CHAPTER VIIISPECIAL OPERATIONS
The object of a raid is to attack a special point in the hostile lines, destroy it, and return with prisoners or information. Such a point may be a salient, blockhouse, observation or listening post, etc. The purpose of the raid is both to prosecute the attrition of the enemy and to gather information. A raid is made with or without a previous artillery preparation. Usually, however, the barbed wire entanglements of the enemy are subjected to a short and intense artillery shelling. Whether or not an artillery bombardment is carried out, the tactics of the raid are the same. Success of a raid depends entirely on its preparation, which must be thorough and complete in every detail so that every man in the raid knows his part.
RAID AGAINST A HOSTILE POINT
Preparation.The troops employed for a raid are a specially chosen unit, a platoon or half-company. Better still, a regiment may have a detachment specially trained in this work. When a raid has been decided upon against a particular point in the hostile line, the leader of the raid has the following duties to perform:
1. He goes to the command post of the center of resistance opposite to the point in the enemy’s line against which the raid is to be made. Here he gathers all necessary information concerning the enemy by studying maps and sketches, and comparing them with the ground. He also speaks with occupants of the first line for the purpose of getting information; and calls upon the commander of the center of resistance to send special listening parties, if necessary, to the enemy’s line, observing necessary precautions to prevent the enemy from becoming suspicious of a contemplated raid.
From the detailed information, maps and sketches that the leader of the raid has obtained from the headquarters of the center of resistance and from his own reconnaissance, he lays out a model of the hostile point to be attacked. This he does in the rear of his own sector. The model is partially dug in so that the raiding detachment will have an exact duplicate of the enemy’s lines to be raided to practice upon.
He now prepares the order for the execution of the raid, which contains the following points:
1.Purpose of the Raid.To destroy such and such a dugout, machine gun emplacement, etc., to make prisoners, to gather information, or to prevent a contemplated gas attack on the part of the enemy.
2.Troops Employed.Number and designation of the different groups of grenadiers and trench cleaners to be used, equipment of same, and ammunition carried.
3.Objective of the Raid.The particular part of a trench, post, blockhouse, etc.
4.Precise Rôle of Each Group.Disposition of the groups before the raid in their own lines. This may be in the firing line or in “No Man’s Land” in a shell hole reached by crawling at night.
Time and signal of departure.
Means of crossing the enemy’s barbed wire entanglements.
Points of the hostile line upon which each group is to make its attack.
Rôle of each group during the raid. Protection of the flank, establishing barricades, proper execution of the raid.
Time or signal to return.
5. Co-operation of the infantry and artillery supporting the raid.
6. Supply of the attacking troops—grenade depots in the firing line.
In practicing the raid in the rear, on the model, the detachment must repeat the execution of the raid at least five times. All the details of the raid are foreseen and provided for. Each man is made thoroughly proficient in his particular part in the raid, so that, in the confusion and darkness, they will be able to reach their objective and carry out their particular function. Each chief of group must be thoroughly conversant with his duties. The leader of the raid personally conducts the most important of these groups.
Execution of the Raid.The most important element of the execution of a raid is speed, its time of duration being only from five to ten minutes.
Time.If all the points in the enemy’s line to be attacked are thoroughly known and located, the raid can be carried out during the night. But if there is some lack of knowledge of the above mentioned points, the raid must be carried out at dusk or dawn, so that the objectives can be at least partly seen.
Disposition of the Groups to Cross the Barbed Wire; Disposition of the Troops before the Raid.The distance of a raid should not be more than fifty yards. For this purpose,the different groups must get into position such a distance from the enemy’s lines either by silently crawling across “No Man’s Land” or by profiting by a short preliminary bombardment of a few minutes which will prevent the enemy’s sentinels and watchers from perceiving them. Their disposition is usually made by hiding or crouching in shell holes.
Destruction of the Barbed Wire.The different ways of destroying barbed wire have been spoken of under Surprise Attacks in the chapter on Defense of a Position.
Signal of Departure.Three methods can be used; previous designation of the hour, use of a whistle, or by means of a rocket. Of these, the last named is probably the best.
There are two different kinds of groups in the raiding party.
The flank groups, armed with hand grenades, protect the groups executing the raid proper by shutting off all avenues of approach of the enemy. Barricades are established by these groups by throwing grenades into the trenches leading to the attacked area.
Between the flank groups, are the groups that carry out the proper mission of the raid. They are armed with incendiary grenades, pistols, and trench knives. Their functionis to accomplish any particular destruction of their mission and to capture prisoners.
Infantry Supporting the Raid.The riflemen of the garrison of the center of resistance stand ready at the firing parapets to receive the groups returning from the raid. The machine guns carry out an intense fire on the flanks of the point raided to prevent the approach of hostile reinforcements. The rifle grenadiers of the garrison execute fire upon special points on the flanks or on the rear of the raided area, such as machine gun emplacements, junction of boyaux, etc.
Support of the Artillery.If artillery is used in conjunction with the raid, it may be employed before, during, or after the raid, or in any combination of these periods.
During the raid, two kinds of fire are carried out, that of demolishing the barbed wire entanglements, and special elements of the hostile position that will hinder the raid. This is carried out by the light artillery and trench mortars, principally the latter.
During the raid, the support artillery establishes protective curtains of fire on both flanks and on the rear of the raided portion of the enemy’s line. This is to neutralize the enemy’s defenses and to cut the area off from communications or reinforcements. In otherwords, the artillery will isolate by its fire the point of attack of the raid.
At the designated time for the return of the raid or at the signal of a rocket sent up by the raiding party on reaching their own first line, the support artillery establishes its usual defensive barrage in “No Man’s Land.” It may also fire on the enemy’s position with shrapnel, because at this time reinforcements are usually coming up into the raided area. This latter fire may be repeated two or three times during the ensuing hour.