be necessary to begin the preliminary training during the winter training season.
General Principles of the Employment of Infantry Machine Guns
1. The normal duty of the infantry machine gun in war is to assist infantry in every way by its fire, but it may be given an independent rôle at any time, if the tactical situation makes it advisable to do so.
2. The effective use of a machine gun depends largely upon the skill with which it has been brought into action. Surprise and concealment are very important factors in its employment; for the effect of the gun is much increased by sudden bursts of fire from concealed positions. The tripod mounting makes it possible to take advantage of small features of the ground to obtain cover and to escape an enemy's observation. In order to develop the power of the gun to the utmost the fullest use should be made of natural and artificial cover.
3. The depth of the beaten zone of the machine gun is small as compared with that of collective rifle fire. This makes the effect of small errors in sighting for elevation proportionately greater. A section of machine guns cannot therefore be relied upon to make its fire effective when first opening fire, at distances beyond about 1,000 yards. If observation of fire is possible, elevation may be rapidly corrected,
