ARTICLE VI.

COMBAT.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.

266. Combat will be either offensive or defensive. Decisive results can usually be obtained only by the offensive. The defensive should as a rule only be adopted temporarily or locally, with a view to eventual assumption of the offensive.

267. Engagements are usually preceded by operations the object of which is to locate the enemy without committing the main body to action. These preliminaries begin with the action of independent cavalry and culminate in the contact of the advance guards.

268. An engagement generally presents three distinct phases, namely, the preparatory stage, the decisive action, and the completion. The corresponding distribution of troops should be such as to carry out the following general plan:

(a) To engage the enemy, wherever he may appear, with the troops necessary to stop him, to hold him to his positions, to inflict loss and cause him to call up reserves, at the same time leaving him in doubt as to the point where the decisive blow is to fall.

(b) To withhold a part of the available forces for a powerful effort at the decisive point.

(c) To maintain a reserve, screened from the enemy's view and protected from loss, to take part in a vigorous pursuit in case of success, or to avert complete disaster in case of failure.

269. These phases will not always be fully developed. The preparatory stage may be brief and be followed at once by the decisive attack. Sometimes the enemy may be surprised by a flank attack, or inferior numbers may be overwhelmed before support can reach them. In general, however, when large forces face each other ready for battle, the engagement will take the course indicated.

FIRE.

270. The efficacy of fire depends upon its accuracy, its direction with reference to the objective, and its volume. Accuracy and effi

ciency of fire require knowledge of the effect of ground and sufficient control to direct the fire. Volume of fire depends upon the number of rifles or pieces in action and the rapidity with which they are fired. However, increase of rapidity beyond certain limits impairs the accuracy and therefore diminishes the efficacy of fire. Concentration of superior forces at decisive points within effective range is therefore necessary to secure preponderance of fire.

As the conditions are never the same, no fixed rules for the attainment of the superiority of fire can be laid down beyond the necessity of securing the greatest volume of fire possible. This is of great importance, for it is certain that an advance against even an inferior force has but small prospect of success without the preparation and assistance of superior fire.

271. The terms applied to ranges of small arms and field artillery may be stated as follows:

efficacy of In most

This classification assumes conditions favorable to the fire, such as clear atmosphere and an exposed target. cases important modifications would be caused by the amount of shelter afforded by the terrain.

ADVANTAGES OF THE DEFENSIVE.

272. The defensive has the choice of position. This will be selected so as to afford shelter to the defenders and compel the assailants to pass over open ground where they may be subjected to a heavy fire. The strength of the position may be increased by field fortification. Some of the trenches and their occupants may be concealed, thus forming an ambuscade and subjecting_the enemy to a fire, the origin of which it is difficult to locate. Furthermore, the trenches may be made untenable for the assailant by arranging for enfilading and cross fire from other trenches farther to the rear. Ranges in the foreground will usually be measured and marked, and an ample supply of ammunition, water, and food placed in the trenches. The defender's troops are and

remain under better control. Their fire can be concentrated on important objectives. The aim of the defenders should be much better than that of the assailants who can not as a rule fire their rifles from a rest, and who, moreover, are unsteady from the exertions of the advance. The losses of the defenders, who are behind cover should be small compared with the casualties of their opponents who must pass over open ground. And, finally, the morale of the defenders is subjected to less strain, for they can make effective use of their weapons for a long time before the enemy's superior forces can come near enough to imperil withdrawal from the position.

ADVANTAGES OF THE OFFENSIVE.

273. The commander of the force on the offensive has the great advantage of the initiative; that is, he makes the lead to which the defender must follow suit. He has a specific object, whereas the defender has only the general object of repelling the adversary. He can make feigned attacks against various parts of the enemy's position, or merely occupy him all along the line, while massing superior forces against a single point. The defender, on the other hand, must meet the decisive attack wherever it may fall. The assailants have the confidence of their numerical and moral superiority. When the die is cast and the attack is on they no longer meditate upon the consequences; they look forward, not backward. The defenders, shaken by superiority of fire and seeing the steady advance of over whelming numbers, realize the effect of impending contact and of resulting enfilade or reverse fire and seldom wait for the final rush. The defender's whole line generally gives way as soon as it is turned or penetrated.

SUMMARY.

274. Increased accuracy and range of small arms have greatly diminished the chances of success in a frontal attack; the comparative invisibility of the firer, due to the neutral color of his uniform and the use of smokeless powder, also adds materially to the power of the defensive. Without superiority of fire we may assume the frontal attack as impracticable. If we consider two lines consisting of infantry only, this superiority can not be secured unless the number of rifles put into action by the assailants is much greater than the number opposing them; or, unless the assailants are decidedly better shots than the defenders; or, when the defenders are unskillful in the use of cover as against assailants who make perfect use of the ground; or, when the defenders are surprised; or, in case the de

fenders have been cowed by previous defeat and the assailants have an unquestionable moral ascendency over them.

Frontal attacks are not impossible, but in order to be successful the assailant must gain superiority of fire and be willing to pay the price of victory.

275. In order to avoid heavy loss it will be necessary to resort to thin lines of skirmishers. On the other hand, a sufficiently heavy fire can only be secured by placing as many rifles as possible in the firing line.

At parts of the front where serious attack is not intended, thin lines of skirmishers well supplied with ammunition should be employed, but in the decisive attack heavy lines and large expenditure of ammunition are necessary.

276. Nearly all of the factors which make frontal attack difficult inure to the advantage of the offensive in enveloping and flanking attacks. For example, the longer the range of weapons the greater the power of convergence of fire on salients of the enemy's line. And the neutral color of uniform which hides the firer on the defensive, at the same time favors the offensive in concealing turning movements.

277. While the advance in small arms has benefited the defensive, improvement of field artillery has increased the advantages of the offensive, whether in frontal or flank attack. The great range of field artillery enables the assailant to accumulate a crushing superiority at the desired point without being discovered by the defender, to open an accurate and overwhelming fire as a surprise, and thus to acquire an ascendency which becomes more pronounced as the power of the arm increases.

278. It is impossible to shoot an enemy out of a position. In order to avoid serious losses the defender only has to lie down behind cover. But a resolute and simultaneous advance on both the front and a flank of a position, made after thorough preparation by, and with the effective accompaniment of, artillery and infantry fire, will in the future, as it has been in the past, generally be successful.

279. The degree of dispersion necessary to avoid heavy loss makes control of the skirmish line difficult; hence the great importance of individual intelligence and courage, and of skill in shooting and in taking cover. In the final assault great moral stamina is indispensable.

THE ATTACK OF A POSITION.

280. The plan of attack.-The first duty of the commander is to obtain reliable information as to the numbers and position of the

enemy. He will then endeavor to ascertain the weak points of the enemy's position and will carefully note the places from which a concentrated fire may be brought to bear upon them. Partial engagements will often be necessary in order to gain possession of intermediate points from which operations against the enemy's main position may be initiated.

281. The key of a position is a point the capture of which menaces a large part of the enemy's position and renders it untenable.

The most vulnerable part of a position is generally one of the flanks, or if the enemy's line is too extended, some weak point of the front.

282. The commander decides upon his general plan of battle and communicates it to the troops in field orders. Sometimes the most suitable point for the decisive blow is not ascertained until after much fighting in the preparatory stage. With a large reserve in a central position under cover, advantage can be taken of the developments of the action.

283. In his orders for attack the commander in chief will state the position and probable designs of the enemy, and his own intentions, as far as developed. The commanders of the large units will be assigned to sections in which to operate, and objectives will be indicated to them. The time when operations are to begin, and the positions of field hospitals, the trains, and of the commander in chief, will be stated, as also the strength and position of the

reserve.

The special instructions sent to each commander should indicate clearly what is expected of him and whether assistance in emergencies will be available or not.

284. The general plan should be kept secret until the time for action is near, but should then be disseminated rapidly throughout the command.

285. The preparatory stage.-After the advance guard has come upon that of the enemy, or upon advanced detachments covering his front, his main position still remains to be determined. The enemy's precautions may be such that serious attacks, capturing detached positions and salients, and pushing back his advanced troops, may be necessary before the main line of his defense stands revealed.

286. The attacking troops will intrench themselves, if practicable, after each gain of ground to the front, and finally will face the enemy in his principal position at sufficiently close range and in ample force to hold him there.