Elements of Trench Warfare E-Book

William Henry Waldron

• Herausgeber: Science & Technology Publishing
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 120

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Elements of Trench Warfare is a comprehensive military manual originally published in 1917, designed to instruct officers and soldiers in the essential principles and practical techniques of trench warfare as developed during World War I. Authored by the United States Army War College, this book provides a detailed exploration of the construction, organization, and defense of trenches, reflecting the rapidly evolving nature of combat on the Western Front. The manual covers a wide range of topics, including the layout and types of trenches, the use of parapets and parados, the construction of dugouts and shelters, and the employment of barbed wire and other obstacles. It delves into the methods of communication within trench systems, the importance of camouflage and concealment, and the strategies for both offensive and defensive operations in a trench environment. The book also addresses the psychological and physical challenges faced by soldiers living and fighting in trenches, offering guidance on maintaining morale, health, and discipline under arduous conditions. Illustrated with diagrams and practical examples, Elements of Trench Warfare serves as both a historical document and a technical guide, capturing the tactical innovations and hard-earned lessons of one of the most grueling forms of warfare in modern history. It remains a valuable resource for military historians, enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the realities of World War I combat, providing insight into the daily life, strategic thinking, and technological advancements that defined trench warfare.

Leseprobe

Elements ofTrench Warfare Waldron

Elements ofTrench Warfare

ByCaptain William H. Waldron 29th U. S. InfantryDISTINGUISHED 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"

Price 60 cents

Washington 1917

Copyright, 1917, byWilliam H. Waldron

NATIONAL CAPITAL PRESS, INC., WASHINGTON, D. C.

Agencies

This book may be purchased from any one of the following agencies:

The Book DepartmentArmy and Navy Register Washington, D. C. The Book DepartmentU. S. Infantry Association Union Trust Building Washington, D. C. The Book DepartmentArmy Service Schools Fort Leavenworth, KansasEdwin N. Appleton No. 1, Broadway, New York CityThe Army and Navy Co-operative Co. 721 17th Street N. W. Washington, D. C. or 16 E. 42d Street, New York CityThe price is 60 cents, postage paidSee "Tactical Walks" advertisement in the back of this book.

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

1

CHAPTER II

—Obstacles. Construction, repair. Wire entanglements, barricades, land mines, inundation

4

CHAPTER III

—Lookout and Listening Posts: Types. Construction, service

18

CHAPTER IV

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

24

CHAPTER V

—Use and Improvement of Natural Cover

50

CHAPTER VI

—Revetments: Sandbags. Fascines. Hurdles. Gabions

64

CHAPTER VII

—Working Parties: Details of organization. Laying out tasks. Operations

80

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

86

CHAPTER IX

—Gas Warfare: Methods of dissemination of gas. Gas helmets, care and use of. Sprayers

105

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

114

CHAPTER XI

—The Attack in Trench Warfare

146

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. 4.)

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. 18.)

3. Then comes the first line fire trench with attached machine-gun emplacements at convenient points. (See Fire Trench and Machine-Gun Emplacements, pp. 24 and 44.)

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. 41.)

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. 48.)

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

Take this brief description together with Plate 1, the drawing that accompanies this volume, and study the two until you get the entire system fixed firmly in your mind; that is, until you get a mental picture of all the elements included in the system.

After you have done this, study on through the book in order that you may know the purpose of each of these elements and how one links up with the other.

PLAN OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AN INTRENCHED POSITIONPlate 1

Plate 2

This is the typical system now in use in the European war theaters. Circumstances at certain places may render some variations necessary, and it must not be inferred that the trace of the works is the same throughout. As a rule the types of trenches (altered when necessary to meet local conditions) illustrated herein are the ones in actual use on the war fronts.

All of these trenches and their accessories constitute what is known as the first line. At a distance of from 2,000 to 5,000 yards in rear of this first line a second line, organized in a similar manner, is to be found.

At intervals of from 800 to 1,500 yards along the first line-centers of resistance, or what we know as "supporting points," are located. These consist of fortified villages, or a network (labyrinth) of trenches, provided with every defensive device known to modern warfare. The object of these supporting points is to bring a flanking fire to bear on the intervals between them, with the idea that an attacking force cannot advance beyond them without capturing them.

Plate 2 shows the general scheme of the occupation of a sector of the line by a field army of two divisions.

CHAPTER II

Obstacles

The element of the defensive line nearest the enemy is a line or series of lines of obstacles which are designed for the purpose of:

1. Protecting the lines from surprise.

2. Reducing the momentum of the attack, by breaking up the unity of action and cohesion.

3. Holding the enemy under the effective fires of the defenders.

The conditions that obstacles should fulfil are as follows. They must—

1. Be close to the defender's position. As a rule on the western front they are not more than from 50 to 100 yards distant. If they are too close it may be possible to throw hand grenades from the far edge of them into the defender's trenches.

2. As far as practicable, be sheltered and screened from the enemy. Shell fire is the most effective method of destroying obstacles. If they are not concealed they may furnish aiming points for the enemy's fire against the first line fire trench by his being able to estimate its location with reference to the obstacle.

3. Afford no cover or screen to the enemy.

4. Be so placed that the enemy will come upon them as a surprise.

5. Be so constructed as to be difficult of removal under fire and impracticable to negotiate while still reasonably intact.

6. Be arranged so as not to interfere with a counter attack. The obstacles may have occasional gaps left in them which may be mined.

The different classes of obstacles are: Abatis, low wire entanglements, high wire entanglements, barricades, mines, fougasses, crows feet, military pits with wire entanglements, inundations, etc.

Plate 3.—Abatis.

Abatis (pronounced abatee) consists of branches of trees lying parallel to each other, butts pointing to the rear, and the branches interlaced with barbed wire. All leaves and small twigs should be removed and the stiff ends of branches pointed. The butts are staked or tied down of, anchored by covering them with earth. When more than one row is used the branches overlap the butts of those in front so as to make the abatis about 5 feet high. An abatis formed by felling trees towards the enemy, leaving the butt hanging to the stump, is called slashing.

Plate 4.—Slashing.

Wire Entanglements

Barbed wire is the material most employed in the construction of obstacles. It may be used in the following manner:

1. As a simple trip, for giving the alarm. It is stretched just above the ground and attached to some object that will cause a noise to be made if molested.

2. A simple wire fence, to cause delay and confusion to the enemy in his advance.

3. As an adjunct to tree and brushwood entanglement.

4. As a wire entanglement.

5. As a covering for portable cylinders.

The advantages of the barbed wire entanglement are:

1. It is easily and quickly made,

2. It is difficult to destroy.

3. It is difficult to get through.

4. It offers no obstruction to the view and fire of the defense.

The low wire entanglement is constructed as follows:

1. Drive stakes in the ground until they project about 18 inches. The stakes should be about 6 feet apart, those in each row being opposite the intervals in adjacent rows,

2. The wire is then passed loosely from the head of one stake to another, wound around each and stapled.

3. Where two or more wires cross they should be tied together.

A more useful and efficient modification of the low wire entanglement is made by stapling the wire down the sides of the stakes, allowing five or more feet of slack wire between stakes. Drive the stakes in the ground until the top is flush. This results in a loose network of tangled wires difficult to get through, easily concealed, and difficult to remove.

The high wire entanglement is made by driving stakes so that they protrude from 4 to 6 feet above the ground. They are placed at irregular intervals 5 to 8 feet apart. The head of each stake is connected with the foot of adjoining stakes with the wire loosely drawn, wound around the stakes and stapled fast. Each center post should be stayed by four wires. There should be a trip wire about 9 inches from the ground all the way across the front and another about a foot from the top of the center posts. Barbed wire may then be hung in festoons throughout the entanglement, with no fixed pattern. To increase the entanglement wire may be stapled to the foot of the posts, as indicated in the paragraph above, before they are driven. Large nails should be driven in the tops of the posts with half their length protruding. A number of the wires in the entanglement should be fastened together where they cross. The wire should be passed through paint, if practicable, to take away the bright color. The posts should be painted the color of the surrounding country. Under the conditions encountered on the western front this work has to be done hastily. It is best, therefore, to limit the first stage of construction to just so many strands as will form a nucleus for the whole entanglement, in order that the area may be covered by an obstacle before interruption occurs.

Plate 4a.—Plan of wire entanglement.

Plate 5.—High wire entanglement.

Tight wires help the enemy's advance by forming supports for hurdles. It must be constantly borne in mind that the wires must not be stretched taut.

A portable wire entanglement is constructed by stretching wire loosely around a wooden framework, either circular or square or made on a knife rest, and rolling it into position to close up gaps that may have been made in the entanglement. The illustration shows the wooden framework.

Plate 5a.—Alarm trap.

Plate 6.—Portable entanglement. Constructed in the trenches and rolled into position.

The ordinary repairs to entanglements are made under cover of darkness by working parties detailed for the purpose. Iron posts that can be quickly placed in position are advantageous, their disadvantage being that they may retard bullets that would go through the ordinary wooden posts, thus furnishing just that much cover and protection to attacking parties.

In the construction and repair of entanglements care must be taken to see that they are firmly fastened into the ground with numerous stay posts or "deadmen." This is to prevent the enemy from pulling them to pieces with grappling hooks connected to ropes that lead to his trenches and are attached to powerful windlasses or capstans.

Barricades

Barricades are employed for the defense of streets, roads, bridges, etc. They may be made out of any available material such as furniture, vehicles (overturned or with wheels removed), carts filled with stones, bales of goods, etc.