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

MANUA·L FOR COIMMANllSDERS OF INFANJTRY PLATOONS. 229
reach~ them.; This distance is likewise nlecess~ary in order to keep
th~e men operating the liquid-fire engines at a safe dlistance.
PieI. 221.
3. They muste be per~fectly and comlpletely swept; by the fire of
the firing trench; en anccessory1_ defen~se nzot so arcing-led is ucseless,
because the enemy canl come and destroy it wvithout danger
to himlself.
4-. TPhe trace of~these x~vorks must he absolutely independent
of that of the firing trench in order toba-ffle all attempts of
the enemy to a~djust his fire. Thle necessary salient~s must be
made so that thle fire of the flanking defenses can sxveep the
enterior· edges of the obstacles (see fig. 222);
Pro. 222.
5. They mnust be arranged in severln strips, separated by
from 5 to 10 yards, -rather than in; a single strip or band. For
exam~ple, mak~e two wire entanglements each 'from 10 to 15
yards in w-sidth in preference to making one from 20Oto 30 ynrds
wride. Begi~n byJ conzstrulcting inz its entiretyl the bandzor strip
that is tIo be farthest awaoy. The thicknaess shouldl be greater
i~n front of the passive' parts of the line than in front of the
active parts.