Chapter XI

COMBAT. ATTACK AND DEFENSE 204-247
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS 204-205
Offensive and defensive tactics 204
Raw troops, how utilized 204
Passive defense--when to be adopted 204
Fire superiority keynote of success 204
Dispersion, complicated movements, half-hearted measures 204
Uncovering the line of retreat and main body 204-205
Concentration of forces. Detachments--when permissible 205
Containing and covering forces 205
Night attacks. Night movements--when advisable 205
Examination of terrain preliminary to attack. Use of maps 205
Attacks offering no chance of success 205
Reconnaissance during an action 205
Integrity of tactical units 205
FORMS OF ATTACK 205-209
Advantages and disadvantages of frontal and of
enveloping attacks 206
Considerations influencing the decision as to form and
direction of attack 206-207
Considerations influencing selection of flank
to be enveloped 207
Best dispositions for attacking infantry the
primary consideration 207
Envelopment of both hostile flanks 207
Combined frontal and enveloping attacks 208
Relative strengths of frontal and enveloping attacks 208
Density of firing line in attack 208
Strength of supports 208
Envelopment to be provided for in first deployment 208
Convergence of fire. Separation of frontal and
enveloping attacks 209
ADVANCING TO THE ATTACK.
Formation in approaching the position 209
Establishment of fire superiority 209
Conjunction of movement 209
Cover for advancing troops. Contact during advance 209
ASSIGNMENT OF FRONTS 210-211
Covering the defender’s line 210
Landmarks and guiding points. Routes 210
Extension of defender’s line to meet enveloping attack 210
Orders to the attacking columns 210-211
RESERVES 211-212
Need for reserves. The influence of their judicious
use on the course of the action 211
Concentration of force at critical point 211
Relative strength of reserves in attack and in defense 211
Battalion supports. Regimental and brigade reserves 211
Employment of local reserves 211
Supports and reserves in defense. Position of the reserves.
Division of reserves 211
Distances of supports and reserves from firing line 212
PROTECTION OF THE FLANKS 212-214
Necessity for protecting the flanks. Means employed 212
Obstacles and field of fire 212
Cavalry and mounted men on the flanks 212
Infantry flank combat patrols. Strength and duties 212-213
Duty of flank organization in providing protection 213
Supreme commander’s orders for flank protection 213
Reconnaissance to the front 213
Strength of flank combat patrols 213-214
Ammunition in combat trains. When and by whom issued.
Time required for issue. Disposition of empty wagons
of combat trains 214
Ammunition trains 214
Amount of ammunition available. How carried on the march 214
Expenditure of ammunition in attack and defense.
Long range fire in attack and in defense 214-215
Economy of ammunition 215
INTRENCHMENTS, OBSTACLES, ETC. 215-217
Intrenchments in attack and in defense. Time required for
construction. Objects of intrenchments in defense 215-216
Location and construction of firing and of support trenches.
Communicating trenches 216
Duties of engineers in intrenching, removal of obstacles, etc. 216
Obstacles, nature and effect. Artificial obstacles 216-217
Location of obstacles 217
Obstacles to be covered by fire of defense 217
Measuring and marking ranges 217
FRONTAGES IN ATTACK AND IN DEFENSE 217-219
Density of the firing line. Strength of supports and reserves 219
THE ATTACK OF A POSITION BY A SMALL INFANTRY FORCE 219-225
Disposal of trains 220
Examination of terrain 220
Orders to subordinates 220
ATTACK ORDER FOR A SMALL FORCE 220-223
Routes to position 223
Issues of ammunition 223
Description of localities 223-224
Hostile artillery fire 224
Hostile reinforcements 224
Designation of enemy’s line 224
Engineers, signal and sanitary troops in attack 224
Dressing stations and slightly wounded stations 224-225
REMARKS CONCERNING AN ATTACK BY A REINFORCED BRIGADE 225-228
Reconnaissance and preliminary orders of the commander 225
Locating the enemy’s flanks 226
Considerations prior to attack 226
Assignment of regiments 226-227
Conjunction of holding and enveloping attacks 227
Provisions for the protection of the flanks 227
Duties of cavalry prior to and during the action 227
Dispositions of attacking artillery 227-228
Reserve, station and functions 228
Engineers, signal and sanitary troops and trains during
the attack. Dressing stations. Empty ammunition wagons 228
Station of the supreme commander during the action 228
REMARKS CONCERNING ADVANCE GUARD ACTION 228-230
Occasions for committing the advance guard to action 228-229
Considerations influencing the decision as to action to be
taken on meeting the enemy. Mission of the command
as a whole 229
Advantages of frontal attack by advance guard 229
Pursuit of a defeated enemy 229-230
Supreme commander with advance guard 230
THE OCCUPATION OF A DEFENSIVE POSITION 230-236
Considerations prior to the occupation of a defensive
position. Requirements of a position 230-231
Position in readiness, when to be assumed 231
Positions farther to front or rear. Rencontre engagements 231
Time that small forces can maintain themselves
against larger 231-232
Effect of improvements in weapons on power of defense 232
Delaying and decisive actions 232
Posts of artillery in defense 232
Obstacles in front of position. Passages for counter attack 232
Probable direction of hostile attack. Posting the reserve 232
Division of defensive line into sections and assignment
of troops 232-233
Use of machine guns in defense 232-233
Openings in the line 233
Detailed organization of sectors or sections 233
Density of firing line. Influence of terrain 233
Employment of large reserves in defense 233
Long range fire in defense 233
Delaying actions. Cavalry in delaying actions 233
Marking ranges and clearing field of fire 233-234
Preparation of position for defense 234
Disposal of empty wagons of combat trains 234
Direct fire by artillery in defense 234
Duties of the cavalry 234
Security to the front during the preparation
and occupation of the position 234
Machine guns. “Dagger” batteries 234-235
Flank combat patrols. General and special measures for
the security of the flanks 235
Security of the lines of retreat 235
Employment of reserves and engineers in the preparation
of the position 235
Dressing station 235
Strong reserves characteristic of active defense 235
Advanced posts and advanced positions 235
THE COUNTER ATTACK 236-238
Eventual assumption of offensive 236
Employment of the general reserve 236
Concealment of troops for counter attack 236
Time and manner of delivering the counter attack 236-237
Supporting points in rear of line 237
Artillery of defense 237
Selection of terrain to favor counter attack 237
Suggestions as to the conduct of an active defense 237-238
Aggressive employment of large reserves by defense 237
Most favorable opportunity for a counter-stroke 238
ORDER FOR A FRONTAL ATTACK BY AN ADVANCE GUARD 238-242
ORDER FOR AN ENVELOPING ATTACK BY A REINFORCED BRIGADE 243-244
ORDER FOR THE OCCUPATION OF A DEFENSIVE POSITION 244-247