Austria. (Par. 589 I. D. R.). "When conditions are very favorable, it might be possible to choose the firing position in which the decisive fire fight is to be begun, so close to the enemy that the decision can be gained from it."
The fire fight must be taken up by enough troops to make
it impossible for the defender, who holds his position strongly,
to gain a superiority of fire over some parts of the attacking
force. The supports will now move closer to the firing line,
in order to fill every gap in that line and to meet every attempt
of the defender to gain the upper hand. The echelons of the
second line which have not as yet been absorbed by the firing
line, move up in a similar manner. If the hostile fire abates,
parts of the firing line should endeavor to get closer to the
enemy; they are followed by the next adjoining units. At this
stage of the action the attacker will have to give up, to some
extent, his distribution in depth.
Superiority of fire is an essential condition to victory. It is attained by better marksmanship, fire control and fire direction, by taking advantage of cover, and by concentrating a powerful fire against the decisive point. When the attacker's troops are not well trained, a greater number of rifles and more ammunition will be required to gain this superiority. Accordingly, the attacker will either make an envelopment or employ fire of position. The attacker possesses a great advantage, in that he does not need to gain a superiority of fire along the whole front, but only at a single point. It suffices for him to contain weak portions of the hostile front with suitable, well concealed combat groups capable of quickly developing a powerful fire, while he masses the bulk of his forces against the decisive point. The defender, who never knows where the decisive blow is going to fall, ought not to allow himself to be enticed into occupying portions of his line more weakly than the rest.
The attainment of the superiority of fire requires time, and, in addition, coolness and patience on the part of the leaders. All the ammunition that is expended in gaining this superiority is later compensated for by fewer losses. The heavy losses
