USE AND IMPROVEMENT OF NATURAL COVER
_A screen or mask_ consists of hedges, crops, underbrush, etc., which
hide the rifleman without, however, protecting him from fire.
_Cover or shelter_ consists of walls, earthworks, etc., which protect
the rifleman from fire.
On the battlefield, natural features that screen and shelter should be
utilized as much as possible, as they possess the following advantages
over artificial works:
(_a_) Their organization demands less work.
(_b_) Concealment is easier.
(_c_) From their nature, it is difficult for the enemy to estimate, for
a given length, the number of men sheltered.
They possess, however, certain disadvantages:
(_a_) The protection is sometimes so excellent that, morally as well
as materially, it becomes difficult to leave the shelter. Example:
quarries with obstructed exits. Therefore, good judgment must be
exercised in the selection.
(_b_) Some of them are too visible. Example: large hedges. In this case
their range can be easily found.
As a general rule, do not occupy them uniformly and do not change the
appearance of the organized parts.
Organization of the cover:
To organize the cover which protects troops from fire, construct
suitable positions for firing and resting. To utilize the screens which
merely hide the troops without protecting them from fire, dig trenches
behind these screens in the following manner:
(_a_) Choose the points which give the best field of fire.
(_b_) Construct cover for firing.
(_c_) Construct a shelter.
The constructions are usually "individual" in the first period of work;
afterwards, they are organized "collectively." The covers are: (1)
for riflemen lying down, (2) for riflemen sitting down, and (3) for
riflemen standing up.
[Illustration: Plate 27a.--Use of the cover without improvement.]
[Illustration: Plate 27b.--First period.]
[Illustration: Plate 27c.--Second period.
Progressive improvement of the cover.]
INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION OF NATURAL COVER
Examples of hasty individual cover behind trees, bushes, or branches:
(_a_) Fallen tree (logs or branches), the height of which is at a
maximum of 1 foot above the ground:
(_b_) Fallen tree, the top of which is more than 1 foot above the
ground.
[Illustration: Plate 27d.--First period.]
[Illustration: Plate 27e.--Second period]
[Illustration: Plate 27f.--Third period.]
Wood which does not afford sufficient protection against bullets
must be reinforced by earth at the right and against the cover 1 foot
behind. Plates 27d, 27e, and 27f show the progressive improvement of
the cover.
[Illustration: Plate 27g.--Sharp ridges, furrows, or top of a crest at
the end of a gentle slope.]
Examples of hasty individual covers behind a furrow, a crest, a heap of
sand or earth:
Dig the ground as near as possible to crest _A_ of the furrow in the
manner indicated for the cover installed behind a fallen tree more than
1 foot high.
[Illustration: Plate 27h.--Narrow furrows.]
Use the earth excavated between furrows _A_ and _B_ to build up the
earth between furrows _B_ and _C_ and fill up furrow _C_; continue
afterwards as for the sharp ridge.
[Illustration: Plate 27i.--Low wall of earth, or earth and sand heaps,
more than 2 feet high (two methods, _A_ or _B_).]
(_A_) Lower the height about 8 inches; throw the earth forward. Dig a
trench as indicated in the figure.
(_B_) Make a loophole in the pile of earth, showing oneself as little
as possible. Improve the firing position by making a place for the
right leg and an elbow rest.
Examples of hasty shelters (individual) arranged behind a large stone
or heap of stones.
A heap of stones, the top of which is 1 foot at a maximum above the
ground:
[Illustration: Plate 27j.--First period.]
[Illustration: Plate 27k.--Second period.]
GENERAL ORGANIZATION OF NATURAL COVER
This consists in connecting up and coordinating the individual work
under the direction of the squad commander. The work should be carried
out on the lines adopted for the individual work and the rules
prescribed for the construction of artificial cover (profiles, depths,
various shelters) should be followed as far as possible. In arranging
the cover, the squads should utilize the natural features of the
terrain.
[Illustration: Plate 27l.--Arrangement for a mound of earth.]
[Illustration: Plate 27m.--Arrangement for a dry ditch.]
[Illustration: Plate 27n.--Arrangement for a sunken road defended on
the side towards the enemy.]
[Illustration: Plate 27o.--Arrangement for a sunken road defended from
the rear.]
Ditches full of water, drains, streams:
[Illustration: Plate 27p.--Arrangement of a large ditch.]
[Illustration: Plate 27q.--Arrangement of a ditch full of water.]
Ordinary roads, road and railroad embankments, and sunken roads:
[Illustration: Plate 27r.--Arrangement of an ordinary road defended on
the side toward the enemy.]
[Illustration: Plate 27s.--Same defended from the rear.]
[Illustration: Plate 27t.--Road embankment, defended from the rear.]
[Illustration: Plate 27u.--Arrangement of a railroad embankment.]
[Illustration: Plate 27v.--Arrangement of a sunken road.]
Hedges and woods:
Dig a trench behind the hedge and throw the earth against it; make
openings in the hedge to facilitate view and fire (Plate 27w). If the
hedge is low, deepen the trench, but make the parapet lower than the
hedge which masks it.
[Illustration: Plate 27w.--Arrangement of a hedge.]
[Illustration: Plate 27x.--Arrangement of the edge of a wood.]
Avoid destroying the natural appearance of the wood; do not cut the
trees and brush on a certain depth, but cut off branches where
necessary to obtain a field of fire. Behind this strip cut the brush
and small trees so as to make a path 3 to 4 yards wide. Construct a
trench behind the mask of trees. The parapet can be raised up to 2 or
even 3 feet. Construct abatis on the parts of the border of the wood,
where it will not interfere with the fire.
Walls:
[Illustration: Plate 27y.--Arrangement of a wall 2 feet 8 inches high.]
[Illustration: Plate 27z.--Arrangement of a wall 8 feet high.]
[Illustration: Plate 28.--Arrangement of a wall more than 8 feet high
without making loopholes.]
[Illustration: Plate 28a.--Arrangement of an iron fence built on a low
wall.]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: This chapter reprinted from _Infantry Journal_.]