16th EXAMPLE. 1 BATTALION IN BRIGADE (ATTACKING). TACTICAL IDEA. Whilst a brigade is engaged, should one of its battalions be ordered to take possession of some object, such as a farm-building, a small village, or a little wood, it will, as in the last example, employ its whole strength to perform as speedily and completely as possible the task allotted to it. After having, whilst skirmishing up to really effective range, made ourselves better acquainted with the general distribution of the enemy's forces as well as with the geography of the position to be assailed, we must concentrate our fire upon the intended point of entry, and the assault, the actual decisive attack, must be made with our whole force, without keeping back any part of it under any pretence whatever. We must make our onset with the utmost vigour, and we must push forward without a check to the farther boundary of the object assailed (village, wood, height, or whatever it may be). Having arrived there our first care must be to establish ourselves firmly so as to hold what we have taken against all attempts at recapture. Our second task will be to form our scattered men into compact bodies, without, however, as yet aiming at re-forming the tactical units: we shall have time for that later. First Period. The enemy is holding a position against us. The right flank of the said position rests upon a wood occupied by the enemy. The brigade has been some time in action; its further progress is impeded effectually by the above-mentioned wood, which takes our line of battle in flank. Our battalion is upon the left flank of the first line of our brigade in direct echelon of half-battalions right in front, with skirmishing divisions extended. Second Period. The enemy's fire from the wood gets hotter and forces the brigade to halt. Dispositions: The brigadier orders the left flank battalion to attack the wood with one half-battalion, whilst the other remains in the first line of the brigade. II. Half-Bat. 3 Co. 4 Co. Changes front half-left. Completes its extension. A division in support behind each wing. The whole advance by successive divisions to within 300 paces of the wood. 15th EXAMPLE. 1 BATTALION IN BRIGADE (ATTACKING). TACTICAL IDEA. If, when other portions of the brigade have already commenced an action and are engaged in carrying it on, a battalion receives orders to facilitate the general advance, or to render it more decisive by attacking a weak point in the enemy's position, this must be done with all possible expedition, and with the utmost vigour. In such cases it will never do to feel your way carefully or to economise your strength. This would only be false economy, and the result at the utmost would be only a half-success. Our battalion stands in line of company columns with full intervals on the right flank of the second line of a brigade (distance between the lines 400 paces). The action has already been going on for some time; the strong skirmishing line of the foremost battalions has pushed forward to within 600 paces of the enemy's position. The brigadier gives the following order: The battalion will pass the right flank of the first line; as soon as it reaches the skirmishers it will wheel up against the enemy's left flank and attack it vigorously The remainder of the brigade will at the same time attack in front. First Period. (Fig. 1.) Our battalion is at present only under slight shell fire. Words of Command: 'Half-Right Turn.' 'Front Turn,' And as soon as the flank of the first line is cleared, Signal: Front Turn.' Dispositions: During the advance. 2, 3, & 4 Cos. Each extends two divisions as soon as they are up to 1 Co. the first line of the brigade. Marches in line 200 paces behind the right wing. Signal: Left Wheel.' The whole battalion changes direction, so as to march upon the enemy's left flank (to be marked, if possible, by some feature in the ground), and moves on rapidly. Second Period. (Fig. 2.) The enemy does not appear as yet to remark this movement of our battalion. |