Military Instructors Manual by Oliver Schoonmaker;James P. Cole
page 341 of 491 (69%)
page 341 of 491 (69%)
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for information of higher commanders.
11. Lateral defense of boyaux must not be overlooked. 12. Wide turning movements are not possible. Enveloping movements are possible only on local attacks against small portions of the hostile line after it has been pierced. All main attacks are confined to purely frontal attacks. 13. The most important obstacle is barbed wire entanglements. 14. Communication (liaison) between and co-ordination and co-operation of, the different elements of a command is of the utmost importance. 15. Artillery co-operates more closely than ever with infantry. Its reconnaissance officers accompany infantry lines in order to obtain information. _There is a certain number of artillery observers attached to each battalion of infantry_. The general method of attack is to smother the defense with a torrent of explosive shells, kept up incessantly for one or more days, and shatter the defense so they will offer but slight resistance to the infantry; then rush forward with the infantry and seize the positions while the enemy is demoralized, and consolidate them before reenforcements can be brought up. The artillery bombardment is necessary to prepare the way for the infantry advance. It has for its objects: (1) To destroy the hostile artillery, wire entanglements and infantry trenches. |
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