Chapter 15

Trench warfare; 287
General principles; 287
Instructions to be issued by battalion commander; 287
Attack of a defensive position; 289
Attacking from trenches; 291
Defense of trenches; 296
Liaison; 298
Trench orders; 299
Selection of site; 302
Trench construction; 303, 307
General arrangement; 303
System of laying out trenches; 307
Revettments; 308
Sod; 310
Sand bags; 310
Concrete work; 310
Gabions; 310
Trench armament; 311
Loopholes; 311
Trench bottoms; 311
Communication trench; 313
Latrines; 315
Shelters; 315
Dugouts; 317
Sentries; 317
Position; 317
Entrances; 317
Galleries; 318
Bomb-traps; 318
Interior; 318
Depots for supplies; 318
Telephones; 319
Departure parallel; 319
Machine gun emplacements; 319
Listening posts; 321
Wire entanglements; 321
High entanglements; 321
Tracing entanglements; 322
Low entanglements; 322
Loose wire; 322
Criticisms by Lieut Henri Poire; 322
Occupation; 325
Two main classes of relief; 325
General principles of relief; 325
Mechanism of relief; 325
Attack during the march; 328
The stay in the trenches; 329
Four objects of a trench commander; 329
His plan of defense; 329
Organization of defense; 329
Liaison; 331
Observation; 331
Trench work; 333
Offensive operations; 334
Rule of the trench commander; 335
Duties of the company commander; 335
Duties of platoon leaders as officers on duty; 339
Duties of platoon leaders; 339
In front line trenches; 340
Duties of non-commissioned officer on duty; 341
Patrols; 342
Sentinels; 342
Machine guns; 342
Snipers; 343
Organization of a platoon; 344
Deployments; 346
Normal battalion formation in attack; 347
General principles of the platoon formation in assault of
fortified positions; 349
Remarks regarding forming of wave from close order; 353
Some questions a platoon commander should ask himself; 354
Defensive measure against gas attacks; 356
General considerations; 356
Nature of gas attacks; 356
Gas clouds; 356
Gas projectiles; 358
Tear or lachrymatory shells; 359
Poison shells; 359
Smoke; 359
Mine and explosion gases; 359
Protection of shelters; 360
Methods of protection; 360
Shelters which should be protected; 361
Protection of weapons and equipment; 361
Small arms and S.A.A.; 362
Hand and rifle grenades; 362
Light trench mortars; 362
Action to be taken in trenches on gas alarm; 363
Action to be taken in billets and back areas; 363
Action during gas attack; 364
Protective measures; 364
Tactical measures; 364
Precautions against gas shells; 365
Action subsequent to a gas attack; 367
General; 367
Movement; 367
Clearing dugouts and other shelters; 367
Ventilation; 368
Natural; 368
By fire; 368
By fanning; 369
Cleaning arms and ammunition; 369
Treatment of shell holes; 370
Concealment from aerial observers; 370
Orders governing intrenchment problems; 372
Company organization; 384
Company headquarters; 384
Headquarters; 384
Personnel; 385
Commissioned; 385
Enlisted; 386
Equipment; 386
Trench standing orders; 386
Duties; 386
Sentries; 387
Patrols; 388
Stand to; 389
Machine guns; 389
Reliefs; 390
Guides; 391
Smoking and talking; 391
Procedure on arrival at trenches; 391
Log books; 392
Equipment; 392
Stretcher bearers; 392
Discipline; 392
Rations and cooking; 393
Sanitation; 393
Emergency dumps for companies (material); 394
Contents of dump; 394
Stores for company; 394
Stores at battalion headquarters; 394
Conclusion; 396
Bibliography; 397