NIGHT OPERATIONS FOR INFANTRY.*
THERE is no doubt that night operations will have to be employed in the warfare of the future far more than they have been in the past. This fact has been accepted for some time, and has been chiefly brought about by the improvement in firearms, which has rendered an advance over a fire-beaten zone so much more difficult than it was formerly. So terrible is the fire that can in many cases be brought to bear from a prepared position over the ground in front of it that, short of advancing underground by sap or mine, an approach under cover of darkness gives the only chance of success so long as the defence remains unshaken.
When a force already deployed for action makes such an approach at night, and carries it right on to an actual attack, the operation is known as a "night attack." When, however, the move is made to obtain a better position from which to carry on the fighting later, or to obtain a position from which an assault can be made at dawn, it is known as a " night advance." When darkness is used as a cover for the secret movement by march of troops from one point to another, usually with a view to surprise, the term "night march " is employed to describe the movement. All night operations are attended with so many difficulties and dangers that they would only be undertaken when no alternative course offers a reasonable hope of success.
As far as attacks and advances are concerned, the situation is much as it has been since the perfection of modern rifles and the introduction of machine-guns, though it has remained for recent wars actually to prove their power. This is not the case with night marches. The conditions of warfare are now undergoing a fresh change, which makes night marches of greater importance than they were two years, or even one year, ago. Until quite lately, when a commander wished to deceive or surprise another by a secret movement of troops —though the best way of doing this was by a night march— it was sometimes open to him to effect his purpose by a movement during daylight. This is no longer the case. The introduction of airships and aeroplanes precludes any- thing but the night march, and the occasions for its employ- ment will therefore become far more common. Practically all secret movements must now be made under cover of darkness. It is for this reason that Colonel Dawkins's book is especially valuable. It should be taken as being an addendum to the official works, for, though based upon them, it contains many points of apparently minor importance, but of real practical • Night Operations for Infantry Compiled for the Ille_of Company Officers. By Colonel C. T. Dawkins, C.M.G. London: Gale Sad ralda% ls. Od• net.]
value, which cannot all be included in a text-book. The arrangement of the subject is clear and the style simple. We think, however, that whatever is a repetition of matter already contained in official works should, to avoid confusion, be given in exactly the same form. This is not done in every case. The author does not attach sufficient importance to the value of wire entanglements against a night assault. Very often this is the principal object of their construction. In his plea for the necessity of constant exercise in night work we heartily agree. Of all manoeuvres, those carried out in darkness depend most for success on the familiarity only to be acquired by practice.
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