3. Get any information of the enemy that may be of value from the outgoing company commander.
The company commander will then make his tactical dispositions. In occupying the trenches a certain section of the line is assigned to each company. This section contains so many bays of the trench. The following dispositions are suggested as meeting the requirements under our organization:
1. The company is organized into four platoons of four squads each.
2. The section of the line assigned to the company contains eight bays.
3. Support No. 1 consists of the first and second platoons.
4. Support No. 2 consists of the third and fourth platoons.
5. From Support No. 1: Two squads of the first platoon occupy bays 1 and 2; two squads of the second platoon occupy bays 3 and 4.
6. From Support No. 2: Two squads of the third platoon occupy bays 5 and 6; two squads of the fourth platoon occupy bays 7 and 8.
7. Each squad establishes a double sentinel post in the bay assigned to it and the remaining members go into the squad shelters just in rear of the bays. This gives three reliefs for a double sentinel post and allows one extra man to be utilized as “runner,” etc.
8. The remainder of the company is established in the company dugouts.
9. Depending upon the length of the tours of duty of the company in the first line trenches, the squads are changed according to a system that will have to be varied to suit the occasion, the squads in support taking their place in the fire trench and those in the fire trench returning to the support.
Platoons enter by not more than two squads at one time, thus minimizing the danger from shell fire. The platoon commander will explain to his squad leaders the extent of trench to be taken over and the action to be taken in case they are caught under shell fire or rapid fire while going up to the trenches. A second in command in each squad will be designated, so that if casualties occur among the squad leaders the relief will proceed as previously arranged.
The operation will proceed in silence. Rifles must be carried so that they do not show over the parapet. On reaching the fire trench the men of the first relief are posted to relieve the old detail and each man finds out any points that may be useful from his predecessor on that post.