Читать книгу Terrain Exercises - William H. Waldron - Страница 48

The Director: “Before going ahead with the problem I want to say a few words about the importance of this subject of approach march and deployment.

“Prior to the war we did not appreciate the necessity for extensive drill and instruction in the subject of approach march, deployment and the relief of units on the firing line. There was little literature on the subjects and what there was dealt only in glittering generalities. Once in a while a training program included the subject ‘Deployment,’ but no one took it seriously and such as we carried out, were executed in a purely perfunctory manner.

“In the training of troops for modern warfare the subject must be given the place and attention that it deserves. Troops must be trained to take up the approach march formation, and make a deployment therefrom, both day and night, over all kinds of ground. They must be trained in the methods and technique of making a relief of a force on the firing line at night and overcome the obstacles that are habitually encountered. The great danger at night is in losing direction. This results in a command getting lost and failure to get to the line of departure ready to ‘Jump off’ at H Hour.

“The failure of a single battalion in this respect may imperil a whole military operation and cost the lives of thousands of men. Unless the troops told off to make the attack are in place ready to ‘jump off’ and follow the barrage at H Hour there is not the slightest chance for success. The barrage goes on. The enemy is given time to man his positions and machine guns and the attack on that particular front is held up, usually with enormous losses. The whole attack has to be reorganized and started anew. Those of you who have had experience with an attack which was a failure know how much time is lost and how many casualties may result from such affairs.”