William H. Waldron

“ 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. ”

“ 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 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [Pg 131] 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 [Pg 153] 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. ”

“ 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 [Pg 99] 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.
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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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”