Chapter 57

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