MANUAL FOK NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICEHS. 196 



you will not see any of the enemy to flre at. Yon may not even 

 see any trenches nor know just vv^liero the enemy is. Your 

 higher officers, however, with their field glasses and the mes- 

 sages they receive, will know. Each troop will be assigned 

 a certain front to cover with its fire. Therefore be careful to 

 fix your sights at the designated range and fire only at the 

 designated target. This means team v/ork in firin;;, which is 

 one of the most important elements of success. 



The firing line advances from position to position b.v means 

 of rushes. At long range the entire line may rush forward at 

 the same time, but as the range decreases one part of the line 

 rushes forward while the remainder keeps up a hot fire on the 

 enemy. The number taking part in each rush decreases as the 

 fire of the enemy becomes warmer, until perhaps only one 

 squad, or even less, rushes or crawls forward at a time, pro- 

 tected by the fire of the rest of the company. The distance 

 covered by each rush also becomes less and less. After any 

 rush no part of the line again advances until. the rest of the 

 line is up. In making a rush, the leader of the unit gives the 

 signal and leads the way. The rest follow. No attempt is made 

 to keep a line, but each man rushes forward at a run, seeking 

 only to reach the new halting position as quickly and with 

 as little exposure as possible. When halted, the skirmishers 

 need not be in a perfect line, but every advantage should be 

 taken of the ground for concealment and protection. It is 

 necessary only that no man or group of men should interfere 

 with the fire of other parts of the firing line. 



The noise on the firing line willbe great. Leaders will be dis- 

 abled and new men will take their places. Reinforcements 

 coming up will cause units to become mixed. To the green map 

 everything may appear to be in confusion, but this is not so. 

 This is war as it really is. If you have lost your section or 

 your section leader, join the leader nearest to you. This is the 

 way the game is played. 



As long as the fight lasts every available rifleman must be 

 kept in the firing line. The first and last consideration is to 

 win the battle. Therefore, under no circumstances will any 

 soldier be permitted to go to the rear, either for ammunition 

 or to assist the wounded. 



If the attacking force can no longer advance, it is much safer 

 to throw up hasty intrenchraents and await the arrival of re- 



