MANUAL FOE NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 197 



Attacking troops must first gain fire superiority in order to 

 reach the hostile position. By gaining fire superiority is meant 

 making one's fire superior to that of the enemy in volume and 

 accuracy, and it depends upon the number of rifles employed, 

 the rate of fire, the character of the target, training and dis- 

 cipline, and fire direction and control. When the fire of the 

 attackers becomes effective and superior to that of the defend- 

 ers the latter are no longer able to effectively and coolly aim 

 and fire at the former, and, as a consequence, the attackers are 

 able to inaugurate a successful rush or advance which carries 

 them nearer to the enemy's position. 



When a trained organization has been committed to the 

 attack, the gaining of fire superiority depends upon the way in 

 which fire direction and fire control are exercised. 



The captain directs the fire of the troop. He indicates to 

 the platoon commanders the target ( enemy.) which the troop is 

 to fire and advance upon, and tells each upon which part of this 

 target he is to direct the fire of his platoon. When he desires 

 the fire to be opened, he gives the necessary commands or sig- 

 nals, including the range at which the sights are to be set. 



When the fire fight has once started, it becomes to a great 

 extent a fight of a number of platoons. The platoon is the 

 largest organization which can be controlled by a single leader 

 in action. The platoon commander (lieutenant or sergeant) 

 controls its fire in order to gain the maximum fire effect and 

 to avoid wasting ammunition. He must try his best to make 

 the fire of his platoon effective, to get it forward, and to sup- 

 port neighboring platoons in their effort to advance. At the 

 same time he must hold himself subject to his captain's direc- 

 tions. He should take advantage of every chance to carry his 

 platoon forward unless otherwise ordered. In all this he is 

 assisted by his section chiefs (sergeants) and by his corporals. 



At the commencement of an engagement the platoon, com- 

 mander will give the objective (part of the enemy's line or 

 aiming target) at v/hich his platoon is to direct its fire. Non- 

 commissioned officers must be sure that they see and under- 

 stand the objective, and that all the men in their squads do 

 likewise. Fire is then directed at this objective withoiu fur- 

 ther command until the platoon commander gives a new ob- 

 jective. 



