_The Director_: “The following, in general terms, are the principal
tasks of the machine guns on the offensive:
“(1) To cover the deployment of the infantry and its advance to the
first firing position.
“(2) To support the attack of the infantry.
“(3) To support the infantry in continuing the attack or taking up the
pursuit after the enemy’s main position has been captured.
“(4) To assist in the consolidation of the position whenever the limit
of the advance is reached or the infantry is brought to a standstill.
“During the combat the function of the machine guns is to assist
constantly the advance of the infantry by fire power. The use of machine
guns only at decisive points in the fight is not sufficient. They must
be so used as to exert a continuous influence from the beginning to the
end of the fight. They can act by fire alone and cannot be used as
assault troops.
“Every assaulting infantry battalion habitually retains and employs its
machine gun company. The machine gun company almost invariably acts
under the direct orders of the battalion commander. Only in very
exceptional cases will the company act under the orders of the
regimental machine gun officer after H hour, although he frequently will
prescribe tasks for it during the barrage prior to H hour.
“The following are suitable tasks for a machine gun company of an
assault battalion:
“(1) To support the assault companies.
“(2) To protect the flank of the attack.
“(3) To occupy an interval in the line.
“(4) To assist in consolidating the captured ground.
“(5) To assist in resuming the attack.
“_Orders._—The orders of Major X for the use of the machine guns should
be clear and concise and should assign definite tasks to them. The
orders, prior to attack, should assign the machine guns a definite place
in the formation and should give them the mission of supporting the
infantry by fire. The control of the machine guns should be exercised,
as far as possible, through the commanding officer of the machine gun
company. Platoons should be assigned to support rifle companies, but
should not be placed under the command of rifle company commanders
without there are exceptional reasons for so ordering.
“_Formation._—Generally the formation of a machine gun company
supporting an infantry battalion will be with one platoon on either
flank supporting the two assaulting companies. As to whether or not the
platoons should be placed in rear of the assault companies or in rear of
the reserve company depends upon conditions. If the conditions indicate
the probable early use of machine guns and the ground is favorable for
their use, they should be placed in rear of the assault companies. On
the other hand, if their use appears improbable, or the ground is
unfavorable for overhead fire, they should be placed in rear of the
reserve company, where they can use their carts as long as possible. The
formation within the platoon conforms to the infantry with which it is
advancing. The usual formations will be: when dismounted, line of squad
columns or line of skirmishers; when mounted, column of squads. The
purpose of the formation taken should be to make it difficult for the
enemy to distinguish the machine guns from the infantry.
“_Communication._—Where conditions permit, the commanding officer of the
machine gun company will be with the battalion commander. However, the
captain must not let this consideration interfere with the efficient
command of his company. Where the captain does not remain with the major
he will maintain contact with him by means of two runners from the
machine gun company.
“Are there any questions?”