Part 6

During an attack three grenades per man are issued to each unit detailed to open the attack, and these grenades are turned over to the bombers or used by the men themselves if necessary. When out of grenades themselves, the men take over the casualty’s, and it is the duty of a casualty when he is so able to, to leave his grenades and ammunition to the care of some other man before “going down.” Small depots should be established at frequent intervals along the trenches from which the attack starts, with careful consideration given to their safety from shell fire, if at all possible. Other depots must be established in the support and assembly trenches, and these will generally be supplied through a central station probably controlled by a brigade or division.

Before starting the attack, every man and party should have had explained them in detail exactly what is required of them, and generally the following system is adopted:

First bombing party of group--

Two bayonet men to protect grenade throwers,

First bomber,

First carrier,

Second bomber,

Second carrier,

Group leader (N. C. O.),

Two bayonet men to protect the group leader and the rear of party.

* * * * *

Second bombing party--

Formation as above. The head of the party must be in touch with the rear of the first party. Officer commanding in rear of second party.

* * * * *

Third and fourth bombing party--

Formation as above. Second in command in touch with rear of fourth party.

Machine gun detachment, if available or considered necessary.

The machine gunners are generally used at the rear of a party, so that they can bring their guns into action from behind and sweep the top of the ground around the trenches being attacked, in order to prevent an overland attack on the bombing party. In all these formations the number of men detailed must allow for casualties. Rapidity of movement is essential, as crawling and stalking will give the waiting enemy an advantage. The leading bayonet men generally move along the trench, from corner to corner, in a succession of rushes, followed by first bomber, and the thrower hurls as directed by the bayonet man. The duty of the bayonet man is to protect the thrower and carrier at all costs. Second bomber and carrier follow the leader, keeping one corner behind to replace casualties. Each party must be regarded as reserves to the party in front, and some method must be found every time a new attack is carried out for giving the aerial service notice of trenches occupied. If the head of a party is checked, that which has been gained must be held by throwing up a barricade. In all attacks bombing parties are supported by a party of sandbag men, under an experienced N. C. O., so that while bombers keep the enemy at bay a strong barracade may be put up as quickly as possible.

This is generally done by placing what is known as a demolition tube about 1½ feet from the bottom of the trench and in each side of the trench. This will bring down enough of the sides of the trench to make a good enough barricade for the moment, but great care must be taken that while watching and protecting the barricade the enemy do not come overland and drop in behind the barricade, with disastrous results to the garrison.

Although the main defense of a line of trenches is infantry supported by artillery and machine gun fire, parties of bombers should be distributed throughout the front system of trenches. The best position is in the support trenches close to the main communication trenches, where they can make an immediate counter-attack should the enemy succeed in gaining a footing. A bombing trench back about 20 yards in the rear from which bombs may be thrown into the front trench, is a distinct advantage.

The bombs stored in the trench should be kept ready-fused and with detonators inserted. They must be distributed in a number of dry, enclosed, as nearly as bomb-proof depots as possible, established at frequent intervals along the trenches. A good type of grenade depot is one built in a “T” shaped trench, slightly off the main trench.

EXPLOSIVES

Relative strengths of explosives: Gunpowder 5; cordite 8; dynamite 9; guncotton 10; gelignite 10; gelatine dynamite 11; blasting gelatine 12. Guncotton is available in two forms, wet and dry. The dry, while being utilized in making bombs, is mostly used to explode the wet guncotton. For this purpose it is made up in one-ounce primers, which are perforated in the center for a detonator. These primers are packed in metal cylinders, each containing ten threaded on a tape. Each case contains six cylinders. In this state, although not as powerful, dry guncotton is much more dangerous to handle than wet, being susceptible to both shock and friction.

Wet guncotton is that which has absorbed 30% of its weight in water, and is made up in 15-ounce slabs 6 x 3 x 1⅜ inches, and packed in tin foil and air-tight boxes containing 16 slabs each.

Whether wet or dry, guncotton, like other explosives, can be exploded by one detonator, so long as the charges or slabs are in direct contact with each other.

Dynamites include the following compounds: (1) dynamite; (2) gelignite; (3) gelatine dynamite; (4) blasting gelatine. All of these are now being used. Their advantages over guncotton are that, being soft and plastic, they can be used in bombs where it would be impossible to use guncotton slabs or primers on account of size and shape. Dynamite and its compounds freeze very easily (42° F.), becoming hard and brittle. In this state they are exceptionally dangerous, and they should be thawed before use, but this process should not be attempted by any one other than a competent person. Wooden implements should always be used for cutting and piercing holes for detonators in any of these explosives, and care should be taken to protect them from damp, as when wet they become highly dangerous. Dynamite explosives are usually supplied in parchment cartridges weighing two ounces, and are packed in boxes of 5 or 50 pounds.

Lyddite and picric acid are both high explosives, used mostly in shells. They are easily melted and in this way the shell is filled. They are very safe and difficult to detonate.

Ammonal. A new explosive which is absolutely safe to handle, not being sensitive to shock or even bullets. It does not freeze and can only be exploded by means of a detonator. It easily absorbs moisture and should be kept dry.

Cordite. Is made in strands and is the explosive used in small arms ammunition.

BOMBS

There are three kinds of bombs: (1) _percussion_; (2) _ignition_;, and (3) _mechanical_. It is not possible to describe every bomb in use under these three headings, but the most typical are selected for description, although it does not follow that they are all in use at the present time, but will give a fairly good idea of what is required.

PERCUSSION BOMBS.

1. Hand Grenade No. 1.

2. Hand Grenade No. 2, formerly known as Mexican Hand Grenade.

3. Rifle grenade No. 3, formerly known as Hale’s Rifle Grenade.

_Hand Grenade No. 1_ consists of a brass case screwed on to a block of wood, to which is fixed a small cane handle about half way up the case. Outside it is a cast iron ring serrated into 16 parts. The upper end is covered by a moveable cap with a striker pin in the center. On the cap are the words “Remove,” “Travel,” and “Fire” in duplicate. These are marked in red and can be made to correspond with red pointers painted on case. To prepare a bomb, turn cap so that pointer is at “Remove,” take off cap, insert detonator in hole and turn it to the left until the spring on the flange is released and goes into position under the pin; replace cap and turn to “Travel,” which is a safety position. When the bomb is to be thrown, turn cap to “Fire” and then remove safety pin. This bomb explodes on impact, and to insure its falling on the head, streamers are attached. Care should be taken that streamers do not get entangled. The bomb must be thrown well into the air.

_Hand Grenade No. 2_ is similar to the above, except that a special detonator is screwed in from the head, and that the striker pin, in this case, is at the bottom. The detonator having been inserted in the bomb is ready for throwing as soon as the safety pin has been drawn.

_Rifle Grenade No. 3_, more commonly known as Hale’s Rifle Grenade, consists of a serrated steel case filled with T.N.T. and a composite explosive. At the bottom of the case is a brass ring fitted with wind vanes, which keeps in place two small steel retaining plugs, securing the striker. In order to prepare this grenade for firing, the steel rod attached must be put down the bore of the rifle. The safety pin is then withdrawn, the collar pulled down and the wind vane given a slight turn. The rifle is then loaded with a special cartridge containing 43 strands of cordite. When charging the rifle the bolt must be well pushed home. When the rifle is fired, the explosion of the cartridge speeds the grenade on its way and the air passing through wind vanes causes the ring mentioned above to unscrew, and the two retaining plugs to fall out. The striker is now free, and when the grenade reaches its destination and comes in contact with the ground the shock compresses the creep spring and the needle of the striker is forced into the detonator, exploding the grenade.

Special screw-in detonators are supplied with this grenade, as well as in Grenade No. 2, and care should be taken not to mix the two detonators, as the Rifle Grenade Detonator is slightly longer, and if fixed in the wrong grenade will cause premature explosion and much sadness. These grenades have an accurate range of from 250 to 350 yards.

IGNITION BOMBS. The following bombs come under this heading:

Hand Grenade No. 6.--Grenade light friction pattern.

Hand Grenade No. 7--Grenade heavy friction pattern.

Hand Grenade No. 8--Formerly known as double-cylinder light pattern.

Hand Grenade No. 9.--Formerly known as double-cylinder heavy pattern.

Battye Hand Grenade.

Pitcher Hand Grenade.

Oval Hand Grenade.

Ball Hand Grenade.

_Hand Grenades Nos. 6 and 7_ consist of metal cases filled with T.N.T and a composite explosive and are exactly alike, except that No. 7 contains shrapnel bullets or scrap iron, while No. 6 contains only explosive. At the top of each case is a place to fix the friction igniter, which is supplied separately. When these bombs are to be used, detonator fuse and igniter are put in and firmly fixed. Before throwing the becket on, head of igniter should be pulled smartly off.

_Hand Grenades Nos. 8 and 9_ are similar to the above, except that the fuse is lighted by a Nobel Patent Lighter[1]. The _Battye Grenade_ consists of a grooved cast iron cylinder filled with explosive. The top is closed by a wooden plug pierced centrally for insertion of detonator and fire.

[1] _The Nobel lighter_ consists of two cardboard tubes, one fitting over the other. Inside the top end of the outer tube there is a layer of friction composition; fixed to the top end of the inner tube is a forked brass friction head, which is held in position by a safety pin fastened through both tubes. Inside the other end of the inner tube is a small copper band, into which the fuse is fitted. At the joint of the two tubes there is a narrow tape band with a loose end. To light the fuse, pull off tape and safety pin, then press down outer tube and turn slightly. This lighter has a five-second fuse attached.

_The Pitcher Hand Grenade_ is very similar to the Battye, only different in that it is slightly heavier and having a different patent lighter. This lighter is somewhat complicated and special instructions should be given before the grenade is used.

_The Oval Hand Grenade_ is an egg-shaped cast iron receptacle filled with ammonal. One egg has a steel plug and the other a flanged brass plug bored centrally, to which a hollow copper tube is fixed to take the detonator. This grenade is set off by a Brock fuse and lighter[2].

[2] _The Brock lighter_ consists of a match-head and fuse combined. The head consists of a small cardboard cup filled with friction composition and covered with waterproof paper. With this type of lighter an armlet covered with match composition is worn by the bomber on the left forearm. To ignite fuse, first pull off waterproof paper and then strike head against armlet. Time of fuse 5 seconds.

_The Ball Hand Grenade_ consists of a cast iron sphere, 3 inches in diameter, filled with ammonal and closed by a screwed steel plug which has attached to it a covered tube to take detonator in the center of grenade. It is also lighted by a Brock lighter.

JAM-POT BOMBS. In the early stages of the war it was found necessary to make bombs on the spot. The material used was generally a jam tin filled with shrapnel bullets, scrap iron, powdered glass and grass, etc. This was exploded by 2 one-ounce primers, two ounces gelignite, blastene or ammonal, and detonated by a No. 6 or 7 detonator, to which was attached a five-second fuse. The time could be regulated by length of fuse.

MECHANICAL BOMBS. _Hand Grenade No. 5_, known as _Mills’ Hand Grenade_. Mills’ Hand Grenade No. 5 weighs about one and one-half pounds and is in constant and steady use at the front, being the best known of all grenades. It consists of an oval cast iron case, containing explosives and serrated to provide numerous missiles on detonation. In the center is a spring striking pin, kept back by a lever or handle, which, in its turn, is held in position by a safety pin.

Detonators and percussion caps connected by a short length of fuse are supplied with these bombs. When the bomb is to be used the bottom is unscrewed and the combined detonator and percussion cap is inserted in the space provided for it, the percussion cap being placed in the boring under the striking pin. When this is done the bottom is screwed on again as tightly as possible, using the special spanner provided for this in each box. Before throwing, the safety pin is removed and the bomb held with the lever in the palm of the hand. When the bomb is actually thrown the lever or handle is released; this releases the spring, which forces striker down on to the percussion cap, ignites fuse, sets off detonator and explodes bomb.

GAS WARFARE

The use of poisonous and asphyxiating gases, which was first adopted by the Germans in the Ypres salient in April of 1915, is now becoming an accepted fact in the present war. It is to a certain extent in one shape or another, before one every day of his life in or near the trenches. Every one should therefore be well acquainted with the various ways in which gases are used in an attack, as well as precautionary methods to be taken in counteracting its effects while on the defense.

In an attack there are only two methods which can be used--emanation and shells and grenades. The emanation method can only be employed under very favorable circumstances and in a few cases where rather a long chance was taken, it reacted very badly on the enemy. The first thing to make a gas attack successful must be a favorable breeze of about five miles an hour, as if the wind blows any faster it does not give the gas a chance to settle down into the trenches. The object of this gas is to create a poisonous and irritant atmosphere, and this is accomplished either by a gas forced through tubes in the direction of the enemy, or a liquefied gas stored in cylinders under very high pressure. To be successful, as before mentioned, the wind must be a steady breeze of not much over 5 miles per hour, no rain, and the element of surprise must figure very largely. The gas used must be heavier than air and not allow of being held back by any protective measures taken by the enemy. If the wind is too strong, it is obvious that any gas employed will be carried too quickly over the enemy’s trenches, so that it cannot settle to any degree which will allow of its obtaining the desired effect. If the wind is too light, it will be carried up into the air by local eddies, or may even be blown back.

For these reasons it is impossible to fix a definite hour for gas attacks, as everything depends on the wind.

Arsenic and phosphorus compounds are used in the tube method, and their presence can be detected at once by the smell of garlic. Should such gases get into your own trenches, chloride of lime scattered freely about will disperse them.

The gases used in liquid form from cylinders are a mixture of chlorine and other matter annoying to the ordinary infantry officer and soldier. If successful in surprising the enemy, their trenches should be cleared at once, but if the element of surprise is not there and time is given for defensive measures to be taken, the effect is lost. In an assault following a gas attack, men should always wear smoke helmets for at least 30 minutes after the gas dissemination has ceased, and the assaulting party must have the strictest orders not to remove their helmets until the officer in charge has given the command.

In the shell and grenade method of dissemination, shells and bombs are used containing liquid gas, or a substance which gives off irritant fumes.

It is easy to tell a gas shell when it lights as it comes down, the same as a “dud” shell; that is, one which does not explode, the outer casing of the shell simply collapsing. The liquid soaks into the ground, and men should be warned against standing over this ground and inhaling any of the fumes, which are very slight and rather hard to notice but very powerful and with very quick action. When a man thinks he has inhaled any of this gas he should at once be made to lie down, not undergo any exercise whatever, and as soon as possible have him carried out on a stretcher to the dressing station.

_Tear shells_, which are used in great profusion during an attack, are for the moment blinding in their effect, causing smarting of the eyes and a great amount of watering. This effect is only for a minute, and the men must be impressed with the fact that if they continue moving forward instead of sitting down and rubbing their eyes, it will pass off almost at once. These shells are also greatly used against the artillery during heavy bombardments. Adequate protection is furnished in the shape of goggles to fit over the eyes, as the gas has no other effect whatever.

As in other branches of military art, the best means of learning defense is to have a thorough knowledge of attack. Thus, direction of wind must always be noted, and if favorable for an enemy attack, special observers must be placed to give warning and surprise guarded against in every way. Sentries are specially placed in the trench, and often in listening posts, to get early warnings of an impending attack. If a sentry at a listening post discovers that a gas attack is being made, he at once warns the sentry at the end of his cord or wire, giving a pre-arranged signal. This sentry passes the alarm on a Strombon horn, which is something similar to a Klaxton, and will automatically give a warning which can be heard for 3 or 4 miles, and which lasts about a minute.

When a horn is not in use, generally shell cases are hung in the trenches. These are beat on by the sentry who is warned and taken up all along the line. It is then the duty of that sentry not for the instant to put on his gas helmet, but to proceed along the front line waking all the occupants of dugouts, etc., who may be sleeping in the area guarded by him. Every man without exception stands to in his trench with his helmet on and will not reënter dugouts until first given permission by officer or N. C. O.

These attacks are generally carried out, when possible, just before dawn or during the middle of the night, and the only warning given before the actual gas reaches a trench, is a slight hissing sound which is made and can be easily heard as the gas escapes from the cylinder. Great care must be taken when the wind is favorable for an attack that this sound be listened for.

Any man wounded during a gas attack must not be placed in a dugout or on the bottom of a trench, and even if considerable shell fire be going on it is far better that he be laid out in the open on the top of the ground, where he will have a far better chance than lying in the bottom of the trench or in a dugout. After gas has passed through a trench system, and before the officer thinks that it is safe to remove the helmets, the trenches must be sprayed with a machine known as Vermeral Sprayer. A man with this sprayer on his back and wearing his helmet, slowly traverses the trench working the spray. This small tank on his back is charged with nothing more or less than “hypo” (sodium hyposulphite), about 6 pounds of which is dissolved in a bucket of water and a handful of ordinary washing soda added.

Garden syringes and buckets may be used if sprayers are not available, but their effect is not so quick.

When the officer thinks that the trench has been sprayed sufficiently and all gas has gone, he may then allow the men to take off their helmets, but not to reënter their dugouts until they have been thoroughly cleaned.

This is sometimes done by fanning the gas out, sometimes by building a fire and smoking it out, and by the use of the sprayer. Great care must be taken that no one enters until every last vestige of gas is gone, and it is generally well that the medical officer should inspect infected dugouts before allowing the men to return.

GAS MASKS OR RESPIRATORS

The Box Respirator at present in use on the Western Front is the latest improvement, and proof against any gas that so far has been used, but should such a thing happen that a man be caught without his box respirator, any of the following improvised methods are good:

1. Wet and ring out any woolen article, such as a stocking, muffler or cap comforter, so as to form a thick pad large enough to cover the nose and mouth, and press firmly over both.

2. Place in a scarf, stocking or handkerchief, a pad of about three handfuls of damp earth, and tie firmly over the nose and mouth.

3. A wet cap comforter will be found useful as additional protection, especially against certain gases other than chlorine.

4. A cap comforter wetted with water and soda solution or tea, folded into eight folds and firmly held over the nose.

5. A sock folded fourfold similarly wetted and held or tied. If the sock or comforter has been soaked in soda solution it will act efficiently when dry, though, if possible, it should be moist. The spare tapes from puttees may be used for tying on the sock or cap comforter.

6. Any loose fabric, such as a sock, sandbag, woolen scarf or comforter, soaked in urine, then wrung out sufficiently to allow of free breathing and tied tightly over the nose and mouth.

In the absence of any other cloths, the flannel waistbands issued for winter use could be used for this purpose.

Every officer defending a trench against an enemy gas attack should endeavor to collect information whenever possible to be sent to headquarters regarding the capture of apparatus used by the enemy either for disseminating or protection from gas. If a gas shell attack is made, unexploded shells or portions of them should be sent; the time of day, duration of attack, color, taste or smell of gas used, effect on the eyes, breathing, and all other symptoms should be noted. New gases may be used at any time, and speedy information greatly helps the adopting of protective measures.