_Lieutenant Baker_: “They will employ aimed fire, semi-automatic.”
_The Director_: “About what is the rate of this fire with well trained automatic riflemen?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “I should say that it would be about 30 to 40 shots per minute.”
The Class is now conducted to the point where the first fire position is located.
_The Director_: “Captain Hall, the first section is along this front firing on the enemy strong point. They are returning the fire, the volume of which is just about at a balance with your fire. You hear the firing of the 2nd platoon off to the right. You have had a few casualties. What would you do now?”
_Captain Hall_: “By a process of fire and movement I would work my section further to the front and build up a new firing line ________ (indicate the location of the new line).”
_The Director_: “What would your second section be doing?”
_Captain Hall_: “It would be following the advance ready to join the firing line when I call upon it to do so.”
The class is now conducted up to the new fire position.
_The Director_: “The line has worked forward to this position with a few more casualties. It is apparent that the enemy’s fire is increasing in volume and you find that it will be impossible for you to continue the advance. In other words you cannot attain fire superiority with your present force on the firing line. What would you do about that, Lieutenant Barry?”
_Lieutenant Barry_: “I would signal the section “Fire Faster” and under cover of this increased volume of fire I would bring my 2nd section up onto the line, and have the men join in the firing.”
(Note.—The solution of all the above will depend upon the lay of the ground where the Terrain Exercise is staged. The points to be brought out by the Director are that the first wave will continue its advance by its own efforts as far to the front as possible. When it cannot longer maintain the superiority of fire necessary to enable it to continue, the 2nd section must be brought up and continue the forward movement. When the 2nd section has joined the 1st on the line the subsequent progress of the action will depend upon how well the superiority of fire can be maintained. If the volume is such that the enemy can be kept down and prevented from firing effectively the advance can be continued, by the utilization of fire and movement. Ordinarily the enemy will realize the hopelessness of the situation and evacuate his position before it is necessary to carry it by assault.)