Part 20 (1/2)
PLATE SHOWING THE MAIN IDEAS INVOLVED IN SECURITY
Danger zone Cavalry
Danger zone ---- Danger zone --- --- Cavalry -- __ -- Cavalry -- -- -- -- / -- -- / / ___ + / ---- ---- + ^ + / + / ^ + +-----------+ + / | MAIN BODY | ^ / +-----------+ Line of observation. Line of reserves - Occupied by small to move forward to groups. Drive back help line of supports.
enemy patrols. Line of supports on line of resistance.
Rallying point for small groups in front.
Note that distances from the line of observation to the main body increase as the groups increase in size. The reserves are the largest groups. The groups on the Line of observation are the smallest.
It is most important to note that the groups are placed according to the conditions and circ.u.mstances of the particular case. Don't follow any blind rules. Your judgment must tell you when to place this group here and not to place that group there. Have as few men on such duty as practicable.
If a swamp, or a large body of water here, very small groups will afford the necessary security.
If a forest, or steep hills here, very small parties will afford the necessary security.
a.s.sume that we want to afford security for our main body from any especially dangerous sector such as ABC. Our cavalry is in front of our first line and in touch with the enemy. The danger zone represents the direction from which the enemy is expected.]
This plan must be modified according to the particular case. Let us suppose that we are camping by a large body of water, or that we are surrounded by mountains. We can easily imagine where we could change the above general plan so as to give adequate protection and at the same time lessen the number of men detailed for security. We must never forget that men are generally tired when they arrive in camp, and that we should make their work as light as circ.u.mstances permit. It requires a nice judgment to choose the correct number for security.
We should know the names of these groups. Farthest away is the line that sees, and reports what it sees, but can offer only a limited resistance.
This is called the ”line of observation” or the ”line of outguards.” In rear of the line of outguards we have larger groups placed at greater distances. These are called ”supports.” This is the line that fights.
This is the line that makes extensive preparations for fighting (or resisting). It is called the ”line of supports” or the ”line of resistance.”[2] We have one farther and last line of groups which is still larger and occupies still greater distances than the two we have just discussed. This is the safety valve and is called the ”reserve,” or the ”line of reserves.” This is the line that gives a sound factor of safety. It will only be called upon in cases of emergency and may therefore generally enjoy a considerable degree of repose. But it and the line of supports combined must have sufficient strength to delay the enemy, in case of a general attack, long enough for our main body to form for battle.
Let us look at the line of outguards for further important considerations and distinctions. The enemy's movements and operations should ordinarily be expected where there are for him least difficulties. Large (dangerous) bodies of troops find trouble in marshes, thick forests, steep mountainous country. They avoid these obstacles as much as possible, selecting open country, solid soil, strong bridges, and good roads. Here is where large and strong groups in opposition are necessary. Small and unimportant groups (or no groups at all) should be placed where the enemy's advance is exceptionally difficult. Finally, there will be places between these last two extremes that require just an average amount of attention, that is to say, require groups of medium strength.
The groups that are largest and are used at the important places where danger is most expected, are called ”Pickets.” (These consist of from two squads of eight men each to eight squads.) The least important groups are called ”Cossack Posts.” (These consist of four men, usually a noncommissioned officer and three privates.) The groups of average importance are called ”Sentry Squads.” (These consist of eight men, a corporal and seven privates.)
Having discussed in broad terms the security of troops in camp, we are prepared to consider their security while either advancing upon or retreating from the enemy. In either case groups are placed between our main body and the actual or supposed position of the hostile troops.
When we are advancing upon an enemy our advanced groups const.i.tute what we term the ”advance guard.” If we are retreating from the enemy, our rear groups compose the ”rear guard.” The main general ideas of an advance guard are ill.u.s.trated by the husband who takes his wife and family to his house after an evening's absence. The house is dark and without occupants. The wife and children are apprehensive of danger. The husband goes first, turns on the light, and searches for any indications of an enemy. He looks, if desirable, in the closets and under the beds.
If there is any one that may harm his family it is his duty to find out and dispose of him.
In the advance guard we have exactly the same general scheme as with outposts. Far advanced to the front (and often to the sides or flanks) we have small groups (called, when considered collectively, the ”advance party”) whose business it is to inform us of the presence of the enemy.
Next we have a large group (”support”) to a.s.sist these small and rather helpless ones in advance in case of difficulty. And last we have a still larger group (”reserve”) that may be called upon in great emergencies.
We should fully understand that all these groups are out to accomplish several ends, but their one great and ultimate object should be to push on ahead of the main body so that it may be secure and its march uninterrupted. To accomplish this it is desirable to get all possible information about the enemy; it is also desirable to keep him from getting any information about your own troops.
The ideas are nearly the same with rear guards. Note this important difference: if, in an advance upon the enemy, your advance guard should suddenly be fired upon, your main body would (temporarily) halt. If, in a retreat, your rear guard is halted by the enemy's fire, your main body would normally be marching farther from it. In the first case a.s.sistance is near at hand. In the second it is withdrawing. The rear guard in a retreat should therefore be a little larger than in an advance. It must be able to extricate itself from any situation however difficult or it loses its usefulness. Its commander should have a cool, level head. To delay the enemy and thus a.s.sist the main body to escape is his mission.
For him to remain too long in a good position might endanger not only his safety but that of the main body as well.
CHAPTER VIII
ATTACK AND DEFENSE
The European War has demonstrated more clearly than ever before two points in attack and defense. First, no people, or group of people, can claim a monopoly on bravery. They all move forward and give up their lives with the same utter abandon. Courage being equal, the advantage goes to him in the attack who possesses superior leaders, greater training, and better equipment. Second, a man's training and courage, his clear eye and steady nerve, his soul's blood and iron, const.i.tute a better defense than steel and concrete.
A soldier has little business attacking or defending anything in this day unless he is an athlete, unless he is skilled in the technique of manuver, unless he is a good shot, unless he knows the value of many features of the terrain (which means the nature of the country--its hills, rivers, mountains, depressions, etc.--considered from a military point of view), unless he is disciplined to a splendid degree, and unless his training has imbued him with an irresistible desire to push forward, to get at his opponent. a.s.suming, at least, as much as this, we are prepared to consider the subject of the attack (the offensive).