localities which have been seized during the advance, and can assist local reserves in acting as points of support to the attack.
Machine Guns in Defence
1. In defence, as in attack, the fire of machine guns should usually be withheld until the more critical stages of the battle. Premature opening of fire is liable to expose the position of the machine guns to the enemy's artillery.
2. Machine guns may either be dispersed to command approaches, defiles, exits from woods, etc., by which the enemy may advance, to occupy advanced posts, and to bring enfilade fire to bear upon salients and upon the ground in front of weak parts of the position, or they may be massed and employed under the orders of commanders of sections.
3. When the guns are massed the alternative positions, Sec. 167 (D) 1, should be such that the firing line can be assisted during the crisis of the fight, and the advance of local and decisive counter-attacks can be covered and prepared. When covered approaches can be provided, massed machine guns should usually be withdrawn, after they have achieved their immediate object, and should await another favourable opportunity for action.
ITALY
Gun.—The Perino machine gun has been
