officers are either killed or wounded and they themselves are exposed to fire?[1]
If we use squad volleys (Russia), we approximate fire at will without any of its advantages, besides which, commands, given by so many leaders, tend to confuse the men. Moreover, it is very difficult to handle the platoon, to stop firing, to change target, and to initiate movements. Volley firing is therefore confined to the preparatory stage of combat and to rare moments in which the troops firing are not themselves under effective fire. In the defense of fortified positions many opportunities will be found for the employment of volley fire. The use of trial volleys for the purpose of testing the rear sight elevation will be confined to a few favorable cases, and it may be remarked that animated fire at will concentrated on some definite point produces the same results.
The French, who retained volleys longer than the other powers (to keep the men in hand, to regulate the expenditure of ammunition, and to direct a concentrated collective fire upon the most important target according to the will of the leader), found a substitute in the fire with counted cartridges,[2] the "burst of fire" (rafale).[3] This was also adopted by their artillery. In Germany, the importance of the sudden effect produced by these "bursts of fire" is recognized, but the same object is sought to be attained by training alone; while
- ↑ During the advance on Flavigny (Vionville), the support of the 10th Company, 12th Infantry, was to move into the firing line for the purpose of firing volleys. "The volley was by no means a good one, however, and the men at once took up rapid fire. Lieutenant C jumped in front of the men to stop the firing, but was shot in the leg and crawled back. The rapid fire continued along the entire line." Geschichte des Regiments, Nr. 12, p. 454. During the war between Servia and Bulgaria the Servians always opened the infantry combat with volleys, but after casualties had occurred among the officers under the heavy fire of the enemy, the steady volley fire soon degenerated into wild, hurried fire at will, which produced no effect whatever.
- ↑ Temporarily adopted in Germany also.
- ↑ Par. 194.1 of the French Infantry Drill Regulations of Dec. 3rd, 1904, states: "The moral effect produced upon an opponent by the fire is much more considerable when the fire is concentrated and delivered suddenly and unexpectedly." Par. 194.4 states: "The efficacy of the fire, due to its intensity, is augmented when the enemy is taken by surprise," etc. Par. 195.1 states: "The fire is, as a rule, delivered by 'rafales,' which are short, sudden and violent; and, in exceptional cases, by volleys."
