The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1910-05-19
THE LATEST VIEWS ON THE INFAN-
TRY ATTACK IN BATTLE.

siloncing of modern batteries pro-
tected by gun shields is out OF the
question. The advance Of separate
batteries to accompany the infantry
attack proved ineffective in the Rus
so-Japanese war because these bat
tories came within the zone OF fire OF |
the covered batteries of the defence.
The infantry must also definitely give
up all idea of attacking gun shield
batteries in position. This had bet
ter be left to the artillery. The In
fantry will find the enemy's machine
guns a far more promising target.
The proper use of the spade or in
trenching tool is another point OF
dispute, but although its value has
been greatly exaggerated, opinions
are now more settled and its proper
use as we'll as the dangers Of its mis-
use are fully understood and care
fully taught to the troops.
The more recent wars have shown
that victory can be crowned only by
the final assault with the bayonet.
The necessity for the bayonet charge
is now everywhere recognized.
The actual mode Of beginning and
carrying out the final assault still
differs in different armies. While
Germany, Austria and Japan believe
that the final assault may be brought
on by the initiative Of the leaders in
tho foremost firing line, France and
England still separate the troops into
those for firing and those for shock,
the latter bringing on the final as
sault in the form OF an attack in mass
on a narrow front. In the latter,
therefore. the result is expected from
breaking through of the enemy S
line: in the former from outf1anking
it. The French and English still be-
lieve in the efficacy of reserves in the
, firing line and the possibility oil
bringing them into action at the
/. proper time and place to breaB
, through the enemy's line at the de-
sired point. Germans do not lay
much stress on the possibility of eff
! fective action on the part of reserves
/ but attack with all their energy a
I once and await decisive action from
Y the columns coming up on thu
TANKS.
4 All nations agree that the infan
e try attack should be supported a
@ long as possible by artillery fire. Il
@ other details Of the attack there ar
/. some differences in the differen
= armies. For example, in Austria
}: portion of the firing line is kept 1
G place lying down, and in Russia FIJI
Il ing while advancing Cat considerable
a ranges) during the assault is still re
is tanned.
N The necessity for attaching ms
e, chine guns to the infantry as we'll
j. the cavalry has long been recognized
at but has been particularly evident
10 the two latest wars.
is In the United States a machir
Id gun platoon is attached to every Il
70 fantry company and cavalry troo
IS, In Europe the guns are either in ba
le tories attached to cavalry or in cor
Id panies attached to infantry, but Il
x latter are often distributed to Il
lg troops in platoons, their main pu
,r- pose being to increase the, fire effe
1t, at critical moments. r.a-
ir- These are the main points of !
ty terest in the latest views on the
fantry attack, and no serious chang
Ial in these views will probably ia
er place until another war brings o
nd some new conditions. or new inve
ire lions like tho magazine automa
nut rife or'the aeroplane. introduce NJ
re- factors in war,-71New York Sun.