Chapter XII

THE ORGANIZATION OF A DEFENSIVE POSITION 248-276
Field and permanent fortification 248
Defensive principles applicable to portions of
an extended line 248
Small forces in intrenched positions 248
PRINCIPAL REQUIREMENTS OF A DEFENSIVE POSITION 248-249
The rôle of field fortifications 248-249
Selection of the general line from a map 249
Study of details on the terrain 249
Reconnaissance by supreme and subordinate commanders 249
Necessity for an examination of the position from the
enemy’s point of view 249-250
Matters to be considered in the organization of
a defensive position 250
Field of fire for the infantry 250
Utilization of natural advantages of the terrain 250-251
Thin defensive lines. Dummy trenches 251
Location and disposition of the fire trenches 251
Offsets, re-entrants and salients 251
SUPPORTING POINTS. Location with reference to the terrain 251-252
Closed works and rifle trenches in field fortification 252
Development of frontal and cross fire 252
Covering the foreground with fire. Expedients by which
this may be accomplished 252-253
Cross fire of adjacent supporting points.
Distribution of trenches. Removal of obstructions to
fire. Construction of obstacles to enemy’s advance 252-253
Traverses. Head cover. Grenade nets. Concealment of trenches 253
Intervals in the defensive line. Discontinuity of trenches 253-254
Defensive lines in close country 254
Division of front into sections or sectors 254
Relative strength of firing line, supports and reserves 254
Purpose of field fortifications. Misuse thereof 254-255
Supporting points by whom organized 255
Portable and park tools 255
DETAILS IN THE ORGANIZATION OF A REGIMENTAL SECTOR 255
DETAILS IN THE ORGANIZATION OF A BATTALION SUPPORTING POINT 255-256
Relative importance of different tasks 256-257
Relative importance of near and distant fields of fire
under various conditions 257
Distance of battalion supports behind the firing line 257
Natural cover. Support and communicating trenches 257
Utilization of natural features 257
Posts and duties of and cover for reserves 257
Division of reserves 257
Position fire by supports and local reserves 257-258
Study of ground in location of trenches. Avoidance
of unnecessary labor 258
Removal of trees from field of fire. Filling ravines
and hollows 258
Blending the works with the terrain for concealment 258
Employment of engineers. Demolitions, obstacles,
communications, measuring ranges, head and overhead
cover, observing stations, splinter-proofs, works in
the second line of defense, etc. 258
Division and assignment of engineer troops. Tasks of
engineers, by whom indicated 258-259
Provisions for security to front and flanks during the
organization of the position 259
Location of artificial obstacles. Distance in front
of firing line 259
ORGANIZATION OF THE FLANKS 259-260
Protection of the flanks, natural obstacles,
fortifications and reserves 259
Flanks “in the air” 259
Refusing the line to provide security for a flank 260
Echeloning trenches to the rear on a flank 260
Concealment of works. Utilization of natural features
of the terrain 260
TABLE OF PERSONNEL, TIME AND TOOLS REQUIRED FOR VARIOUS
TASKS IN CONNECTION WITH FIELD FORTIFICATION 261
Character of soils 261
Simple standing and completed standing trenches 261
Size of individual tasks. Reliefs for workers 261-262
BRITISH EXPERIENCES IN TRENCH WARFARE 262-266
Concealment of trenches from hostile artillery 262
Limited field of fire better than loss of concealment 262
Concealment of obstacle 262
Accuracy of modern artillery fire 262
Narrow and deep trenches 262
Position of support trenches 262
Communicating trenches 262-263
Parados. Dummy parapets 263
Recesses under parapet. Ceiling 263
Head and overhead cover. Loopholes 263
Night attacks 263
Frontal and cross fire. Straight trenches 263
Dressing stations. Latrines. Drainage 263-265
Machine guns 265
Cover and concealment for reserves 265
Barbed wire entanglements. Concealment 265
Repair of obstacles. Supports for wire 265
Illumination 265
Echeloned trenches on the flanks 265
Conspicuous features of field fortifications
as seen by aeronauts 265-266
Resemblance of modern trench warfare to siege operations 266
Power of defense of modern weapons 266
Need for artillery support 266
The guiding principles of field fortification 266-267
PRACTICAL PROBLEMS IN FIELD FORTIFICATION, WITH SOLUTIONS 267-276