Georges Etienne Bertrand

“ At the precise moment or signal the first wave of an assaulting company jumps out of its parallel of departure, the different lines of which it is composed being formed as previously explained. In a similar manner, as soon as the first wave is launched, the second wave goes over the top of its parallel. All the different lines of the different assaulting companies advance straight to the front towards their first objective. ”

“ The experiences of three years of trench warfare have given bitter proof that an attack against an insufficiently destroyed position will not only fail but will result in great losses. It is sheer folly to attempt an assault against undestroyed entanglements, or against a line 166in which the machine gun posts have not been demolished. One does not oppose materiel with men. In trench warfare, the conquest of the ground is made by the artillery; the infantry follow up this conquest to occupy and to hold the ground. ”

“ Likewise, the sector reserve of the third line is sent forward to or, in case the enemy has taken it, against the second line. The static or passive organization of the defense lies in the series of lines of trenches disposed in depth, but the active rôle of the defender is carried out in these successive waves of defense moving forward in definite limits to meet the attack, not only to repulse it but to inflict as much loss as possible to the enemy. This transforms the defensive combat into more nearly a fight in the open ground, with the spirit of the offensive. ”

“ When the general who is in charge of the attack judges that the artillery preparation is sufficient, that the supply systems for the attack are properly organized, that all is ready and, in short, that the psychological moment has arrived, he gives his order for the attack. ”

“ That is to say, a time-table for the barrage is adhered to during the first part of the advance when the positions of the hostile lines are well known, while during the last part, when the infantry’s progress is not so regular and the ground is not so well known, each advance of the barrage may be called for by rocket, as each resistance met with is disposed of. If an assaulting battalion meets a resistance which it cannot reduce by its own means, it must call upon the support artillery for help. ”

“ Each leader of an attacking unit, with a map of the ground on which his area is specially outlined, must study his disposition on the ground previous to the arrival of his troops. Besides this, the leaders must pay special attention to the hostile position, verifying the direction of the attack, and identifying the successive objectives and the nests of resistance that will be encountered. ”

“ The purpose of the raid is both to prosecute the attrition of the enemy and to gather information. A raid is made with or without a previous artillery preparation. Usually, however, the barbed wire entanglements of the enemy are subjected to a short and intense artillery shelling. Whether or not an artillery bombardment is carried out, the tactics of the raid are the same. Success of a raid depends entirely on its preparation, which must be thorough and complete in every detail so that every man in the raid knows his part. ”

“ A company caught under the enemy’s barrage will lose, on an average, fifty per cent. of its effectives. Also, the assaulting companies must arrive in the first hostile line as quickly as possible behind their own barrage. The assaulting platoons, who set the pace, should arrive there almost “as soon as the barrage lifts.” Troops that arrive at this opportune moment will surprise the enemy in his shelters or in the act of taking his place on the firing line. It is better to risk losing a few lives by your own barrage than to give the enemy time to man his first line. ”

“ Then, too, what is left of your barbed wire entanglements will hold up the enemy’s troops. In short, the advantage at this particular point lies entirely with the defenders if they can occupy the first line in time.
Among all the weapons of defense, the most powerful is the machine gun. The successful repulse of the hostile attack depends to the greatest extent upon the ability to use machine guns after the attack is under way. The opportune fire of one machine gun on the flank of an assaulting column may disorganize it and drive back its troops. ”

“ This task falls upon the battalion commander who is responsible for the center of resistance, with the consent of the sector commander. The reason for this is that the sector commander is the only one of these officers who knows the subsequent use of this particular sector, whether for defensive or offensive purposes. If for defensive purposes the line may be carried as close to the enemy’s line as possible. If the sector is being organized for an offensive there must be enough distance between to keep his own line out of the zone of artillery dispersion when the target is the enemy’s line. ”

“ All of the essential elements of a position, emplacements, dugouts, etc., are more or less without value if they can be seen by the enemy and subjected to heavy artillery fire. Everything that is possible must be constructed without the observation of the enemy. ”

“ At D you cannot observe the enemy nor can the enemy observe your line. From these considerations we see that the proper location for the first line will be at B as you must be able to observe the enemy and all the ground in front. Your second line should be located at D where the enemy cannot observe and bombard your position. At D the line can be made as elaborate as you have time, men, and material, because you are more or less unmolested by the enemy’s fire and observation. ”

“ Each platoon in the trenches, from the first line to the rear, must have some watchers, whose duty it is to give the alarm both day and night against attack. These watchers do not observe the enemy as do the sentinels. They walk in the trench in which the platoon is placed, especially at the entrance of the dugouts or shelters occupied by this platoon. When they hear a signal of alarm given by a sentinel or by a messenger, they wake the platoon as quickly as possible. ”

“ Moral Preparation of the Troops. When an attack is expected, this fact must be told the garrison of each area, so that it can better prepare for it. The troops must not be left in ignorance, and upon the officers informing them devolves the responsibility of performing this task in such a manner as to raise the morale of their troops. The men must be maintained in the best of physical condition. Their food supply must be regular, of good quality, and sufficient. The tour of duty of the interior relief of the first line is shortened.
Duties during the Preliminary Bombardment. ”

“ Consequently, each dugout has a watcher located at its entrance and machine gun dugouts maintain special watchers. For each watcher at an entrance there is a second watcher within sight and calling distance ready to receive the alarm from the firing trench. If the second watcher is killed, the watcher at the entrance moves up and takes his place while another man from the dugout goes on watch there. These men are on duty only from fifteen to thirty minutes at a time. By a system of relief each occupant of a dugout serves a tour of duty as a watcher. ”

“ Each man carries a gas mask and there are also a certain number kept 225in reserve in the different depots of the sector. Each gas mask must be properly adjusted and it is the duty of each officer and non-commissioned officer to ascertain that each man in the company has a gas mask in good condition. He must always carry the same.
Each man is trained to put on his mask rapidly. Standing orders compel the man to put on his gas mask immediately the alarm is given or upon his detection of gas by color or odor. Frequent exercises are held to perfect the men in putting on their gas masks rapidly. ”

“ Discipline in the Trenches:—Life in the trenches is not especially dangerous when all precautions are observed. In the presence of an alert enemy, every faulty move of disposition receives its punishment, such as the improper concealment of a movement, poorly hidden trench work, or useless noise in the firing line. ”

“ Sector duties include a considerable amount of work, and are not only useful from a tactical point of view, but are also indispensable for the moral and physical welfare of the troops. Men without occupation in the trenches stagnate, grow slack, and think only of the time when their relief will arrive. Such troops lose their aggressiveness, so that when the time for the offensive arrives they have no confidence and cannot deliver the proper blow. ”

“ A General Relief is one where a large unit, such as a division or an army corps, is relieved from its position on the front.
An Interior Relief is one where a small unit, such as a company, battalion, or regiment, is relieved from its area by another unit of the same division within the position. ”

“ Preparation of the Men for the Attack. The work of fitting their men physically, professionally, and morally for the task before them devolves upon the leaders of all ranks. By a system of relief, the men of the garrison get short periods of rest behind the sector to shake off the atmosphere of the trenches. Continuous instruction of both men and officers in the basic principles of fighting should be carried on at all times. ”

“ Infantry Weapons: Besides sniping, all the other infantry weapons are used to assist attrition of the enemy. Hand and rifle grenades are thrown on special points of the hostile line. A battery of hand or rifle grenadiers properly disposed can very often carry out a concentrated surprise fire on an enemy’s salient or advanced post. Automatic and machine guns are always used for this purpose and especially at night. ”

“ The machine gun is the best weapon for flanking fire. Several emplacements are constructed for each machine gun, but during the bombardment it is kept under cover in a dugout. When the attack develops the machine gun is quickly set up in the proper emplacement. If kept in a permanent emplacement the enemy will soon locate it and put it out of business by artillery fire. ”

“ As a part of the assaulting platoon comes the trench-cleaner detachment. The trench cleaners are armed with hand grenades and trench knives. Their function is to enter the hostile trenches taken and, profiting by the surprise effect of the attack, to vanquish 187the last resistance and to make prisoners of the defenders still in the dugouts. They pay special attention to picketing all entrances, exits, and shafts of dugouts so that detachments of the enemy cannot come out and fire into the rear of the waves that have already crossed. ”

“ The support artillery must constantly verify the settings of their barrages. Numerous exercises are carried out for the call of the barrage with rockets, so as to keep the artillery constantly on the alert.
Liaison must be assured by other means than the telephone as this latter system usually breaks down under severe and continuous shelling. When the telephone is out of order, chains of runners must be resorted to. In the ordinary life of the trenches runners are not used. For this reason, when an attack is expected, new chains of runners must be established. ”

“ Detachments for Liaison and Observation:—For more efficient liaison between the artillery and the infantry, usually a certain number of artillerymen are sent from the group of the artillery Support to the infantry in their area. Usually a special detachment of artillerymen is sent. This detachment is made up of one officer, chief of the detachment, who is sent to the chief of sector, one N. C. O. to each chief of a center of resistance, the rest as telephone operators and artillery orderlies. ”

“ Artillery support. Composition of this artillery. Establishing of the front of barrage. Infantry-artillery liaison. 5. Liaisons and supply during the hostile attack. Details of Trench Duty Guard Duties (Security) . Security is obtained by the use of sentinels and patrols.
Sentinels must not be confused with observers, watchers, or snipers. Observers belong to the information service of the sector and are not on duty at night. Snipers operate only in the daytime. The watchers of the different lines give the alarm in case of an attack, and are on duty both day and night. ”

“ In winter the relieving troops will find a supply of blankets and trench boots in the sector. Usually each man should carry an extra supply of cartridges above that laid down by regulation, and two sandbags. There should be a certain number of flashlights and candles to the company 115 (each corporal carrying a minimum of two candles) . Just previous to departure or entraining the battalion commander himself makes a general inspection of his unit. ”

“ The time of the start of the counterattack is in reality given by the enemy himself.
Repair of the Position. After a hostile attack has been repulsed, the chief of area must realize that similar attempts may be made without delay. The first and most important repair work that must be done is to construct a parapet along the firing line. There may be no trench left along this line, but a fire parapet of sandbags must be 151constructed immediately. At night reserve troops are brought up with tools and sandbags to put the line in the best state of defense possible. ”