_The Director_: “Now let us consider what must be included in the
Major’s order for the attack. Captain Hall, what have you to suggest for
the first paragraph?”
_Captain Hall_: “The Major has already given the company commanders
everything he knows about the enemy. He has a little additional
information to the effect that the general attack all along the line
will be resumed tomorrow. This will be included in the first paragraph
of the order.”
_The Director_: “That is all that is necessary. Our second paragraph is
a much more complicated affair. What have you to suggest to go into it?”
_Captain Hall_: “The first thing would be the time of the attack. The
orders from regimental headquarters say 5.00 o’clock. That will be
included in the order. We have a definite mission for the battalion. To
pierce the enemy position and assist our division to penetrate the
position—that is, to make a break through, if possible. In order to do
this we have got to drive hard. There is no change in the zone of action
of the battalion; it remains the same as it was for today. The line of
departure should be given. The information about the artillery
preparation and the rolling barrage should be included. I think that is
about all that must go into paragraph two of the order.”
_The Director_: “Yes. But you have skimped over two very important
points without the explanation they deserve. These are the line of
departure and the information about the artillery preparation and the
rolling barrage. Let us go into these things a little more in detail.
“The division staff has made arrangements for the artillery preparation
to come down along a certain line, and stand there for a period of
thirty minutes. Then the barrage will begin to advance at exactly 5.00
o’clock. Unless we have a definite line of departure some parts of our
front line may work their way to the front and be caught under our own
barrage and you can see what would happen. In case any men do work
forward during the night on reconnaissance they must get back a little
before 4.30 so as not to get caught under the barrage.”
_Lieutenant Barry_: “I appreciate all the Director has said. But we have
to keep up a reconnaissance during the night to keep in contact with the
enemy. He might pull his lines back during the night and if he had
decided to make a general retreat we would lose touch and with it a lot
of time in conducting the pursuit. I think some of our patrols would
have to take a chance on getting back so as not to lose contact. Then,
too, if the enemy had pretty definite information that our artillery
preparation is coming down on a certain line and we have no men out in
front he may move his machine gun squads a little to the front and avoid
the barrage altogether and be ready to receive our attack when our first
wave goes over the top. If I were commanding one of those assault
companies I would keep my front thoroughly patrolled during the night
and keep my scouts right up in the enemy’s lines until a minute or two
before the barrage comes down. I would have them beat it back a hundred
yards and take a chance on escaping from the barrage. As soon as they
are out of the way I would then have my special weapons and riflemen
keep up a fire on any enemy troops that showed themselves trying to get
to a position in front of where the barrage is coming down.”