advantage of all cover that the ground affords. If they suspect they are observed, they should "freeze" to the ground and remain absolutely motionless. On dark nights it is easy to lose the direction and for the men to lose one another. Every device or scheme to lessen risks in this respect must be employed. The men may tie themselves lightly together so they will not proceed in a bunch and at the same time retain connection with each other.
Notes on Grenade Warfare
The first step in the training of a grenadier is to overcome his fear of the grenade itself. This is accomplished by first having him practice fuse lighting with dummy grenades having live fuses. The men will be impressed with the fact that the grenades are dangerous weapons and that familiarity in handling them must not be permitted to degenerate into carelessness.
The next step towards efficiency is the development of accuracy of throwing. For short distances it may be lobbed from the shoulder by a motion similar to "putting the shot." Stick grenades may be thrown for a short distance like throwing a dart. In the trenches the grenade should be thrown with an overhand motion like the bowler of a cricket ball, as there is danger of exploding them by knocking the hand against the back of the trench.
The men should be taught to throw from all positions—standing, sitting, kneeling and prone.
Should the grenade with a time fuse be dropped in the act of throwing, there is time to pick it up and throw it out of the trench before it explodes. Under no circumstances must it be allowed to explode in the trench.
Communication throughout the squad in action should be maintained at all times. System is required to insure the throwers having a supply of grenades on hand all the time and that casualties are promptly replaced.
Quick action is essential to success. Crawling and stalking give the enemy what he is waiting for.
Arrangements to assist a storming party by rifle and machine-gun fire are of the utmost value and should be provided whenever possible. Care must be taken to provide a signal which will mark the progress of the storming party through the trenches. A helmet held up on a bayonet will do this.
All grenadiers must be especially trained in the filling of sandbags and making sandbag barricades.
The work of the observer is difficult and requires much practice. He must give his directions to the thrower in no uncertain terms. When the thrower has missed his objective the observer will give positive directions for the next throw. Instead of saying "A yard too much to the left," he will say, "Throw a yard to the right." Positive directions, even if only half heard, are of some use; negative directions are certain to be both confused and confusing. The observer should be expert in the use of the periscope.
Hand Grenades and Petards
The hand grenade used by our allies on the western front is the bracelet grenade with automatic firing mechanism and consists of a ball of cast iron filled with an explosive and of a leather bracelet which is fastened to the wrist. To the bracelet is attached a piece of rope about 30 centimeters long, having an iron hook at its end.
Just before the grenade is thrown, the hook is engaged in the ring of the roughened wire of the friction primer placed inside the fuse plug which closes the cast iron ball. When the grenade is thrown, the ring with the primer wire, held back by the hook of the bracelet, is wrenched off by a sudden movement of withdrawal from the wrist and the fuse is fired. The explosion takes place four or five seconds later.
This grenade is supplied to the fighting zone ready for use. It is quite complicated. It can be thrown about 25 meters.
The German grenade is composite; it can be thrown by hand or fired from a rifle. As a hand missile, it is used at short distances, 15 to 20 meters. It is composed of a copper rod to the extremity of which is fixed a cast iron cylinder, grooved to facilitate its breaking into small pieces at the moment of explosion. The explosive is placed inside this cylinder. A copper tube, also containing some explosive, is placed in the interior. It is surmounted by a complicated system for closing the grenade and for automatic ignition by percussion, which results in at least 50 per cent of misfires.
Plate 41b.—British hand grenade No. 1.
| a. Removable cap. | f. Handle. |
| b. Detonator holder. | g. Safety pin. |
| c. Detonator. | h. Firing pin. |
| d. Explosive charge. | i. Cast iron ring. |
| e. Wood block. | j. Streamer. |
Used with the rifle, this grenade has a maximum range of 400 meters. At the extremity opposite the grenade, the copper rod ends in a copper stem about 3 centimeters in length, movable about the axis of the rod. This stem is covered with a copper sleeve of slight thickness, which is attached to it only at the extremity fastened to the rod. The diameter of the exterior of the sleeve must be such that it can be pushed into the gun barrel without pressure. To fire the grenade, a blank cartridge is placed in the chamber of the rifle; the quantity of powder left in the cartridge is regulated according to the distance at which the missile is to be thrown. At the moment of firing, the explosive gases penetrate between the sleeve and the stem and jam the sleeve against the grooves of the barrel. The sleeve and the stem, which is attached to it, take a movement of rotation in the grooves of the barrel, which insures the direction of the missile and the maximum efficiency of the explosive gases of the cartridge.
The bracelet grenade and the German grenade just described have to be made in a factory. Attempts have been made to construct similar missiles with the explosives which are at hand at the front, cheddite and melinite. Several kinds have been made: a primed cartridge and a primed hand petard, fitted on a wooden paddle, a preserved meat tin can filled with explosive, etc.
The Germans have hand petards similar to those of the Allies but with different explosives. These missiles are primed by a detonator and a slow match and can be thrown about 30 meters. The discharge takes place either automatically or by tinder. They are made on the spot and very rapidly. The assaulting troops carry them in baskets or strung on a circle of wire carried on the shoulder.
Grenades and petards constitute a terrible weapon. These projectiles exert considerable moral effect owing to the violence of their explosion and the awful wounds they occasion, and they make it possible to reach the enemy at points where it is impossible to use the rifle and bayonet.
Gas Warfare
Germany first made use of poisonous and asphyxiating gases on the field of battle. It has become an accepted element in the present war. Every soldier should, therefore, have a knowledge of the various ways in which gas is employed in the attack, as well as the measures to be taken to counteract its effect in the defense.
The two methods of disseminating the gas over the battlefield are by emanation and grenades charged with it.
This method has for its object to create a poisonous or irritant atmosphere. This is accomplished by means of the arsenic and phosphorous gas being forced through tubes in the direction of the enemy or by means of liquefied chlorine, bromide, phosgene and sulphuretted hydrogen gas stored in cylinders under high pressure. To be successful the gas attack must be attended by the following conditions.
1. The weather must be comparatively calm with a wind blowing in the direction of the enemy at about 5 miles an hour. If the wind is too strong the gas will be carried over the enemy's trenches so rapidly that it will not settle in them. If the wind is too light the gas will be carried up into the air and disseminate or may even be blown back into our own trenches, in which case chloride of lime scattered about freely will disperse them.
2. There must be no rain, for that would quickly disseminate the gas and negative the effect.
3. The attack must come as a surprise. If the elements of surprise are missing and the enemy has time to take protective measures, the effect is lost. If the surprise is complete, the enemy trenches should be emptied very quickly.
4. The gas used must be heavier than the air, so that it will sift into the enemy's trenches as it passes them. It is impracticable to decide upon any definite hour for launching the gas attack. Everything depends upon the direction and velocity of the wind. If an hour has been tentatively designated and the wind changes, the attack will have to be postponed.
When an assault follows the gas attack the men should wear the smoke helmets for at least 30 minutes after the dissemination has ceased; in fact they must not be removed until the order to do so is given by the officer commanding the attack. You will appreciate that the enemy's machine gunners may have better protection than the men in the bays of the trenches.
In this method the gas dissemination is effected by means of shells or bombs being fired into the enemy's trenches containing the desired substances which are released and give off irritant fumes on explosion. The grenades used weigh about 1 pound. They are similar in appearance to the ordinary tin can grenade. Their effect in a trench will continue for 20 to 30 minutes. In the attack a large number should be concentrated in a particular area to produce a large volume of gas. They are thrown by hand, trench mortar or catapult.
Surprise must be guarded against in every possible way. The direction of the wind must be continually watched, and when its velocity and direction are specially favorable the protective measures must be kept ready for instant use and special observers posted. Previous to an attack the enemy may remain comparatively quiet for several days. Noises like the moving of sheet iron may be heard. Preparations may be observed along the position. When the attack starts a hissing noise is heard; this latter is one of the indications that may be evident at night.
Each man on duty in the trenches is provided with two smoke helmets, specially devised and constructed so as to absorb the gas and neutralize its effect, and which if properly cared for and used will provide complete protection from any substance likely to be used by the enemy. They are fitted with a valve tube through which to breathe and with goggles to see through. There are certain rules prescribed for their care and use.
1. They must not be removed from the protective covering except for actual use against an attack.
2. When the helmet has been used once it should be replaced by a new one.
Dummy gas helmets will be provided in each organization by which the men may be practiced in putting them on. The men must be thoroughly drilled in the methods to be employed.
The following directions accompany the helmets issued to the British Army. When our helmets are issued it is probable that each will be accompanied by a complete set of rules for its use and full instructions for the method of getting into it and for its care and preservation.
Direction for Use and Care of Tube Helmets
These helmets are the same as the smoke helmet already issued, except that stronger chemicals are added and a tube valve provided through which to breathe out. The tube valve makes the helmet cooler and saves chemicals from being affected by the breath. The wearer cannot breathe in through the tube valve; this is intended for breathing out only.
Remove paper cap from mouthpiece of tube valve. Remove service cap. Pull helmet over head. Adjust so that goggles are over eyes. Tuck in skirt of helmet under coat collar and button coat so as to close in skirt of helmet. Hold the tube lightly in lips or teeth like stem of pipe, so as to be able to breathe in past it and out through it.
Breathe in through mouth and nose, using the air inside the helmet. Breathe out through tube only.
1. Do not remove the helmet from its waterproof case except to use for protection against gas.
2. Never use your tube helmet for practice or drill. Special helmets are kept in each company for instruction only.
Should the goggles become misty during use they can be cleared by rubbing them gently against the forehead.
When lacrimatory gases are used goggles affording mechanical protection may be worn, as these gases are not likely to irritate the lungs, though they sometimes produce sickness.
If a soldier does not possess one of the official pattern respirators, the following measures will be found useful:
1. Wet and wring out any woolen article, such as a stocking or muffler, so as to form a thick pad large enough to cover the nose and mouth, and press firmly over both.
2. Place in a scarf, stocking or handkerchief, a pad of about three handfuls of earth, preferably damp, and tie it firmly over the mouth and nose.
3. A wet cloth pulled down over the eyes will be found useful as additional protection, especially against certain gases other than chlorine or when the gas is too strong for the ordinary respirator.
4. A stocking, wetted with water and soda solution or tea, folded into eight folds and firmly held or tied over the nose.
5. A sock folded fourfold similarly wetted and held or tied. If the sock or comforter has been soaked in soda solution it will still act efficiently when dry, though, if possible, it should be moist. The spare tapes from puttees may be used for tying on the sock.
6. Any loose fabric, such as a sock, sandbag, woolen scarf or comforter, soaked in urine, then wrung out to allow of free breathing and tied tightly over the nose and mouth.
In the absence of any other cloths, the flannel waistbands issued for winter use could be used for this purpose.
Knapsack sprayers are issued for use to clear gases out of the trenches after the cloud has blown over. A man with the sprayer on his back (and wearing his smoke helmet) slowly traverses the trench, working the spray. If this is not done the heavy poisonous gas may linger in the trench for days and be a source of great danger.
If supports or reinforcements enter a trench charged with gas, they should be preceded by a man using a sprayer.
Sprayers are charged with sodium thiosulphate—more commonly known as "hypo"—6 pounds being dissolved in a bucket of water and a handful of ordinary washing soda added.
Garden syringes and buckets may be used if sprayers are not available, but these are not so effective. Sprayers should be charged before they are taken up to the trenches, and should be kept ready for immediate use.
Every officer defending a trench against an enemy gas attack should endeavor to collect information whenever possible, to be sent to headquarters through the usual channels. Particularly valuable is the capture of apparatus used by the enemy either for disseminating gas or for protection against it. If a shell attack is made, unexploded shells or portions of them should be sent through to headquarters at once. The time of day, duration of attack, color, taste or smell of gas used, effect on the eyes, breathing, and all other symptoms should be noted. New gases may be used at any time, and speedy information greatly forwards the adoption of preventive measures.
Service in the Trenches
Preparing to enter upon a period of service in the trenches the company commander makes a complete inspection of the company which includes:
1. Inspection of rifles and ammunition.
2. Inspection of equipment, contents of packs, intrenching tools, field glasses, wire cutters, first-aid packets, emergency rations, gas helmets, identification tags, canteens, clothing, etc.
3. Canteens to be filled with water.
4. Test bayonets, fix and unfix.
5. Have company fill magazines.
The company commander precedes the company into the trenches and makes a tour and inspection of the section assigned, which includes:
1. Layout of the trenches: fire trench, supervision trench, communication trenches, machine-gun positions, snipers' positions, listening and observation trenches, dugouts, latrines, etc.
2. Locate telephones, reserve ammunition and munitions depots, water supply, gas alarms, tools and any trench accessories and utilities that may be included in the section.
3. Get any information of the enemy that may be of value from the outgoing company commander.
The company commander will then make his tactical dispositions. In occupying the trenches a certain section of the line is assigned to each company. This section contains so many bays of the trench. The following dispositions are suggested as meeting the requirements under our organization:
1. The company is organized into four platoons of four squads each.
2. The section of the line assigned to the company contains eight bays.
3. Support No. 1 consists of the first and second platoons.
4. Support No. 2 consists of the third and fourth platoons.
5. From Support No. 1: Two squads of the first platoon occupy bays 1 and 2; two squads of the second platoon occupy bays 3 and 4.
6. From Support No. 2: Two squads of the third platoon occupy bays 5 and 6; two squads of the fourth platoon occupy bays 7 and 8.
7. Each squad establishes a double sentinel post in the bay assigned to it and the remaining members go into the squad shelters just in rear of the bays. This gives three reliefs for a double sentinel post and allows one extra man to be utilized as "runner," etc.
8. The remainder of the company is established in the company dugouts.
9. Depending upon the length of the tours of duty of the company in the first line trenches, the squads are changed according to a system that will have to be varied to suit the occasion, the squads in support taking their place in the fire trench and those in the fire trench returning to the support.
Platoons enter by not more than two squads at one time, thus minimizing the danger from shell fire. The platoon commander will explain to his squad leaders the extent of trench to be taken over and the action to be taken in case they are caught under shell fire or rapid fire while going up to the trenches. A second in command in each squad will be designated, so that if casualties occur among the squad leaders the relief will proceed as previously arranged.
The operation will proceed in silence. Rifles must be carried so that they do not show over the parapet. On reaching the fire trench the men of the first relief are posted to relieve the old detail and each man finds out any points that may be useful from his predecessor on that post.
The platoon commander confers with the commander of the outgoing party and secures all the information possible about the position which includes:
1. Behavior of enemy during period preceding relief, and any point in their line requiring special information, e. g., enemy may have cut wire as though preparing to attack.
2. Machine-gun emplacement may be suspected at some particular point.
3. Anything ascertained by patrols about ground between firing lines, thus avoiding unnecessary reconnaissance.
4. Any standing arrangements for patrols at night, including point at which wire can best be passed, ground to be patrolled, or place where they can lie under cover.
5. Any parts of trench from which it is not safe to fire. Such positions are apt to occur in winding trenches, and are not always recognizable in the dark.
6. Special features of trench, recent improvements, work not completed, dangerous points (on which machine guns are trained at night), useful loopholes for observation.
7. Places from which food and water can be safely obtained.
8. Amount of ammunition, number of picks, shovels and empty sandbags in that section of the line.
Information on these points cannot always be given properly by word of mouth. Written notes and plans should therefore be handed over to a platoon commander taking over for the first time.
Every man is required to see that he has a good firing position for all directions. Section commanders must satisfy themselves that men have done this, and report. The whole line "Stands to Arms" during the hour before dawn.
After dark, unless the moon is bright, rifles should be left in firing position on the parapet. All men not on sentry should keep rifles, with bayonets fixed, in the trench.
1. Double sentinel posts are established in each bay. They are on post one hour at a time.
2. When the enemy's trench mortar detachments are active, special sentinels will be posted to give notice of coming bombs.
3. Every man in the platoon is to know:
(a) The location of the platoon reserve ammunition and munitions.
(b) The location of latrines.
(c) The topography of the trenches in the platoon section and the adjoining sections, including the approaches. The location of the accessory defenses, listening and observation posts, machine-gun positions, snipers' positions, trench mortar positions, etc.
(d) The tactical disposition in the sector and the general disposition of the company.
(e) The location of loopholes.
(f) The places of especial danger in order that he may stay away from them.
4. Rifles are inspected twice daily. Every precaution is taken to keep the rifle and ammunition free from mud.
5. There is a gas helmet parade daily.
6. Accurate sketches are made of the trench and any addition or alteration entered on them.
7. Loopholes are inspected at dusk.
8. Wire entanglements are inspected and repaired under cover of darkness.
9. A log of events hour by hour should be kept which shows every item of enemy activity and the measures taken during the tour in the trenches. This will be a valuable reference when turning the trench over and will make a record of the habits of the enemy that may be most valuable as a guide for making plans to circumvent him.
10. The police and sanitation of the trenches will be carefully looked after.
11. Platoon commanders may divide the tour of supervision of the platoon sector with the squad leaders.
12. The whole company stands to arms during the hour before dawn.
Observation of the enemy's line should be continuous. The observation and firing system will be arranged so that all parts of the enemy's line will be under observation and fire at all times.
Plate 42 shows the arrangement in general. The appliances for carrying it out are shown in Plates 43, 44 and 45.
The observation is conducted through a small loophole made by a stick through the parapet or an iron tube run through and directed toward the point to be observed. To conceal the exit a few tufts of earth and grass are placed there in an irregular manner. Steel loopholes may also be employed for observation and firing purposes. They may be arranged a yard or two apart, so that one man observing through one can direct his mate using the rifle at the other so that he may bring fire to bear upon any member of the enemy's force that exposes himself at the point under observation.
The loopholes, both observation and firing, are arranged slantwise in the parapet so that the observer does not look straight to his front nor does the firer fire in that direction.
An aiming rack constructed so as to resist the recoil of the rifle and not derange its aim on firing may be arranged near the observation loophole. When the enemy exposes himself all that is necessary is a press on the trigger and the bullet goes straight to its mark. Such an aiming rack may be easily constructed, as shown in Plate 44.
Observation of the enemy trenches may also be effected by use of the periscope or, in the absence of one of these, by a looking-glass in a slanted position fastened to a stick planted at the rear wall of the trench and protruding over the parapet, to reflect his trenches. (See Plate 45.)
The enemy's trench usually appears completely deserted, but on observing it through field glasses you are astonished by the details revealed. You will see, from time to time, the eye of the enemy observer who shows himself at the loophole, or any other activity that is capable of being observed from the outside. The observer watching through the field glasses will soon become so familiar with the appearance of the opposing trenches that he will be able to detect immediately any alteration in the obstacles, or changes that may be made, such as the establishment of new listening or observation posts, new sap heads, machine-gun emplacements, etc.
Observers are charged especially with detecting the location of machine-gun emplacements. The examination should be so complete and detailed as to prevent their existence without their location being accurately known.
Plate 45a.—Trench showing wire overhead cover and wire trapdoor obstacle. Machicoulis gallery in background.
Any observations of enemy activities, of any nature whatever, are reported immediately so that they may be passed on to the commander whose unit is manning the trenches directly opposite the same.
Loopholes should be screened at the rear by a sandbag split and hung over them. They should be carefully concealed to prevent their location being discovered by the enemy. There must be no alteration in the parapet where they are located.
The enemy's sojourn in the trenches should be made as disagreeable to him as possible. He must be kept continually on the alert. Our operations must be made a constant menace to him. It is in this way that casualties are effected and he is gradually worn out. One of the best methods of accomplishing all of the above is the employment of snipers, who are specially selected and trained in this branch of trench warfare.
The snipers are on duty all day, but they have their nights in bed. They conduct their operations in pairs and are given a definite post to occupy and in exceptional cases may be given a roving commission. The advantage of having the same men regularly on the same post is that they learn thoroughly the appearance of every square foot of the ground included in their area of observation and are able immediately to note any change that may take place. They soon learn where to look for the enemy and in fact learn the habits, etc., of the enemy occupying their sphere of observation.
The sniper must be an expert in:
1. The construction of loopholes by day and by night.
2. The use of telescopic sights, field glasses, periscopes and all optical contrivances designed for observation purposes.
3. The selection of good positions for sniping.
4. Judging distances and estimating or measuring ranges.
5. Rifle firing. He should be an expert rifleman in order that full advantage may be taken of the opportunities to inflict losses on the enemy.
6. In trench warfare each pair of snipers will be required to report each evening to the company commander the result of their day's operations.
When the enemy makes his attack you will generally fire at those who appear in the sector that has been allotted to you to cover. You may, however, abandon your target on your own initiative under the following circumstances and fire:
1. On officers and noncommissioned officers. These can be recognized by their gestures. They are generally in the center of groups and get up and start first. They should be disabled, as this is the surest way of breaking up the attack.
2. At a group on the move. Fire should be concentrated on an advancing group. The time when the group is preparing to start its rush may be indicated by rifles being raised and the movements that take place along the line. After a rush has started, look out for the late comers trying to rejoin their comrades. They make good targets.
3. When the enemy attempts to build up his line to the front by a process of infiltration. That is, by having single men crawl from one point to the other, each man should be fired on during his advance.
4. Fire will be immediately concentrated on any machine gun that comes into action. With the German gun prolonged firing heats the water in the jacket to the boiling point and puffs of steam are given off. Do not be deceived into thinking that this necessarily gives away the position of the gun, for this steam has been piped to a distant place and allowed to escape so as to draw fire that otherwise might be directed on the real position of the gun.
5. On signallers or runners. These are carrying information that will probably be of benefit to the enemy's commander. You will appreciate the necessity of preventing this.
6. On an enemy showing a flank. No opportunity must be lost to fire upon an enemy that exposes his flank. The fire of a single rifleman down the flank may cause a whole line to retreat.
Rifle grenades are capable of causing more losses to the enemy than bombardment. The rifle grenade arrives at its destination unexpectedly without any noise; it explodes before one has even time to get out of the way. As it does not arrive at fixed hours like the bombardment, the enemy cannot continually avoid it by taking refuge in his dugouts and shelters; when he is moving about a trench which is subject to rifle grenading he must be continually on the alert. This perpetual menace, hour in and hour out, day in and day out, renders his sojourn in the trenches extremely disagreeable.
Before rifle grenades are thrown careful observation of the opposing trench must have been made to determine the point where the grenade is likely to do the greatest damage.
Rifles are placed in the aiming racks and the grenades fired from time to time, day and night, at moments when it seems propitious. In this way a sentinel may be taken by surprise; a noncommissioned officer or officer may be caught unawares.
It should be remembered that we will probably be able to throw twenty grenades to the enemy's one. Advantage should always be taken of this munitions superiority. Every man of the enemy we can put out of action is one less to kill us in the advance which will eventually come. Sometimes the enemy will try to reply. Here is where our munitions superiority comes in again. We can fairly shower him with grenades and make him take to his shelters.
It may be advisable to execute a sudden burst of grenade fire. This is started by a volley and followed by fire at will.
When the artillery has destroyed parts of the enemy's trenches or makes breaches in his obstacles by day he will endeavor to repair them at night. He may be considerably annoyed and losses inflicted upon him by a well-directed shower of rifle grenades arriving at points where his working parties are located. To make this effective the rifle racks should be placed in position and secured during the day after trial shots have demonstrated conclusively the direction and angle for them.
You will be impressed by the shells, especially the big ones. The din and blast of the explosions are, to say the least, terrifying. But you will soon come to know that the shell often makes more noise than it does harm and that, after a terrific bombardment, by no means is everybody destroyed.
The big shell, which is so appalling, is only really dangerous if it falls on the place where a man is standing, because the splinters rise in the air. Fall down flat when the shell bursts. Even if you are quite close, there is comparatively little risk. Get up immediately after the explosion, especially if you are 200 to 300 yards away from the place where it burst. The splinters do not fall for some time after the explosion.
The steel helmets and the infantry pack will furnish considerable protection from shrapnel fragments and balls.
The safest place to avoid the enemy's shell fire when the attack has been launched is close up to the enemy's position, where the artillery fire has to cease for fear of placing shells indiscriminately in his own troops and ours. Some men, completely distracted, lie down with their face to the ground. They will be crushed where they lie. Artillery fire, when it is violent, tends to throw the ranks into confusion and disorder. You have only ears for the roar of the approaching shell. You slow down and attempt to seek cover where there is no cover. The unit breaks up, and runs wild or stops altogether. Disorder and confusion means massacre.
March strictly in place. To the front is your safest haven of refuge. Get hold of the frightened ones and keep them in place. You will need them to help you when you reach the goal.
Dugouts with strong overhead cover are provided for your protection when not actually required to man the trench. In some places it may be possible to dig shelter caves and shore up the roofs.
To the Reader: You will find a wealth of information on the methods to be employed by scouts and patrols in a little book similar to this one in size, entitled "Scouting and Patrolling," by the author of this volume. Published and for sale by the United States Infantry Association, Washington, D. C. Price 50 cents, by mail, postpaid. Get your copy now and prepare yourself for these important duties.
Scouting and patrolling to the front is of greatest importance. It is kept up both day and night. The units occupying the first line send out patrols whenever necessary. They are frequently able to obtain valuable information and at the same time serve to counteract the enemy's efforts in this direction.
The patrols generally consist of a junior officer or noncommissioned officer and from four to six selected men. Their operations are conducted in accordance with the situation and the mission they are sent on.
Hand grenades are frequently carried for both offensive and defensive operations. Grenade patrols always carry them. The operations of patrols may include:
1. Reconnaissance of sectors of the enemy's position with a view to determining his dispositions and arrangement of obstacles.
2. Making sketches of positions.
3. Capturing prisoners.
4. Opposing enemy patrols.
5. Harassing the enemy.
When the patrol goes out every man in the sector of the firing line must be informed of such fact and the possibility of its returning through his post. It is not sufficient to simply notify the men on post at the time the patrol goes out, as a man cannot always be trusted to pass the information on to his relief. Word should be quietly taken along the line by the noncommissioned officer in charge of the relief in person. When the patrol is out, special instructions have to be given with respect to firing. To cease firing altogether is very undesirable. It arouses the enemy's suspicions. A few trustworthy riflemen are directed to fire high at intervals. No lights are sent up while the patrol is out.
If the patrol is to remain stationary, similar to the outguard of an outpost, communication may be maintained by means of a string, spelling out the messages by Morse code, two jerks meaning a dash and one jerk meaning a dot.
Where night patrols have to remain out under trying conditions special dugouts should be reserved where they can rest upon their return.
The infantryman's rifle is his best friend. The personal care that he gives to it is indicative of his soldierness and discipline. Your rifle must be kept in prime condition, otherwise it may fail you at a critical moment. A canvas breech cover that will protect the bolt and magazine mechanism will be found a great advantage when the rifle is not in use. Care must be taken to exclude mud and dirt from the bolt mechanisms. Do not put mud-covered cartridges into the magazine. Wipe them off first. Arrange a proper receptacle near your post for the storage of your reserve ammunition. Be careful that you do not clog the muzzle of the rifle with mud and dirt. If fired in this condition it will ruin the rifle. Be careful not to clog up the sight cover with mud. Oil the rifle frequently with good sperm oil. Half of the oilers in the squad should be filled with oil and the other half with Hoppe's No. 9 Powder Solvent.
Rifles must be carefully inspected daily by platoon commanders and the men required to work on them during the periods off post.
Repairs will have to be made daily. The widening of trenches in the making of repairs should be strictly forbidden. Under no circumstances must they be altered in any manner except on the order of the company commander.
Platoon commanders will go over every part of the trench several times daily with the squad leaders of the various sections and decide upon the repairs and improvements to be made. A complete and thorough police will be made prior to being relieved. All refuse will be removed. Fired cartridges will be disposed of, as they might get imbedded in the trench floor and hinder subsequent digging.
Each squad leader will be held strictly responsible for the state of police of the section of trench occupied by his squad.
Latrines are located at convenient points in the trenches. For the men on duty in the first line they are generally dug to the flank of a connecting trench and connected therewith by a passageway. Their location is plainly marked.
The rules of sanitation are even more strictly observed in trenches than they are in soldier camps. The trenches and passageways must not under any circumstances be defiled. Latrines should be kept clean and sanitary. They will be carefully protected from flies. The free use of chloride of lime daily is an absolute necessity.
A complete detailed plan of our own trenches and as much as is known of those of the enemy opposite should be made, and be available for study and to refer to in making reports. Every bay of the trench should be numbered, every traverse lettered. All junction points of fire and communicating trenches, all dugouts, all posts, mortar positions, machine-gun positions, observation posts, and any points that it may be necessary to refer to in reports should be designated by numbers.
The causes are:
1. Prolonged standing in cold water or liquid mud.
2. Tight boots and leggings, that interfere with the blood circulation.
1. Before going into the trenches wash the feet and legs and dry them thoroughly. The British Army has an issue of an anti-freeze mixture which will probably be issued to our troops also. The feet and legs should be rubbed with it. Put on perfectly dry socks. An extra pair of dry socks should be carried.
2. During the period of service in the trenches the feet should be treated in this manner from time to time.
3. When the feet are cold, hot water will not be used for washing nor will they be held close to a fire.
4. Rubber boots must be worn only in the trenches. On no account must they be worn while on reserve.
Trench Soldiers' Creed
To be of the greatest effectiveness in the trench every soldier, personally and collectively, must be able to adopt the following creed and live up to it:
1. We are here for two purposes, to do as much damage as possible to the enemy and to hold our section of the line against all attacks. We are doing everything in our power to accomplish these missions. We realize that every man of the enemy confronting us that is now placed hors de combat will be there ready to shoot us down when the assault takes place. We realize also that if the enemy makes a lodgment on our section of the line that it endangers others and a costly counter attack may be necessary. We will hold on.
2. With the means at hand and those we are able to devise we will make the enemy's stay in his trenches as uncomfortable and disagreeable as possible. All of our utilities are being utilized to the fullest extent and our various detachments are organized and their tactical operations are conducted with this object in view.
3. We have done everything possible to strengthen our line.
4. If, despite all the precautions we can take and the hardest fight we are able to make, the enemy succeeds in effecting a lodgment on our section of the line, we will meet him with the bayonet and fight to the last drop of our blood.
5. We are all familiar with the tactical dispositions in our section of the line. Those of us on the flanks connect up with the platoons to our right and left. We know the route to company and battalion headquarters and know where the nearest support is located. We know the position of our machine guns and the sector they cover. We are in constant communication with the observing posts that cover our front, and our observing posts covering the other platoons are in constant communication with them.
6. We know the firing position assigned to us and are familiar with the use to be made of the accessories furnished us. We can fire over the parapet at the foot of our wire entanglements to repel night attack.
7. We will at all times be careful about needlessly exposing ourselves. We appreciate the fact that it is absolutely stupid to get killed or wounded in the trench through negligence. By so doing one has served no purpose and a soldier cannot be replaced. Our leaders have warned us of the especially dangerous places. We know where they are and avoid them except when our presence there is necessary as a matter of duty.
8. The sections of the enemy's line that we are to cover with our fire have all been pointed out and each of us is familiar with same. We have located the enemy's loopholes and are doing our best to keep them under fire.
9. We know our way and move noiselessly about the trenches. When we enter and leave it is with absolute silence.
10. We are doing our utmost to collect information about the enemy, his defenses, his activity, his movements, and especially his night operations. All of this information we transmit immediately to the platoon leader.
11. We know the best way to get over our parapet to reach the enemy.
12. Our appliances for protection from gas attacks are complete and ready for instant use. We have our helmets on our persons ready to put on. We are familiar with their use and have confidence in their effectiveness. We will wait for the signal to don our gas helmets (signal is usually made by beating a gong, and care must be taken to follow exactly the directions for putting on the gas helmets; carelessness may mean your disablement).
13. Our trenches are drained and every precaution is being taken to keep the drains and sump holes in condition to perform their functions.
14. We have rendered the parapets and shelters throughout our sector bullet-proof, and effective measures are being taken to prevent them from caving in.
15. We are keeping our trenches sanitary and clean; our reserve munitions are carefully stored in their proper places ready for instant use. Refuse is always placed in receptacles when it can be carried away. We do not under any circumstances litter up our trench floor. Our empty shells are collected and sent to the rear.
16. Our rifles are our best friends. We keep them clean, well oiled, and in readiness for instant use. Our bayonets we have with us at all times ready to be placed on the rifle. We protect our rifle ammunition from the mud, as we realize that muddy cartridges will clog the breech mechanism and cause mal-function.
17. We are taking every precaution to prevent "trench feet;" when practicable we take off our shoes and rub our feet for 15 minutes each day. We do not wear tight shoes and leggings that tend to interfere with blood circulation. We each have a pair of dry socks to put on. We do not wear rubber boots except when it is absolutely necessary.
18. We observe the orders regarding the wearing of equipment.
19. We do not drink any water except that from authorized sources. We replenish our canteens whenever practicable.
In addition to the above the platoon commander must be able to adopt the following and· live up to them:
1. My sentries are posted in the proper places. They are posted by noncommissioned officers. They have the proper orders. No man is ever on duty more than one hour at a time. I visit them at frequent intervals.
2. I have a runner ready to carry a message to company headquarters. I realize that any information of the enemy that I may secure may be of great importance at regimental and other headquarters. I will therefore send it back with the utmost dispatch.
3. I am familiar with the methods of communicating with the artillery, of giving them information and of asking them for support.
4. My patrols operating to the front at night have been properly instructed and are doing their duty effectively. All sentries in the trench have been notified when they are out and cautioned to look out for their return.
5. I have given complete and detailed instruction covering what to do in case of gas attacks and the sending out of the S. O. S. signal. I have gas and attack messages already prepared and ready to send after inserting the time and place in them.
6. I know the name of every man in my platoon and they all know me.
7. I am here to inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy and to hold my part of the line. I will do it!
The Attack in Trench Warfare
The objectives which must be dealt with in the attack of an intrenched position such as will be found on the western front are:
1. The trenches of the first line.
2. The supporting points.
3. The trenches of the second line.
By a study of the text preceding this you must realize that in the defense of these objectives there will be employed artillery, rifles, grenades and machine guns.
The first phase of the attack is the artillery preparation. In order that the infantry may make the attack with a minimum of losses, the artillery must have destroyed the wire entanglements and obstacles that obstruct the advance, or at least have sufficiently breached them to permit their being negotiated. The destruction of these obstacles is never complete. It would require too great an expenditure of ammunition. The infantry occupying the hostile trenches must be simply overwhelmed with artillery fire so that they will be unable to man the parapets when the assault is launched. During the artillery preparation the hostile infantry does not occupy their firing positions in the trenches but remain in their dugouts, which are fully protected from all but the heaviest shells. Only a few observers are left in the trenches.
When the bombardment against this particular part of the line ceases the infantry leave their dugouts and man the firing positions. To prevent this is one of the most important as well as most difficult tasks of the artillery. This may be effected by a well-directed fire on the exits to the dugouts with a view to caving them in and thus preventing the egress of the occupants The enemy may sometimes be induced to leave his shelter prematurely by the following ruse:
1. Cease the artillery fire.
2. Open a heavy rifle fire; this causes the enemy to believe that the assault has begun and he will man his parapets in strength.
3. After waiting for several minutes open the artillery again with even increased vigor.
The hostile infantry may be forced out of his dugouts by the use of shells and grenades containing suffocating gases which penetrate the shelters and make them untenable.
The artillery is also charged with putting the enemy's artillery out of action to prevent them from firing upon the attacking infantry.
If the enemy artillery is left free, it will shell our trenches and approaches, causing casualties and confusion and thus interfering with the formation for the attack. The location of hostile batteries is effected by aerial reconnaissance.
Another task of the artillery is to prevent the hostile reserves from coming up to reinforce their firing lines. These reserves will be located back in the second line until their presence is required at the front. As long as the artillery preparation continues they remain in the shelters, but as soon as it ceases they man the trenches. The artillery must therefore extend its fire to the second line and continue it while the first line is being rushed. Back of the second position the enemy holds strong reserves. The entrance of these into action must be prevented. This is accomplished by extending the curtain of fire still further to the rear. The supporting points must receive a lion's share of attention for, bristling with machine guns and trench mortars, they are the really dangerous elements to the infantry attack after it passes the first line trenches.
The weapon which inflicts the greatest losses on the assaulting infantry is the machine gun, which appears suddenly out of the ground and lays low whole units. By a careful reconnaissance these machine-gun positions are ferreted out and every possible means are taken to effect their destruction.
The effectiveness of the artillery preparation depends simply upon superiority of guns and munitions. In this respect we now possess a great advantage, for the state of our munition supply is such that our artillery may fire several shells to one of the enemy. This is what established the superiority.
The organization of the attacking infantry corresponds in a general way to the organization of the position being attacked. A first line of assault is organized. Its mission is the capture of the enemy's first line trenches. A second line follows, having for its mission the assault and capture of the second line trenches. A separate organization of these two lines is necessary for the reason that the first attacking line is generally so disorganized in the fighting that it no longer possesses the cohesion necessary to carry it through to the second line. It has been found necessary to launch a comparatively fresh and intact force against it.
As the first position is organized into several separate lines of defense, so also is the first attacking line organized and launched in two or more waves, those in rear being in the nature of reinforcements to those in front.
Each unit of the attacking line is assigned a distinct objective. Certain units are given the mission of attacking the supporting points to prevent their enfilading the units advancing through the intervals between them.
The main efforts are made along the lines between the supporting points, as to assault the latter would entail a casualty list not commensurate with the results. The effort against them is made with a view to neutralizing their effect. If the attack is successful in the intervals, the supporting points will fall as a result.
The waves of the first line are directed against the first position, the second against the second position. The reserves held under the orders of the division commander are employed where the development of the situation dictates.
Further to the rear, and under orders of the supreme commander, large bodies of reinforcements are held ready to be moved rapidly to points where progress has been made to such an extent that maneuver operations are practicable.
Preparatory to the assault, numerous saps (trenches) are run out to the front from the main firing trenches. The night before the attack, a parallel is broken out connecting the sap heads. This parallel is amply supplied with short ladders and is occupied by the companies composing the first wave of the attack. The saps and the main trenches are also filled with men assigned to the following waves, who will move into the parallel as soon as the first wave leaves it. As the artillery preparation ceases, the first waves rush up the ladders in succession and move out to the assault.
As the artillery preparation against the first line is completed and the curtain of fire shifted far into the enemy's position, the infantry of the first wave emerges from the parallel and moves out. The formation and gait depend upon the distance to the hostile trench. If the artillery preparation has been effective and the distance is not more than 100 yards, it is expected that the wave will be able to reach the fire trench without firing, except possibly when the wire is reached. If the distance is much greater than 100 yards, it is necessary to cover the advance with rifle fire. This is accomplished by a line of skirmishers deployed at extended intervals, which precedes the wave at about 50 yards. The wave starts out at a walk, carefully aligned. It afterwards takes up the double time and advances by rushes until the wire entanglements are reached.
From this moment the period of the charge and individual combat begins. The men can no longer be kept from firing. Each tries to protect himself with his rifle. Each man locates his opening in the wire through which he is to go and makes for it. The line reforms on the other side. With rifles at the high charge (a position to our old head parry, but slanting slightly upward from right to left) the line rushes upon the enemy. Each man runs straight towards the part of the trench in front of him and jumps upon the parapet. By rifle shots and bayonet thrusts he destroys everything in his way. Men selected in advance take charge of the prisoners. The line is reformed, lying down just beyond the fire trench, and fire is opened against the second line. Men are positively forbidden to enter the communication trenches. They are most inviting for cover, but a man rarely gets out of them.
The grenadier squad proceed to their work of clearing the fire and communication trenches.
The second wave of the first line starts forward at the moment the first wave reaches the hostile trenches. If it starts sooner, it will unite with the first at the entanglement and become involved in the fight for the fire trench. It will be broken up prematurely and will be unable to take advantage of the developments of the fight of the first wave. The reinforcement by the second wave and the disorganization produced by the assault lead to a mixture of units in the trenches of the first position. Before starting out to the assault of the next trench it is necessary that order be restored. When this is accomplished the attack is launched against the second line. In front of the supporting points the combat rages. The men are barely able to hold on the outer edges. In the interval the advance has reached high tide and has expanded like a wave and stopped. This is the limit that can be expected of the first line.
Hasty cover is prepared and advantage taken of such cover as may exist. All elements of the attack open fire on the second position.
Under the cover of these operations the second line has come up in a series of three lines, where it is built up compact at the position of the stopped first line. From this point its attack against the enemy's second line is launched. The lines are worked up to a point from which the assault is to be made, and when the time comes the first wave dashes out to the attack, followed by the second wave in the same manner as the assault against the first position was made.
The action of the two lines of attack may be expected to overwhelm the greater part of the two main hostile positions. At certain points, however, the resistance will hold out, and, if not overcome, will constitute points of support to which the enemy may bring up reinforcements and even turn the tide of battle by a counter attack.
To deal with these points that hold out, as well as with hostile reinforcements which may arrive, the reserve is launched into action, which brings the attack into the open ground beyond the second line of defense, and maneuver operations are begun. The mobile units are rapidly thrown into action, and large forces from the general reserve are hurried to the point where the lines of defense are broken through.
From what has gone before we may deduce that the following conditions must prevail to attain success in an attack on a prepared position:
1. The attack must be planned down to the most minute detail.
2. There must be a greatly superior force of artillery concentrated at the point of attack, and the artillery preparation must be thorough.
3. The infantry must be sufficient in number, training and morale to perform the tasks that will he demanded of them.
4. The arrangements for the supply of ammunition to the firing line must be planned and carried out in all its details.
5. Plans for meeting counter attacks must be thorough and complete. The capture of a position is often less difficult than its retention.
6. Finally, every officer and man must know exactly what he is to do.
Scouting and Patrolling
By
Capt. W. H. WALDRON
29th Infantry
Cloth Bound—Fits the Pocket
3d EDITION
Price, 50 cents postpaid
The best, most complete and practical treatment of the subject that has been produced.
What To Do and How To Do It
Just the book needed for the instruction of the enlisted men of your organization.
Every soldier in the Army should have a copy and know its contents.
Endorsed by Leading Officers of the Army
Published and for sale by
The United States Infantry Association
Union Trust Building
Washington, D. C.
Comment from Leading Officers of the Army
"I have a copy of 'Scouting and Patrolling' and wish every other person in the military service had one. You have presented an interesting and very important subject in a very convenient, readable form and in its logical sequence. I commend the book to all soldiers. They will benefit by a careful study of its contents."
"The most complete and valuable treatise on scout and patrol work that has been published. The small size and shape of the little volume make it a convenient pocket reference book suitable for field work."
"It covers the duties that will fall to the lot of the soldier in time of war better than any work heretofore published. I predict that every company commander in the Army will eventually use it as a text-book in the instruction of his organization."
"Your book is excellent. I am amazed at the great amount of information you have concentrated in such a small volume. I shall certainly recommend it to the captains of my regiment as a book for instruction in noncommissioned officers' schools. I feel that I should congratulate you on it as an American text-book on the subject that is far superior to any of the foreign publications."
"I find it be to an excellent work on the subject. It is thorough and to the point. Its size, extremely small cost and valuable contents ought to recommend it to every soldier in the Army."
"I cordially endorse it as being wonderfully comprehensive and comprehensible in covering the subject."
"I am impressed with its simplicity and completeness. It is a most valuable book for the noncommissioned officer and private."
"The book is thoroughly practical and the arrangement admirable. It is certainly the best book on the subject that I have ever seen."
A few extracts from numerous book reviews
"Devoid of technicalities and written in an interesting and understandable style. It is a most instructive book. With unessentials eliminated, it gives a store of information in language that any man can understand."
"It covers a wide and difficult ground. The dozen chapters of the little book not only instruct the soldier thoroughly in the duties of reconnaissance but place at his convenient disposal a valuable store of information as to military messages, signaling, map reading, reconnaissance reports, first-aid and kindred subjects."
"It covers very concisely every feature of this most important branch of military training: it is entertainingly written and generously illustrated throughout."
Tactical Talks
By Capt. W. H. Waldron, 29th Infantry
To the Reader:
The up-to-date method of instruction and training in Minor Tactics is this:
1. Prepare a tactical problem covering the subject under consideration.
2. Take the noncommissioned officers out on a TACTICAL WALK and make a solution of the various situations.
3. Follow this by taking the company out on a tactical exercise for the solving of the identical problem that you solved in the TACTICAL WALK.
This method will bring results that will surprise you. In the Tactical Walk, tactical situations are presented to the noncommissioned officers for practical solution on the ground and they are firmly impressed on the minds of the men. When the same problem is brought up for solution with the troops you will see your noncommissioned officers going about their various tasks in a business-like manner with a knowledge of what to do and how to do it, that they have never had before. This inspires the confidence of the men in their noncommissioned officers and as a result the entire organization is lifted to a much higher "tactical level" than they have been able to attain heretofore.
TACTICAL WALKS is an entirely original work. It was written with a view to inaugurating this system of instruction and training throughout the Army. The subjects included are:
Outposts, reconnoitering patrols, visiting patrols, advance guards, flank guards, detached posts, organization of a small defensive position. The largest unit considered is a company and that only incidentally. The main element is the platoon and patrol.
For each walk a tactical problem has been prepared in blank. This can be adapted to any terrain that is available.
Following the problem there are a number of tactical situations such as one would encounter in actual service.
The discussions and explanations cover every phase of the subject under consideration in a purely practical manner.
A practical solution is then arrived at and set forth.
At the end of the solution to each situation there is inserted a Director's Key, which gives the complete synopsis of what has gone before.
Every officer in the Army should have a copy. It will save a lot of time preparing for the conduct of Tactical Walks. Every noncommissioned officer should have a copy and study its contents. By so doing he prepares himself for the duties that he will be called upon to perform in the field.
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY.
The price is $1.50 per copy, postage paid.
Copies of the book may be had from any one of the agencies enumerated on page v of this book.
W. H. Waldron,
Captain, Twenty-ninth Infantry.
Transcriber's Note:
