Bombers' Training, and Application of Same in Trench WarfareFerris, J. R., Lieutenant
History
Bombers' Training, and Application of Same in Trench Warfare
Ferris, J. R., Lieutenant
Intrenchments
(C) At the earliest opportunity it will be necessary to connect up
our new position with our old by a continuation of what were formerly
our sapheads, to enable us to get in our supply of reinforcements,
materials, food, water and ammunition.
(D) It will be the duty of men reinforcing to bring forward a supply of
ammunition, bombs and materials for reconstruction and consolidation of
the new position and a supply of food and water.
(E) Arrangements will have been previously made for a line of
communication men to establish telephone and telegraph communication
and to maintain same.
LECTURE VII.
ENFILADE ATTACK.
=Enfilading Parties and Reliefs.= Having occupied the section of
trenches as pre-arranged, and consolidated same under cover of bomb
fire, we use this as a base from which to extend our position to the
flanks and front along the enemy’s trenches, by means of enfilading
parties.
An enfilading party may consist of three or more men. When it consists
of three men, they are the BAYONET MAN, the THROWER, and the CARRIER.
The bayonet man is really a trench scout, who proceeds ahead and is
armed with a RIFLE and BAYONET, or, better still, a PAIR OF PISTOLS.
His duties are to spy out the trench and pass back information to
the thrower as to the locality and direction of the bays in front.
In giving information to the thrower as to the location of different
points which he wants bombed, the clock method may be used; the
thrower’s position being the centre of an imaginary dial and twelve
o’clock directly in front and in line with the section of the trench
from which the thrower is throwing. It can be easily seen that by
this method information can be given the thrower as to the bends and
twists of the trench. Another method the trench scout may use is merely
pointing the direction in which he wants the bomb placed, and denoting
the number of yards distant. The trench scout should be very careful
in watching out for loopholes through traverses from which the enemy
could guard against the approach of an enfilading party, also give
information when an island traverse or communicating trench is reached.
In the former case it will be necessary for an additional scout, one
to proceed each way. In the latter case, sandbags will probably be
required to double-block the communicating trench and information
passed back to this effect so that supply men can rush them forward for
that purpose.
It is necessary that the trench scout be a very wide-awake, careful and
resourceful man, and have his wits about him at all times.
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