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