ENFILADE ATTACK.

Enfilading Parties and Reliefs. Having occupied the section of trenches as pre-arranged, and consolidated same under cover of bomb fire, we use this as a base from which to extend our position to the flanks and front along the enemy’s trenches, by means of enfilading parties.

An enfilading party may consist of three or more men. When it consists of three men, they are the BAYONET MAN, the THROWER, and the CARRIER. The bayonet man is really a trench scout, who proceeds ahead and is armed with a RIFLE and BAYONET, or, better still, a PAIR OF PISTOLS. His duties are to spy out the trench and pass back information to the thrower as to the locality and direction of the bays in front. In giving information to the thrower as to the location of different points which he wants bombed, the clock method may be used; the thrower’s position being the centre of an imaginary dial and twelve o’clock directly in front and in line with the section of the trench from which the thrower is throwing. It can be easily seen that by this method information can be given the thrower as to the bends and twists of the trench. Another method the trench scout may use is merely pointing the direction in which he wants the bomb placed, and denoting the number of yards distant. The trench scout should be very careful in watching out for loopholes through traverses from which the enemy could guard against the approach of an enfilading party, also give information when an island traverse or communicating trench is reached. In the former case it will be necessary for an additional scout, one to proceed each way. In the latter case, sandbags will probably be required to double-block the communicating trench and information passed back to this effect so that supply men can rush them forward for that purpose.

It is necessary that the trench scout be a very wide-awake, careful and resourceful man, and have his wits about him at all times.

In the absence of an officer or N.C.O. in the enfilading party the thrower commands and is responsible that signals be given that the artillery know the exact extent of our frontage at all times. This is done by means of a flag which is khaki colored on the enemy’s side and red on our own side, so that it can be easily picked up by our artillery, the flag being maintained in a correct position by the use of a double flag-staff. At night the signal may be given by the use of flashes or any other pre-arranged signals.

The carrier’s duty is to follow up and keep supplied with a stock of bombs, and to pass back information, messages and orders.