Notes on Recent Operations (Volume 1 (July 1917)) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917. Excerpt: ... Extracts from a German Document, Issued by the Sixth Army September 27, 1916, Entitled SUPPLEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONS AS TO THE CON-STRUCTION OF DEFENSES. GENERAL PRINCIPLES. 1. Corps must make the greatest efforts to improve the defenses in depth, and to provide them with good obstacles and switches at those parts of the front which are especially threatened by a hostile attack. All salients and all mining areas should, as a matter of course, be cut off by retrenchments. When work on a new line has to be begun, the obstacles should be erected first; the concrete structures and shelters which require a long time for completion should then be proceeded with. In order to insure that the fire trenches, which may be subsequently dug, shall bear the proper relation to the concrete-built flanking works, the fire trenches should be excavated provisionally to a depth of 1 foot, but to their full width. Preparatory work of this kind will alone enable large working parties to be taken full advantage of, if they become available, and if operations are to be carried out on a large scale. All localities in the lines of the rearward positions should be organized for defense as strong points. FRONT-LINE TRENCH. # 2. The principal fighting line is the front line; approval of army headquarters must be obtained if, for local reasons, it is only intended to treat it as the outpost position. TRACE OF TRENCHES. 3. In tracing the lines great care must be taken to secure flanking fire. The flanking defenses form the framework of a position and should be traced by commanders in cooperation with the general staff. DESIGN OF TBENCHES. 4. Where the widening of existing narrow trenches can not be done throughout, it should at once be executed at the entrances to shelters, so as to form ...