During the delivery of the assault on the enemy’s position, the men will cheer, bugles be sounded, and the pipes played. If the assault is successful, the attacking troops should pursue the enemy with their fire and re-form for a further advance. =138.= _Rallying and Redistribution._ After each successful assault, the task of rallying the men, and of forming a defensive line until the advance can be resumed, will generally fall to the subordinate leaders. This will be much facilitated if there are bodies in rear, well in hand, which can be sent forward to carry on the attack, and, as may sometimes be possible, rush the enemy’s second position before he has recovered from the loss of the first. All important points won should be at once placed in a state of defence, with a view to serving as supporting points for a fresh advance, S. =136= (7), and “Combined Training,” S. =122=. =139.= _Holding Attacks._ 1. In order to prevent the enemy from reinforcing that portion of his line against which it is intended to drive home the decisive attack, other portions of his line, and particularly that portion near which his reserves are believed to be, must be threatened or held by a display of force. In order to mislead the enemy as to the direction of the main attack, and to prevent him, when the crisis of the fight approaches, from thinning those portions of the line which are only threatened, and meeting the decisive attack with nearly his whole strength, the troops engaged in the holding attack must act with vigour when the attack develops, and be prepared to convert their demonstration into a real attack as soon as the right moment arrives. 2. These troops must therefore be in sufficient strength to enable them to advance against the enemy’s position with a good chance of success. As a rule, it will be advisable in the preliminary stages of the action to extend the firing-line at wide intervals, to keep the reinforcing lines well back, and, owing to the danger of a counter-attack, not to permit the firing-line, unless the ground is peculiarly favourable, to advance within decisive range, S. =145= (2). Sudden outbursts of heavy fire at different points, and the use of machine guns, will give effect to demonstrations. =140.= _Feints._ Feints are in their nature much like holding attacks, but are usually carried out by small forces which have little offensive power. The feint should not be made prematurely, otherwise its true character will become apparent to the enemy too soon. The endeavour of the commander of a party told off to feint will be to divert the enemy’s attention from the locality whence the decisive attack will be launched. He should be allowed great independence in action. =141.= _Flank Attacks._