WAVES OF ASSAULT. In modern war fare the intense effort demanded of assault ing troops, and the successive attacks which they must make necessitate a deep formation. The several echelons thus constituted have been glint the name of moves. But this term does not signify a uniform formation. The fore most waves, generally the first and the second, advance in line; those following arc in various formations, for example, in lines of small columns. Moreover, to facilitate the leading of the echelons, the waves arc formed by the simultaneous advance of tactical units not de ploed in single line hut themselves extended in the direction of depth, from which it re sults that a company or battalion will form a p.irt of several successive waves. Formation tor the assault does not consist of the deploy ment of rigid lines capable only of a movement straight tc the front, but, on the contrary, of placing side by side tactical units which are capable of being led and even manoeuvred.
The waves are crowded into the first-line trench and the parallels in the immediate rear, sometimes in double rank. They dash forward, tollowing each other at short distances so as to rapidly cross the zone of hostile barrage fire. Theoretically an assaulting battalion leaves a single block of its parallels of departure and then while marching takes the distances pre scnbed between waves. In no event should
these waves close up automatically on the had mg wave, as its only effect would be in thicken mg the skirmish line, increasing the losses, and mixing the units. To avoid such effects, when the first wave has crossed the advanced hostile trench it continues its advance toward the oh m-nye assigned to it. The other waves follow in good order. They engage successively ac cording to the necessities of the situation under orders from the commanders of the several units. The assault is now followed by a com bat in the interior of the position. At certain points the enemy yields, at others he resists stubbornly. The assailants, rallying about the ighcees that remain, rush into the opening and surround the nuclei of resistance. As soon as the trench is carried the attack pauses only long enough to reform, and the groups of assailants then dash into every opening that offers. Their audacity constitutes their strength. These scattered combats bring the assailants in contact with a new line of defense. If it is occupied. they dig themselves in, in order to form a line of departure for an assault by the reinforce