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HANDY WAR GUIDE FOR MY COMPANY

Handy Company Commander's Guide

Written at the front by

CAPTAIN HANGUILLART

of the French Army

Translated and edited by

Louis J. A. Mercier, A.M.

First Lieutenant, Harvard R. O. T. C.
Interpreter with British Expeditionary Force on the
French Front 1914-17.

"_DASH UNDER DISCIPLINE_"







Copyright, 1918
by
R. D. Cortina Company.

The Cortina Academy of Languages
New York
1918




TABLE.


    Preface                                     5


    Part I.

    Trench Life and Trench Warfare

    Taking over the Trenches                   11
    Care and Improvement of the Trenches       14
    The Watch from the Trenches                17
    Patrolling                                 22
    Interrogating Prisoners                    25
    Devices to draw the Enemy's Fire           28
    An Attack, the Repulse                     32
    The Counter-Attack                         34
    Precautions against Enemy's Artillery      36
    Use of Trench Artillery                    37
    Field Artillery Cooperation                39
    Daily Schedule                             41
    Turning over the Trenches                  43
    Out of the Trenches                        44
    Topical Questions on Part I                46


    Part II.

    French Infantry Combat Principles.

    Open Warfare                               53
    The Approach                               55
    Precautions against Silent Artillery       58
    Crossing a Bombarded Zone                  59
    Use of Woods as Shelter                    64
    To Cross a Crest                           65
    The Fire Attack                            69
    Precautions against Cavalry                65
    The Termination of the Approach            67
    Use of Machine Guns                        71
    The Company Supports                       72
    The Companies in Support                   73
    The Charge and the Pursuit                 73
    Attack of a Wood                           75
    Attack of a Village                        76
    Attack of a Defile                         77
    Night Attacks                              77
    Defense of Woods                           80
    Defense of a Village                       81
    Defense of a Defile                        82
    Night Defense of a Position                83
    The Counter Attack                         83
    Topical Questions on Part II               86


    Appendix

    A Division Front in Trench Warfare.

    The Trench System
    The Back Areas




Printed in the United States of America
by the International Press
150 Lafayette Street
New York City




PREFACE.


The first part of Captain Hanguillart's little book "_Petit Guide
pratique de Guerre pour ma compagnie_" has been incorporated in the new
manuals of instruction published for the young recruits of the French
army by the official military publishing house "Librairie Militaire
Berger-Levrault," the editors of the "Annuaire officiel de l'Armee."[A]

Its special value comes from the fact that it was written at the front
and is wholly based on the orders which Captain Hanguillart drew up for
the instruction of his own company and tested repeatedly through actual
experience.

Thus its very omissions are significant.

The text as it stands represents essentials.

Its every paragraph is a unit of tried advice.

=It embodies the practical data that has secured results.=

=It sums up the cautions that have saved lives.=

In the second part, Captain Hanguillart has merely reproduced the
French Infantry Combat principles long published in the official manual
for the instruction of platoon leaders.

In presenting this little work, no claim is made that it is adequate to
the complete instruction of company commanders.

    Its obvious supplements