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 Elements of
 Trench Warfare

 Waldron




 Elements of
 Trench Warfare

 Bayonet Training

 _By_

 Lieut. Colonel William H. Waldron

 29th U.S. Infantry

 DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE INFANTRY AND
 CAVALRY SCHOOL, 1905
 GRADUATE ARMY STAFF COLLEGE, 1906
 GRADUATE ARMY WAR COLLEGE, 1911
 ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ARMY WAR
 COLLEGE COURSE, 1911-12

 _Author of_

 "Scouting and Patrolling"
 "Tactical Walks"

 PUBLISHED BY

 EDWIN N. APPLETON
 1 Broadway, New York
 1917

 _Price 75 Cents, postage paid_




 Copyright, 1917, by
 William H. Waldron

 First Edition, 5,000, March 1st, 1917.
 Second Edition, 10,000, August 1st, 1917.
 Third Edition 30,000, September 25th, 1917.

 PRESS OF ISAAC GOLDMANN COMPANY, NEW YORK




NOTICE


There is a wealth of material in this little book that will interest
the soldier. From the illustrations alone he will be able to obtain a
good general idea of the subject.

It is essentially a soldier's book, written in language that he can
understand. The price has been kept within the limits of his pocketbook.

With a view to securing a wide distribution of the book I desire to
secure a representative in every organization in the Army. I have an
attractive proposition to make to competent parties.

A letter will bring particulars. My address will be found in the Army
List and Directory. If this is not available, a letter addressed as
follows will be forwarded to me:

 Captain W.H. Waldron,
 29th Infantry,
 Care of "Infantry Journal,"
 Washington, D.C.

 (Signed) W.H. Waldron.




CONTENTS


                                                                  Page

  Chapter I.--The Organization of a Section of the
  Position                                                          9

  Chapter II.--Obstacles: Construction, repair. Wire
  entanglements, barricades, land mines, inundation                13

  Chapter III.--Lookout and Listening Posts: Types.
  Construction, service                                            27

  Chapter IV.--Field Trenches: Traversed trenches.
  Types of trenches. Drainage. Communication
  trenches. Dugouts. Penetration of projectiles.
  Communication. Trench mortar positions. Machine
  guns. Supporting points                                          33

  Chapter V.--Use and Improvement of Natural Cover                 60

  Chapter VI.--Revetments: Sandbags. Fascines.
  Hurdles. Gabions                                                 74

  Chapter VII.--Working Parties: Details of organization.
  Laying out tasks. Operations                                     90

  Chapter VIII.--Grenade Warfare: Organization and
  tactics of grenadiers. Offensive operations.
  Clearing fire trenches. Clearing communication
  trenches. Night operations. Grenade patrols.
  Notes on grenade warfare                                         97

  Chapter IX.--Gas Warfare: Methods of dissemination
  of gas. Gas helmets, care and use of
  Sprayers                                                        118

  Chapter X.--Service in the Trenches: Preparations
  for entering. Inspection of trenches. Tactical
  dispositions. Going into the trenches. Information
  routine. Observation field glasses. Snipers.
  What to fire at. Use of rifle grenades.
  Scouting and patrolling. Care of arms. Care of
  trenches. Latrines. Maps. Frost bite. The
  trench soldier's creed                                          128

  Chapter XI.--The Attack in Trench Warfare                       162

  BAYONET TRAINING

  Features of the Bayonet                                         175

  Method of Carrying out Bayonet Training and
  Hints to Instruction                                            177

  BAYONET LESSONS

  Formation--Technique of Instruction                             180

  Lesson No. 1--

  Position of "Guard"                                             181

  " " "Rest"                                                      184

  " " "High Port"                                                 184

  " " "Long Point"                                                184

  The "Withdrawal" After a Long Point                             189

  PROGRESSION

  Vulnerable Parts of the Body                                    190

  Lesson No. 2--"The Parries"                                     192

  PRACTICE                                                        194

  Lesson No. 3--"The Short Point"                                 193

  Lesson No. 4--"The Jab or Upward Point"                         197

  METHOD OF INJURING AN OPPONENT

  _Butt Strike I._                                                200

  " " _II._                                                       200

  " " _III._                                                      200

  " " _IV._                                                       202

  Practice                                                        202

  TACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE BAYONET                             203

  THE BAYONET ASSAULT                                             203

  METHOD OF CARRYING THE RIFLE WITH
  BAYONET FIXED                                                   205

  TEAMWORK                                                        206

  THE ADVANCE                                                     206

  THE CHARGE                                                      206

  ASSAULT PRACTICE                                                208

  FINAL ASSAULT PRACTICE                                          209

  ACCESSORIES                                                     211

  TARGETS                                                         215

  CONSTRUCTION OF GALLOWS                                         216

  " " DUMMIES                                                     217

  " " "TURK'S HEAD"                                               218

  " " PARRYING DUMMY TARGET                                       218

  DISCS ON TARGETS                                                218

  EXERCISES

  Exercise 1                                                      221

  The Run                                                         222

  Exercise 2                                                      223




INTRODUCTION


This little book has been prepared with a view to placing before the
soldier a store of information on the subject of Trench Warfare as
it has been developed on the battle fronts of Europe, and giving him
some idea of the nature of the service that he will be called upon to
perform when the time arrives for him to do his "bit."

The illustrations have been carefully prepared and arranged to the end
that the soldier may gain a fair knowledge of the subject from them
alone. The text is intended to treat the subject in a purely elementary
manner that the soldier may be able to understand.

The size of the book is such that it may be conveniently carried in the
pocket and referred to as occasion requires. The price has been kept
down to the point where it is available to the soldier.

If the book assists in his preparation for the front and, by reason
of the knowledge that he has gained from it, helps to make him more
efficient when he gets there, it will have served its purpose.

 The Author.




CHAPTER I

ORGANIZATION


The normal organization of an intrenched position includes the
following elements from front to rear:

1. In front of the position and at a variable distance from the first
line fire trench there is a line of wire entanglements. (See Obstacles,
p. 13).

2. Close up to the wire entanglements there is an intrenched post known
as the "listening post," which is connected with the first line fire
trench by a zigzag communicating trench. (See Listening Posts, p. 27).

3. Then comes the first line fire trench with attached machine-gun
emplacements at convenient points. (See Fire Trench and Machine-Gun
Emplacements, pp. 33 and 54).

4. The fire trench is so narrow that lateral communication along it
is effected only with difficulty. In order to provide a passageway a
communication or supervision trench is provided a few yards in rear of
the fire trench. Passageways lead from this communication trench to
the fire trench and to the dugouts located along it.

5. At a variable distance in rear of the fire trench (100 to 200 yards)
the emplacements for bomb-throwing apparatus and trench mortars are
located. These are connected up laterally by a communication trench
which joins with the main communication trench running from front to
rear through the position. (See Emplacements for Trench Mortars, p. 51).

6. From 100 to 400 yards to the rear of the first line fire trench, and
generally parallel to it, is the supporting trench or cover for the
supports. This trench is invariably provided with strong overhead cover
and a system of dugouts for the protection of the troops. (See Cover
for Supports, p. 53).

7. This whole arrangement of trenches is connected throughout from
front to rear, and laterally, by a system of zigzag communication
trenches.

[Illustration: PLATE 1.
_PLAN OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AN INTRENCHED POSITION_]

Take this brief description together with Plate 1