First teach him to watch that part of the parapet and the loopholes on which he marches in order to forestall the shots of the enemy; then to aim rapidly, throwing the piece to the shoulder to get the first shot at the enemy who is aiming at him; begin by bringing up the piece and aiming slowly, and then increase the rapidity of movement; the man should observe each time where his line of sight strikes. He should have his magazine filled for hand-to-hand fighting and know how to refill it lying down or while running. Thanks to this precaution, after having emptied my magazine at the first entanglement, I was able to hold my own with full magazine against three Germans who got in my way. RÔLE OF THE SECOND LINE, THE “REINFORCEMENTS.”[9] _Its Method of Action._ The most important question concerning the penetration of the enemy’s line is perhaps the action of the reinforcements (_renforts_), and as that action has always fallen short, we have never been able to attain the victory which has seemed so nearly within our reach. The inertia of the second line and its expenditure without effect arise from two causes. To take the first trenches is a task relatively easy; the artillery preparation is minutely regulated; the terrain is well known, and the attack is therefore free and open and is pushed through without reservation. But when the first lines have been crossed, one enters thenceforth into the domain of the unknown, one is on the lookout for ambushes and apprehends an unexpected trap at each step; this disquietude slows up the march and quickly transforms into a surprise the least activity of the enemy. A resistance which starts up suddenly intimidates and paralyses the second line immediately, because the fear of the enemy leads to exaggeration of his strength and the mental disturbance prevents locating and estimating him rapidly. In addition, the reinforcements have during long hours of waiting been subjected to a very demoralizing artillery fire. All these causes so influence the second line that when it goes into action, it attacks without spirit and soon stops. The second cause arises, as I have previously mentioned, from a faulty conception of the action of the second line.