“Captain Howe, tell us how you would notify the commanding officer of the assault companies of your plans.”
_Captain Howe_: “I would send a written message by a runner as follows:
“Begin your attack at (_u_). The machine guns will open fire from (_s_) at (_u_). The Stokes mortar will open fire in the direction of (_w_) at (_u_) and will lift their fire 100 yards in two minutes for six minutes. The one-pounders will fire on hostile machine guns.
“Your platoon, advancing in the direction of (_w_), will fire a red rocket as a signal that it is leaving its cover and beginning the attack.
“Battalion ammunition point in edge of woods 500 yards east of (_s_).
1. Make copies of the problems and the situation, one for each member of the class.
2. Conduct the class to the point where the battalion commander receives the messages from his assault companies.
3. Make a short talk on the employment of machine guns on the offensive: (_a_) tasks of machine guns in general on the offensive. (_b_) Tasks of a machine gun company of an assault battalion. (_c_) Orders of the battalion commander to the machine gun company. (_d_) Formation of the machine gun company. (_e_) Communications.
4. Distribute the sheets bearing problem and situation No. 1.
5. Read problem and question members of the class on the tactical situation.
6. Take up the solution of the problem: Action of Major X; Orders actually issued by Major X.
7. Explanation by the director of the importance of using fire power, and of the necessity for coordination between the rifle companies and the machine guns.
8. May have members of the class write out orders of the battalion commander.
_The Director_: “In the situation just completed we have considered the employment of machine guns from the point of view of the commander who has the responsibility for the coordination of the rifle companies and the machine gun company and for the application of fire power to save man-power wherever it is practicable. In the next situation we shall take up the methods of applying this fire power to support the rifle companies. These are technical questions entirely within the province of the machine gun officer. In the formation the battalion commander designates the position of the machine gun company with reference to the rifle companies; the machine gun company commander determines the formation within his company. Ordinarily the company commander will determine whether the guns will go forward on carts and when it will be necessary to abandon the carts. The firing position may be designated by the battalion commander, or it may be left to the selection of the machine gun company commander. The manner of occupation of the position is decided upon by the machine gun officer. The class of fire to be delivered is a question for the decision of machine gun officers or non-commissioned officers. The situation may be such as to require the sections or platoons to employ different classes of fire. The concentration of the fire of his platoons is a function of the machine gun company commander. In the absence of orders from the battalion commander, the company commander will determine whether the fire of the company will be distributed over the front of the whole battalion or whether it will be concentrated upon a portion of the front. The method of advance from one firing position to another will be determined by the company or platoon commander. Where the company is employed as a whole the advance may be by platoon. As a rule, however, the platoons will advance by alternate sections so that a rifle company will never be without support. The duty of maintaining the ammunition supply from the battalion ammunition point forward to the guns devolves upon the machine gun captain. The machine gun company is responsible for communication forward to the assault companies and to the battalion commander.”