[1]: This chapter reprinted from Infantry Journal.

Use and Improvement of Natural Cover

A screen or mask consists of hedges, crops, underbrush, etc., which hide the rifleman without, however, protecting him from fire.

Cover or shelter consists of walls, earthworks, etc., which protect the rifleman from fire.

On the battlefield, natural features that screen and shelter should be utilized as much as possible, as they possess the following advantages over artificial works:

(a) Their organization demands less work.

(b) Concealment is easier.

(c) From their nature, it is difficult for the enemy to estimate, for a given length, the number of men sheltered.

They possess, however, certain disadvantages:

(a) The protection is sometimes so excellent that, morally as well as materially, it becomes difficult to leave the shelter. Example: quarries with obstructed exits. Therefore, good judgment must be exercised in the selection.

(b) Some of them are too visible. Example: large hedges. In this case their range can be easily found.

As a general rule, do not occupy them uniformly and do not change the appearance of the organized parts.

Organization of the cover:

To organize the cover which protects troops from fire, construct suitable positions for firing and resting. To utilize the screens which merely hide the troops without protecting them from fire, dig trenches behind these screens in the following manner:

(a) Choose the points which give the best field of fire.

(b) Construct cover for firing.

(c) Construct a shelter.

The constructions are usually "individual" in the first period of work; afterwards, they are organized "collectively." The covers are: (1) for riflemen lying down, (2) for riflemen sitting down, and (3) for riflemen standing up.

Individual Organization of Natural Cover

Examples of hasty individual cover behind trees, bushes, or branches:

(a) Fallen tree (logs or branches), the height of which is at a maximum of 1 foot above the ground:

(b) Fallen tree, the top of which is more than 1 foot above the ground.

Wood which does not afford sufficient protection against bullets must be reinforced by earth at the right and against the cover 1 foot behind. Plates 27d, 27e, and 27f show the progressive improvement of the cover.

Examples of hasty individual covers behind a furrow, a crest, a heap of sand or earth:

Dig the ground as near as possible to crest A of the furrow in the manner indicated for the cover installed behind a fallen tree more than 1 foot high.

Use the earth excavated between furrows A and B to build up the earth between furrows B and C and fill up furrow C; continue afterwards as for the sharp ridge.

(A) Lower the height about 8 inches; throw the earth forward. Dig a trench as indicated in the figure.

(B) Make a loophole in the pile of earth, showing oneself as little as possible. Improve the firing position by making a place for the right leg and an elbow rest.

Examples of hasty shelters (individual) arranged behind a large stone or heap of stones:

A heap of stones, the top of which is 1 foot at a maximum above the ground:

General Organization of Natural Cover

This consists in connecting up and coordinating the individual work under the direction of the squad commander. The work should be carried out on the lines adopted for the individual work; and the rules prescribed for the construction of artificial cover (profiles, depths, various shelters) should be followed as far as possible. In arranging the cover, the squads should utilize the natural features of the terrain.

Ditches full of water, drains, streams:

Ordinary roads, road and railroad embankments, and sunken roads:

Hedges and woods:

Dig a trench behind the hedge and throw the earth against it; make openings in the hedge to facilitate view and fire (Plate 27w). If the hedge is low, deepen the trench, but make the parapet lower than the hedge which masks it.

Avoid destroying the natural appearance of the wood; do not cut the trees and brush on a certain depth, but cut off branches where necessary to obtain a field of fire. Behind this strip cut the brush and small trees so as to make a path 3 to 4 yards wide. Construct a trench behind the mask of trees. The parapet can be raised up to 2 or even 3 feet. Construct abatis on the parts of the border of the wood, where it will not interfere with the fire.

Walls:

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