where he is suddenly attacked in flank by fresh troops. Military history shows that this very procedure has frequently been successful.
"The same activity, the same determination to maneuver, must prevail everywhere. Every mistake and every weakness of the enemy must be quickly perceived and promptly utilized. The troops in the counter-attack should move forward without hesitation and regardless of the cost. When such a forward movement has to be discontinued, the commander must decide where it shall cease. The efforts of all should be directed toward one object, that of tiring and demoralizing the enemy by constant counter-attacks, until the moment arrives when the commander must order the offensive to be assumed."
THE BRITISH DRILL REGULATIONS OF 1905.[1]
ATTACK.
The regulations do not mention the rencontre. A normal offensive
battle consists of "an advance from point to point. Every lodgment made
in a new firing position weakens the enemy's strength in his main position,
and paves the way for a further advance; every advance must be thoroughly
prepared and systematically carried out."
In the following, the attack made by a brigade of four battalions is used as a basis. While the commander reconnoiters under the protection of his advance guard, the troops are concentrated in a "preparatory formation", the battalions in one or more lines of "quarter columns" (column of companies). As soon as the commander has decided which flank of the enemy he will envelop, against which portion of the enemy's line he will launch his decisive attack, he assembles his subordinate commanders to receive the orders. According to the regulations, it will rarely be possible to issue orders while the troops are still in march. The orders are, as a general rule, to be given in writing, and are to be supplemented by verbal instructions, in which the commander calls attention to the peculiarities of the terrain, especially where a hostile counter-attack is possible. In exceptional cases, the brigade commander designates the position to be taken up by the machine guns, and gives directions to them in regard to supporting the advance by long range fire. A base battalion is to be designated. When the enemy's position is visible, a point of attack is assigned to every unit. When this is not practicable, the base battalion is led forward by officers familiar with the ground, or it is given a compass direction. Every leader is to provide independently for reconnaissance and for communication by signal flags and also by telephone; a mounted signal corps man accompanies the brigade commander.
Every unit is formed in three lines for attack.
- ↑ Infantry Training. Combined Training.—Vierteljahrshefte, 1906, III, The Development of the Tactical Views in the British Army after the Boer War.
