_The Director_: “Lieutenant Williams, what factors exercise the greatest
influence in the selection of a defensive position?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “I should say the facilities for communication
and those for observation. The greater ease with which we can move
troops within the position the better we can defend it, and unless we
have facilities for observation we had better move to another place for
the enemy will be able to surprise us on any and all occasions.”
_The Director_: “In a defensive position we deploy in great depth. What
is the object of this, Captain Hastings?”
_Captain Hastings_: “Where a great mass of enemy artillery is to be
encountered we must disperse our troops over a large area to force him
to scatter his fire, and waste a lot of it. In addition to this we must
have room to maneuver our counter-attack units and get them into action
with as little flank marching as possible. In a case like we are
considering here I do not believe such great depth is necessary. This is
open warfare and it will take the enemy quite a while to get his
artillery in shape to employ it effectively on our position. We will
therefore be able to concentrate our troops in a more shallow zone than
is usual in regular position warfare.”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Wallace, what are the defensive areas called
in a defensive position?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “They are combat groups; strong points; centers of
resistance; subsectors and sectors.”
_The Director_: “What do you understand a combat group to be?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “It is an area prepared for defense and held by a
small unit such as a platoon or section.”
_The Director_: “What is a strong point, Lieutenant Ralston?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “A strong point is an aggregate of combat groups
distributed in width and depth under the command of one officer. It is
usually defended by a rifle company and usually has machine guns
attached. Where practicable, it is arranged for all ’round defense.”
_The Director_: “What is a center of resistance?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “An aggregate of strong points distributed in
width and depth and commanded by one officer. It is usually occupied by
a battalion.”
_The Director_: “I hope you all see how this proposition works out. A
combat group is the smallest element. Two or more of these groups form a
strong point. Two or more strong points linked up together form a center
of resistance. You will note the Major’s disposition for our battalion
here. It forms a center of resistance consisting of the two strong
points held by Companies A and B respectively with Company C as a
reserve with Company D distributed at key points within the area.”
The class is now conducted to area (_u_), which has been assigned to
Company A.