waver, here and there, when its energetic and unexpected advance caused the French to retire.[1]
In the battles of the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-78, frontal counter-attacks were successfully made in several instances.
In the engagement at Kazeljevo (5th September, 1877), the frontal counter-attack made by the Russians, who were numerically far inferior, saved them from defeat, as all their lines of retreat were obstructed by their trains, which had gone astray.[2]
The most instructive fight in this connection is the engagement of Gorni Bugarov (1st January, 1878). General Weljaminov's detachment, which consisted of the Pensa and the Tambov Infantry Regiments, occupied a flank position on the southern foothills of the Balkans, on the road leading from Orchanie to Sofia. The Russians allowed the Turks to approach to very short range before they opened fire, which was immediately followed by a counter-attack all along the line. This seems to have been the result of the initiative of the several battalion commanders. The Turks (15 battalions) faced about and retired on Sofia. The Russian infantry was led back to its first position.[3]
On the same day, the attack made by the Preobrajenski Regiment of the Russian Guard at Tashkessen was repulsed by the frontal counter-attack made by a weak force of Turkish infantry.[4]
During the Russo-Japanese war such frontal counter-attacks
were very frequently made. When undertaken with
inadequate numbers, they were invariably repulsed by the
fire of the Japanese, especially when the latter found cover
in previously constructed trenches.
Provisions of Various Regulations.
Austria-Hungary. If a counter-attack is contemplated, the commander
should resist every temptation to employ parts of the general
reserve for other purposes than for carrying out that attack. In this case,
the general reserve should be placed in readiness so that, while the opponent
advances within the decisive zone, it can quickly deploy and carry out
the counter-attack with determination by directing a powerful fire against
the flank of the enemy. Freedom of movement on one flank is absolutely
essential to the execution of the counter-attack. Local frontal counter-attacks
are to be avoided; the enemy is to be annihilated by fire.
When it is not contemplated to make a counter-attack with the general reserve, the latter is to be employed either for directly reinforcing the troops in one of the sections, or for engaging the hostile troops making an enveloping attack on the position.
