Chapter XVI

THE RIFLE IN WAR 324-336
Location of firing line with respect to geographical
and military crests 324
The skyline 324
Grazing effect and plunging fire 324
Firing line in retreat or in delaying actions 324
Location of supports with respect to firing line 324
Defilade on reverse slopes. Formations of supports 324-325
Position fire in attack and in defense 325
RELATIVE VULNERABILITIES OF DIFFERENT FORMATIONS
UNDER AIMED AND UNDER SWEEPING FIRE OF SMALL ARMS 325-326
Effects of oblique and enfilade fire 326
Squad and platoon columns. Successive thin lines 326-327
Formations in approaching combat position.
Proper time for deployment 326
Effect of slopes on vulnerability 326-327
Deployment of squad and platoon columns 326-327
ADVANCE UNDER SHRAPNEL FIRE 327-329
Area covered by burst of shrapnel 327
Vulnerability of lines of skirmishers and of squad columns 327-328
Effect of oblique and enfilade fire, errors in range,
direction and burst 327-328
Squad columns, when employed 328
Vulnerability of lines of platoon columns 328
Use of successive thin lines, advantages and disadvantages 328-329
Slow, controlled fire. Rapid fire. Volley fire 329
Maximum and minimum rates of fire 329
Tendency of troops to fire rapidly 329
Ranges at which fire is opened in attack and in defense.
Firing on cavalry and artillery 329-330
Number of rounds to fire. Density of firing line 330
Effect of visibility of target and prominent landmarks
on dispersion and distribution 330
Methods of designating and identifying indistinct targets 330-331
Use of combined sights. Battle sights 331
Targets for attacker and for defender 331
Concentration of fire on critical points. How accomplished 331
Assignment of fronts. Covering the enemy’s line with fire 331-332
Overlapping and switching fire. Platoon sectors 331-332
Too great refinement to be avoided 332
DUTIES OF PERSONNEL IN A FIRE FIGHT. Major. Captain.
Chief of Platoon. Platoon Guide. Squad leader 332-334
Orders of the Captain 334
A CATECHISM OF THE RIFLE IN WAR 334-336