manual for commanders of infantry platoons. - US Army Combined ...

184 IYANUATlrlFOR%COIfIfANDERS OF6;ICNFANTRY PLATOOdNS.
natezs should be specially detailed to supervise the replenishment:
of grenades.
Execittionz of trenzch raids.-T~he troops makting the trench raid
approach the hostile trench silently; if preparation has beePl
madeclby artillery fire the approach should be rap~id. When they
reach the ~points selected for crossing the obstacles (wvhich are
supposed to havre been destroyed) a volley of grenades is throxvn~
into the hostile trench; as soon as they burst; the grrenadiers
rush~ the trench.
Sim~ilar tasks are performed by two units, which, on reaching
the hostile trench, proceed to mop it; up, one going to the right
and the other to the left. Ev~ery care should be. taken to avoid
being caughlt under a discharge of hostile grenades; a. position a
fews~ yards in rear ~if thle trench which has been a-ttackied may
have been prepar~ed for this purpose by the enemy. Sometimes
it is better to select a very da~rk night or very bad weather for
teri.An understanding should exist: between the groups
of grenadiers and the garrison of the trenches from~ which they
start. A 'few~ rifle shots fired under conditions agreed on be~
forehand wrarn thre raiders that an illuminalting shell is to be
fired. Thle raiders lie down and tak~e advnntage of the light by
examining the ground' in th~eir· front. As soon as the light dies
out they mlake a rush and then halt, if necessary, for another
illumina.tingf shell. Dluringf the mloppin$ up of the trench the
throwers~ assistants provide for security in accordance with instructions
given them before the start.
/Szupply of grenzades.-KCeepingll up the supply of grenades should
be a constant source of care to all commlanders. The most careful
provisions should be maflde to prevent the grenadiers being
short of ammllunition, and theise provisions should be estabdished
on the basxis that 'for every two grenades sent up Efrom2 the rear
only one arrives at its destination. Instructions for ammiunition
supply are given in Boo0k IV, Chapter IXi.
.4. RIFILE GRENADEs.
Tact~ic~al use of rifle gr"enades.-Rifle grenades efficiently handled
mlay demoi'ahize thle enemy and inflict upon him g~reat~er
losses than are caused by the artillery bomba~rdment. T~hehostile
trenches should be minutely studied and the points at which