3.  Any troops in charge of a portion of trench must never abandon it, no matter what happens, even if surrounded.

4.  All ground lost must be retaken at once by immediate counter attack launched by the unit which lost the ground.  As a matter of fact a counter attack is difficult for a platoon or company; it is really necessary for it to be made by a battalion.

5.  Each company must provide for emplacements for mine throwers to be served by the artillery and for pneumatic guns to be served by their own men.

Instructions to be Issued by Battalion Commander.

1.  Disposition of companies in sector assigned (best done by sketch showing sectors assigned to companies).

2.  Special orders to companies (concerns field of fire to be obtained not only in own sector, but also in those adjoining it).

3.  Improvement of defense. (Brief reports from company commanders to be followed by work being done on order of battalion commander after inspection.)

4.  Organization of watching (not sentry duty) (by company commander under supervision of battalion commander).

5.  Organization of observation (not sentry duty) (by company commander under supervision of battalion commander).

6.  Organization of supply (procuring, routing, etc., of tools, ammunition, food, water, etc.), (by company commander under supervision of battalion commander).

7.  Organization of liaison (communication) (runners, telephone, telegraph visual signaling, pigeons, etc., by company commander under the supervision of battalion commander). All telephonic communication must be in code.

8.  Organization of supplies to include amounts to be expected daily from the rear.

9.  Knowledge of enemy must be imparted to company commanders in order to assist them in making their dispositions.

10.  Frequent reports to be made of existing conditions at the front for information of higher commanders.

11.  Lateral defense of boyaux must not be overlooked.

12.  Wide turning movements are not possible.  Enveloping movements are possible only on local attacks against small portions of the hostile line after it has been pierced.  All main attacks are confined to purely frontal attacks.

13.  The most important obstacle is barbed wire entanglements.

14.  Communication (liaison) between and co-ordination and co-operation of, the different elements of a command is of the utmost importance.

15.  Artillery co-operates more closely than ever with infantry.  Its reconnaissance officers accompany infantry lines in order to obtain information. There is a certain number of artillery observers attached to each battalion of infantry.

The general method of attack is to smother the defense with a torrent of explosive shells, kept up incessantly for one or more days, and shatter the defense so they will offer but slight resistance to the infantry; then rush forward with the infantry and seize the positions while the enemy is demoralized, and consolidate them before reenforcements can be brought up.