SPECIAL OPERATIONS
I. Raids
The object of a raid is to attack a special point in the hostile lines,
destroy it, and return with prisoners or information. Such a point may
be a salient, blockhouse, observation or listening post, etc. The
purpose of the raid is both to prosecute the attrition of the enemy and
to gather information. A raid is made with or without a previous
artillery preparation. Usually, however, the barbed wire entanglements
of the enemy are subjected to a short and intense artillery shelling.
Whether or not an artillery bombardment is carried out, the tactics of
the raid are the same. Success of a raid depends entirely on its
preparation, which must be thorough and complete in every detail so that
every man in the raid knows his part.
[Illustration: RAID AGAINST A HOSTILE POINT]
=Preparation.= The troops employed for a raid are a specially chosen
unit, a platoon or half-company. Better still, a regiment may have a
detachment specially trained in this work. When a raid has been decided
upon against a particular point in the hostile line, the leader of the
raid has the following duties to perform:
1. He goes to the command post of the center of resistance opposite to
the point in the enemy’s line against which the raid is to be made. Here
he gathers all necessary information concerning the enemy by studying
maps and sketches, and comparing them with the ground. He also speaks
with occupants of the first line for the purpose of getting information;
and calls upon the commander of the center of resistance to send special
listening parties, if necessary, to the enemy’s line, observing
necessary precautions to prevent the enemy from becoming suspicious of a
contemplated raid.
From the detailed information, maps and sketches that the leader of the
raid has obtained from the headquarters of the center of resistance and
from his own reconnaissance, he lays out a model of the hostile point to
be attacked. This he does in the rear of his own sector. The model is
partially dug in so that the raiding detachment will have an exact
duplicate of the enemy’s lines to be raided to practice upon.
He now prepares the order for the execution of the raid, which contains
the following points:
1. =Purpose of the Raid.= To destroy such and such a dugout, machine gun
emplacement, etc., to make prisoners, to gather information, or to
prevent a contemplated gas attack on the part of the enemy.
2. =Troops Employed.= Number and designation of the different groups of
grenadiers and trench cleaners to be used, equipment of same, and
ammunition carried.
3. =Objective of the Raid.= The particular part of a trench, post,
blockhouse, etc.
4. =Precise Rôle of Each Group.= Disposition of the groups before the
raid in their own lines. This may be in the firing line or in “No Man’s
Land” in a shell hole reached by crawling at night.
Time and signal of departure.
Means of crossing the enemy’s barbed wire entanglements.
Points of the hostile line upon which each group is to make its attack.
Rôle of each group during the raid. Protection of the flank,
establishing barricades, proper execution of the raid.
Time or signal to return.
5. Co-operation of the infantry and artillery supporting the raid.
6. Supply of the attacking troops—grenade depots in the firing line.
In practicing the raid in the rear, on the model, the detachment must
repeat the execution of the raid at least five times. All the details of
the raid are foreseen and provided for. Each man is made thoroughly
proficient in his particular part in the raid, so that, in the confusion
and darkness, they will be able to reach their objective and carry out
their particular function. Each chief of group must be thoroughly
conversant with his duties. The leader of the raid personally conducts
the most important of these groups.
=Execution of the Raid.= The most important element of the execution of
a raid is speed, its time of duration being only from five to ten
minutes.
=Time.= If all the points in the enemy’s line to be attacked are
thoroughly known and located, the raid can be carried out during the
night. But if there is some lack of knowledge of the above mentioned
points, the raid must be carried out at dusk or dawn, so that the
objectives can be at least partly seen.
=Disposition of the Groups to Cross the Barbed Wire; Disposition of the
Troops before the Raid.= The distance of a raid should not be more than
fifty yards. For this purpose, the different groups must get into
position such a distance from the enemy’s lines either by silently
crawling across “No Man’s Land” or by profiting by a short preliminary
bombardment of a few minutes which will prevent the enemy’s sentinels
and watchers from perceiving them. Their disposition is usually made by
hiding or crouching in shell holes.
=Destruction of the Barbed Wire.= The different ways of destroying
barbed wire have been spoken of under Surprise Attacks in the chapter on
Defense of a Position.
=Signal of Departure.= Three methods can be used; previous designation
of the hour, use of a whistle, or by means of a rocket. Of these, the
last named is probably the best.
There are two different kinds of groups in the raiding party.
The flank groups, armed with hand grenades, protect the groups executing
the raid proper by shutting off all avenues of approach of the enemy.
Barricades are established by these groups by throwing grenades into the
trenches leading to the attacked area.
Between the flank groups, are the groups that carry out the proper
mission of the raid. They are armed with incendiary grenades, pistols,
and trench knives. Their function is to accomplish any particular
destruction of their mission and to capture prisoners.
=Infantry Supporting the Raid.= The riflemen of the garrison of the
center of resistance stand ready at the firing parapets to receive the
groups returning from the raid. The machine guns carry out an intense
fire on the flanks of the point raided to prevent the approach of
hostile reinforcements. The rifle grenadiers of the garrison execute
fire upon special points on the flanks or on the rear of the raided
area, such as machine gun emplacements, junction of boyaux, etc.
=Support of the Artillery.= If artillery is used in conjunction with the
raid, it may be employed before, during, or after the raid, or in any
combination of these periods.
During the raid, two kinds of fire are carried out, that of demolishing
the barbed wire entanglements, and special elements of the hostile
position that will hinder the raid. This is carried out by the light
artillery and trench mortars, principally the latter.
During the raid, the support artillery establishes protective curtains
of fire on both flanks and on the rear of the raided portion of the
enemy’s line. This is to neutralize the enemy’s defenses and to cut the
area off from communications or reinforcements. In other words, the
artillery will isolate by its fire the point of attack of the raid.
At the designated time for the return of the raid or at the signal of a
rocket sent up by the raiding party on reaching their own first line,
the support artillery establishes its usual defensive barrage in “No
Man’s Land.” It may also fire on the enemy’s position with shrapnel,
because at this time reinforcements are usually coming up into the
raided area. This latter fire may be repeated two or three times during
the ensuing hour.
II. Gas Warfare
Gas attacks may be carried out in two ways, by asphyxiating shells or by
waves of gas.
The shelling of a position with asphyxiating shells is made to
neutralize the action of its defenders and, if possible, to kill and
wound some of them. Asphyxiating shells are used in counter-battery fire
against the enemy’s artillery emplacements. They are also used for
shelling a woods in which troops are located and against strong points
of the hostile position, either during an offensive period or to carry
out attrition of the enemy. Such shelling is also carried out for an
offensive, either in the preparation or for the protection of the flanks
during the attack. Asphyxiating shells may be thrown on a village or
strong point in rear or on the flank of the enemy’s position where he
may organize a counterattack.
Gas waves are used against the enemy’s position with or without
following up with the infantry for a raid or an attack. Usually the
liquified gas is brought to the first lines in cylinders under heavy
pressure. These cylinders must be properly protected from hostile fire
until the time that they are to be used. With a favorable wind, the gas
is carried across “No Man’s Land” and into the enemy’s position. Gas
waves, of course, are more efficient than asphyxiating shells, but the
use of the former method is more difficult as it takes special apparatus
and a trained personnel, and can be used only under favorable
atmospheric conditions.
=Protections against Gas.= In general, protective measures against gas
waves are the same as against asphyxiating shells. The individual
protective apparatus is the gas mask. The essential part of a mask is
composed of several layers of porous material containing a chemical that
will neutralize the poisonous gas. The gas mask has an efficiency of
several hours. Each man carries a gas mask and there are also a certain
number kept in reserve in the different depots of the sector. Each gas
mask must be properly adjusted and it is the duty of each officer and
non-commissioned officer to ascertain that each man in the company has a
gas mask in good condition. He must always carry the same.
Each man is trained to put on his mask rapidly. Standing orders compel
the man to put on his gas mask immediately the alarm is given or upon
his detection of gas by color or odor. Frequent exercises are held to
perfect the men in putting on their gas masks rapidly. This drill may be
held at the same time as the “stand to” exercises are carried out. The
men must have confidence in their gas masks. For this purpose, each man
is sent through a “chlorine chamber” several times to give him
confidence that, although the gas may be of great density, it has no
disagreeable effects.
There are also collective protective apparatuses used in dugouts. Each
large shelter possesses such apparatus. Besides this, the entrances and
openings of each dugout will be closed by a double canvas impregnated
with a special chemical solution to neutralize the gas.
=Special Precautionary Measures.= First, there is established a system
of bells, sirens, and klaxons which are used by the watchers to give the
signal of alarm. This signal is taken up and repeated in all parts of
the position and to the rear. Careful observation on the part of a
garrison may detect signs of a coming gas attack. Metallic noises in the
hostile line may indicate the transportation of gas cylinders. Very
often the enemy will use little balloons to ascertain the velocity and
direction of the wind. Foggy weather is a special time of danger.
In each sector or regiment, an officer is in charge of the maintenance
of protective gas apparatus and all the measures against gas attack.
With the proper precautionary measures and application of the protective
measures, the gas attack is not very dangerous.
III. Liquid Fire
=Protection against Liquid Fire.= The enemy may make an assault with a
special detachment of liquid fire operators in the first line. The
object of these operators is to throw jets of liquid fire on the
occupants of the first line to allow the assaulting columns to penetrate
into the position without losses. The only means of combating such an
attack is to evacuate the part of the trenches against which the liquid
fire is directed, and move by the flanks. Machine guns and automatic
rifles should be established to bring flanking fire to bear against the
detachment of liquid fire operators. It is impossible to withstand a
liquid fire attack if the operators succeed in coming within sixty yards
before the garrison can man its parapets.
[Illustration]
IV. Mines
We will consider mines only from the point of view of defense by
infantry against them. This consideration will therefore have no
relation to mine warfare or the construction of countermines by
engineers.
Let us consider a concrete example where the enemy is about to explode a
mine under your first line of trenches (examine accompanying diagram,
Precautions against a Mine). When it has been definitely discovered that
the enemy has a mine gallery under your first line and there is no means
of combating it by countermining, etc., the infantry in the position
must take certain precautions. By listening devices the powder chamber
is located. The extent of the crater is also calculated. A new first
line is constructed behind, excluding the mine crater and at a distance
of about 30 yards from its lip. This re-entrant angle of the first line
is made by using boyaux on the flank if they exist. A cover trench is
also constructed behind this first line. The infantry moves back to this
new line behind the threatened area of explosion. Every other defensive
precaution is taken against the explosion and the accompanying assault
of the enemy.
Heavy bombing posts are located on the flanks of the crater. The
position of these posts is usually at the point of change of direction
of the old firing line with the new one of the re-entrant angle. Dugouts
may be constructed close to these bombing posts for the protection of
the grenadiers during the explosion. Immediately the explosion is over,
these grenadiers man their posts and establish a heavy barricade between
the posts and the crater by using hand grenades. If the enemy attempts
to enter the crater, these grenadiers can make it untenable by throwing
hand grenades into it.
Automatic rifle or machine gun emplacements are also located on both
flanks of the crater. Their function is to establish flanking fire on
hostile troops attempting to approach the crater.
Rifle grenadiers are stationed in the line of trenches to establish a
defensive rifle barrage out in front of the crater.
The riflemen will usually occupy the near and flank lips of the crater.
They will not occupy the lip of the crater nearest the enemy until it is
ascertained that the enemy has no more galleries.
A rocket post is located in the first line on the flanks of the crater.
As soon as the crater is exploded, a rocket is sent up from this post
calling upon the artillery for a defensive barrage. Usually, special
artillery is detailed for this extra fire. It is a reinforced fire, or a
combination of preventive fire and protective barrage. It is established
on the enemy’s first line rather than in “No Man’s Land” as a purely
defensive barrage.
With all these precautions taken, the infantry await the explosion of
the mine.
_A Selection from the Catalogue of_
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IT IS THE REAL STUFF
OVER THE TOP
BY AN AMERICAN SOLDIER WHO WENT
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
MACHINE GUNNER, SERVING IN FRANCE
_AUTHOR OF_
“_FIRST CALL_”
For a year and a half, until he fell wounded in No Man’s Land, this
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TOGETHER WITH TOMMY’S DICTIONARY OF THE TRENCHES
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_The British Soldier’s War Cry, as he goes over the top of the trench
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[Sidenote: GUIDE POSTS TO BERLIN]
FIRST CALL
BY
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Author of “OVER THE TOP”
_12º. Illustrated. $1.50_ (_By mail, $1.65_)
In the amazingly vivid and simple way that has made _=Over the Top=_ the
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What they ought to know
What they’ll have to know
and what their parents, sweethearts, wives, and all Americans, will want
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The chapters headed “Smokes” and “Thank God the Stretcher Bearers” will
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Here is advice, here are suggestions, overlooked in other books, that
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The Making of a Modern Army
And Its Operations in the Field
A Study Based on the Experience of
Three Years on the French Front
1914–1917
René Radiguet
Général de Division, Army of France
Translated by
Henry P. du Bellet
Formerly American Consul at Rheims
_Illustrated_
The younger Americans who are now in training for active service in the
field, and particularly those who have secured commissions as officers
or who are preparing to compete for such commissions, will have a very
direct interest in the instructions and suggestions presented by General
Radiguet in regard to the organization of an army and the method of its
operations in the field. General Radiguet’s treatise is based upon a
varied experience in the campaigns of the present war.
The old text-books must be put to one side. The methods of organization
and the methods of fighting have alike changed. It is only those who
have had responsibilities as leaders in the present war whose
instructions can be accepted as authoritative.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
G. P. Putnam’s Sons
New York London
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transcriber’s note:
1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling.
2. Retained anachronistic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as
printed.