The object of a raid is to attack a special point in the hostile lines, destroy it, and return with prisoners or information. Such a point may be a salient, blockhouse, observation or listening post, etc. The purpose of the raid is both to prosecute the attrition of the enemy and to gather information. A raid is made with or without a previous artillery preparation. Usually, however, the barbed wire entanglements of the enemy are subjected to a short and intense artillery shelling. Whether or not an artillery bombardment is carried out, the tactics of the raid are the same. Success of a raid depends entirely on its preparation, which must be thorough and complete in every detail so that every man in the raid knows his part.

Preparation. The troops employed for a raid are a specially chosen unit, a platoon or half-company. Better still, a regiment may have a detachment specially trained in this work. When a raid has been decided upon against a particular point in the hostile line, the leader of the raid has the following duties to perform:

1. He goes to the command post of the center of resistance opposite to the point in the enemy’s line against which the raid is to be made. Here he gathers all necessary information concerning the enemy by studying maps and sketches, and comparing them with the ground. He also speaks with occupants of the first line for the purpose of getting information; and calls upon the commander of the center of resistance to send special listening parties, if necessary, to the enemy’s line, observing necessary precautions to prevent the enemy from becoming suspicious of a contemplated raid.

From the detailed information, maps and sketches that the leader of the raid has obtained from the headquarters of the center of resistance and from his own reconnaissance, he lays out a model of the hostile point to be attacked. This he does in the rear of his own sector. The model is partially dug in so that the raiding detachment will have an exact duplicate of the enemy’s lines to be raided to practice upon.

He now prepares the order for the execution of the raid, which contains the following points:

1. Purpose of the Raid. To destroy such and such a dugout, machine gun emplacement, etc., to make prisoners, to gather information, or to prevent a contemplated gas attack on the part of the enemy.

2. Troops Employed. Number and designation of the different groups of grenadiers and trench cleaners to be used, equipment of same, and ammunition carried.

3. Objective of the Raid. The particular part of a trench, post, blockhouse, etc.

4. Precise RÔle of Each Group. Disposition of the groups before the raid in their own lines. This may be in the firing line or in “No Man’s Land” in a shell hole reached by crawling at night.

Time and signal of departure.

Means of crossing the enemy’s barbed wire entanglements.

Points of the hostile line upon which each group is to make its attack.

RÔle of each group during the raid. Protection of the flank, establishing barricades, proper execution of the raid.

Time or signal to return.

5. Co-operation of the infantry and artillery supporting the raid.

6. Supply of the attacking troops—grenade depots in the firing line.

In practicing the raid in the rear, on the model, the detachment must repeat the execution of the raid at least five times. All the details of the raid are foreseen and provided for. Each man is made thoroughly proficient in his particular part in the raid, so that, in the confusion and darkness, they will be able to reach their objective and carry out their particular function. Each chief of group must be thoroughly conversant with his duties. The leader of the raid personally conducts the most important of these groups.

Execution of the Raid. The most important element of the execution of a raid is speed, its time of duration being only from five to ten minutes.

Time. If all the points in the enemy’s line to be attacked are thoroughly known and located, the raid can be carried out during the night. But if there is some lack of knowledge of the above mentioned points, the raid must be carried out at dusk or dawn, so that the objectives can be at least partly seen.

Disposition of the Groups to Cross the Barbed Wire; Disposition of the Troops before the Raid. The distance of a raid should not be more than fifty yards. For this purpose, the different groups must get into position such a distance from the enemy’s lines either by silently crawling across “No Man’s Land” or by profiting by a short preliminary bombardment of a few minutes which will prevent the enemy’s sentinels and watchers from perceiving them. Their disposition is usually made by hiding or crouching in shell holes.

Destruction of the Barbed Wire. The different ways of destroying barbed wire have been spoken of under Surprise Attacks in the chapter on Defense of a Position.

Signal of Departure. Three methods can be used; previous designation of the hour, use of a whistle, or by means of a rocket. Of these, the last named is probably the best.

There are two different kinds of groups in the raiding party.

The flank groups, armed with hand grenades, protect the groups executing the raid proper by shutting off all avenues of approach of the enemy. Barricades are established by these groups by throwing grenades into the trenches leading to the attacked area.

Between the flank groups, are the groups that carry out the proper mission of the raid. They are armed with incendiary grenades, pistols, and trench knives. Their function is to accomplish any particular destruction of their mission and to capture prisoners.

Infantry Supporting the Raid. The riflemen of the garrison of the center of resistance stand ready at the firing parapets to receive the groups returning from the raid. The machine guns carry out an intense fire on the flanks of the point raided to prevent the approach of hostile reinforcements. The rifle grenadiers of the garrison execute fire upon special points on the flanks or on the rear of the raided area, such as machine gun emplacements, junction of boyaux, etc.

Support of the Artillery. If artillery is used in conjunction with the raid, it may be employed before, during, or after the raid, or in any combination of these periods.

During the raid, two kinds of fire are carried out, that of demolishing the barbed wire entanglements, and special elements of the hostile position that will hinder the raid. This is carried out by the light artillery and trench mortars, principally the latter.

During the raid, the support artillery establishes protective curtains of fire on both flanks and on the rear of the raided portion of the enemy’s line. This is to neutralize the enemy’s defenses and to cut the area off from communications or reinforcements. In other words, the artillery will isolate by its fire the point of attack of the raid.

At the designated time for the return of the raid or at the signal of a rocket sent up by the raiding party on reaching their own first line, the support artillery establishes its usual defensive barrage in “No Man’s Land.” It may also fire on the enemy’s position with shrapnel, because at this time reinforcements are usually coming up into the raided area. This latter fire may be repeated two or three times during the ensuing hour.

Gas attacks may be carried out in two ways, by asphyxiating shells or by waves of gas.

The shelling of a position with asphyxiating shells is made to neutralize the action of its defenders and, if possible, to kill and wound some of them. Asphyxiating shells are used in counter-battery fire against the enemy’s artillery emplacements. They are also used for shelling a woods in which troops are located and against strong points of the hostile position, either during an offensive period or to carry out attrition of the enemy. Such shelling is also carried out for an offensive, either in the preparation or for the protection of the flanks during the attack. Asphyxiating shells may be thrown on a village or strong point in rear or on the flank of the enemy’s position where he may organize a counterattack.

Gas waves are used against the enemy’s position with or without following up with the infantry for a raid or an attack. Usually the liquified gas is brought to the first lines in cylinders under heavy pressure. These cylinders must be properly protected from hostile fire until the time that they are to be used. With a favorable wind, the gas is carried across “No Man’s Land” and into the enemy’s position. Gas waves, of course, are more efficient than asphyxiating shells, but the use of the former method is more difficult as it takes special apparatus and a trained personnel, and can be used only under favorable atmospheric conditions.

Protections against Gas. In general, protective measures against gas waves are the same as against asphyxiating shells. The individual protective apparatus is the gas mask. The essential part of a mask is composed of several layers of porous material containing a chemical that will neutralize the poisonous gas. The gas mask has an efficiency of several hours. Each man carries a gas mask and there are also a certain number kept in reserve in the different depots of the sector. Each gas mask must be properly adjusted and it is the duty of each officer and non-commissioned officer to ascertain that each man in the company has a gas mask in good condition. He must always carry the same.

Each man is trained to put on his mask rapidly. Standing orders compel the man to put on his gas mask immediately the alarm is given or upon his detection of gas by color or odor. Frequent exercises are held to perfect the men in putting on their gas masks rapidly. This drill may be held at the same time as the “stand to” exercises are carried out. The men must have confidence in their gas masks. For this purpose, each man is sent through a “chlorine chamber” several times to give him confidence that, although the gas may be of great density, it has no disagreeable effects.

There are also collective protective apparatuses used in dugouts. Each large shelter possesses such apparatus. Besides this, the entrances and openings of each dugout will be closed by a double canvas impregnated with a special chemical solution to neutralize the gas.

Special Precautionary Measures. First, there is established a system of bells, sirens, and klaxons which are used by the watchers to give the signal of alarm. This signal is taken up and repeated in all parts of the position and to the rear. Careful observation on the part of a garrison may detect signs of a coming gas attack. Metallic noises in the hostile line may indicate the transportation of gas cylinders. Very often the enemy will use little balloons to ascertain the velocity and direction of the wind. Foggy weather is a special time of danger.

In each sector or regiment, an officer is in charge of the maintenance of protective gas apparatus and all the measures against gas attack. With the proper precautionary measures and application of the protective measures, the gas attack is not very dangerous.

Protection against Liquid Fire. The enemy may make an assault with a special detachment of liquid fire operators in the first line. The object of these operators is to throw jets of liquid fire on the occupants of the first line to allow the assaulting columns to penetrate into the position without losses. The only means of combating such an attack is to evacuate the part of the trenches against which the liquid fire is directed, and move by the flanks. Machine guns and automatic rifles should be established to bring flanking fire to bear against the detachment of liquid fire operators. It is impossible to withstand a liquid fire attack if the operators succeed in coming within sixty yards before the garrison can man its parapets.