The Plattsburg Manual Part 31

Remember that your flanks are just as vulnerable as the enemy's. He has his eyes on your flanks just as much as you are observing and considering his own.

Keep cool about starting the action. Don't put all your men in before you understand thoroughly the condition confronting you. Hold a large part of your force out as supports and reserves until you know definitely the enemy's position.

Don't get killed unless necessary; your usefulness to the State comes to an end when that occurs. Take advantage of cover, hug the ground. Learn what is good and what is poor cover.

It is a common fault to forget about the service of information once the action has begun. Keep up your patrolling. Keep yourself posted on what the enemy is about. Otherwise he may have some unpleasant surprise for you.

Be particularly careful about details of time and place. Regulate your watch by the time kept at headquarters.

When you've got the enemy on the run don't let up for an instant. Pursue him without mercy. Turn his retreat into a rout. Capture or destroy his forces.

Scarcely any of these things we are telling you are new. They are as old as war itself. The boxer of a thousand years from now may know a little more about the technique of the game, but the essentials will not change. To wear the champion's belt, he will have to suffer some l.u.s.ty blows and be able himself to deliver some more powerful. There will be no easy road to the t.i.tle. So it is with all wars.

SUMMARY

We recommend that each officer become familiar with the following summary:

"1. Avoid combats that offer no chance of victory or other valuable results.

"2. Make every effort for the success of the general plan and avoid spectacular plays that have no bearing on the general result.

"3. Have a definite plan and carry it out vigorously. Do not vacillate.

"4. Do not attempt complicated manuvers.

"5. Keep the command in hand; avoid undue extension and dispersion.

"6. Study the ground and direct the advance in such a way as to take advantage of all available cover and thereby diminish losses.

"7. Never deploy until the purpose and the proper direction are known.

"8. Deploy enough men for the immediate task in hand; hold out the rest and avoid undue haste in committing them to the action.

"9. Flanks must be protected either by reserves, fortifications, or the terrain.

"10. In a decisive action, gain and keep fire superiority.

"11. Keep up reconnaissance.

"12. Use the reserve, but not until needed or a very favorable opportunity for its use presents itself. Keep some reserve as long as practicable.

"13. Do not hesitate to sacrifice the command if the result is worth the cost.

"14. Spare the command all unnecessary hards.h.i.+p and exertion."

--Infantry Drill Regulations.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

For convenience, military information is considered under two heads, namely (1) that collected in time of peace by the body of army experts in Was.h.i.+ngton called the General Staff; and (2) that obtained by troops in the field after war has begun. The former relates to general conditions such as the geography, resources, and military strength of the various nations, information necessary to enable the General Staff to act intelligently in the event of war. The latter relates to more local and detailed conditions out on the firing line.

For a general to act intelligently he must possess information of the position, strength, dispositions, intentions, etc., of his opponent.

This may be obtained from a number of sources--adjoining troops, inhabitants, newspapers, letters, telegraph files, prisoners, deserters, spies, maps, but mostly from information-gathering groups, called reconnoitering patrols. When the available maps do not show all the military features of the country, officers and soldiers must go on ahead and make maps that do.

INTELLIGENCE SECTION GENERAL STAFF

There is a special committee of the Great General Staff called the Intelligence Section, whose business it is to weigh and cla.s.sify all information sent to it. Members of this committee are placed on duty with large organizations (for instance, a division, a field army, etc.).

a.s.sUMPTION OF THE ENEMY

When reliable information of the enemy cannot be obtained, it must be a.s.sumed that he has sense and will act with excellent judgment.

FALSE INFORMATION

Unless instructions have been given to spread false information, all persons connected with the military service are forbidden to discuss the military situation, plans, movements, etc., with, or in the presence of, civilians of any age, s.e.x or nationality.

FIRE

There are three kinds of fire:

(1) Volley Fire. Every one fires at the command FIRE. It is used at funerals and occasionally in the first part of an action when the enemy presents a large, compact target.

(2) Fire At Will. In this each soldier fires, loads, and fires again independently of the others. He fires fast or slow as the occasion demands.

(3) Clip Fire. The soldier stops firing when he has finished his clip of five cartridges. This a.s.sists in preventing an undue expenditure of ammunition and in abating excitement.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDEPENDENT AND DIVISIONAL CAVALRY