The assailant should launch as few troops as possible for initiating the action. They should avoid engaging prematurely in a fire fight with the infantry of the hostile main position, even if the terrain would permit a covered approach to short range. If the advanced troops allow themselves to be enticed into doing this, they expose themselves to the danger of suffering a defeat, and oblige the commander of the whole force to launch for their relief troops that were intended for the main attack.[1]
Insufficient information in regard to the enemy and undue precipitation in issuing orders may place advanced troops in such an unfavorable situation. If the defender allows himself to be tricked into assuming the offensive for the purpose of driving off harassing detachments, so much the better for the assailant, for the latter's artillery will then find an opportunity to fire on the enemy.[2]
Austria. "Under certain circumstances, the covering troops will have
to be reinforced at an early moment in order that a strong line may be
formed opposite the enemy, but, in many cases, they will nevertheless still
abstain from advancing into the zone of effective fire." The Austrians
usually employ strong covering bodies. The Germans desire to ensure
simultaneous action on the part of all the troops in opening the combat.
At Spicheren the commander of the 14th Infantry Division, under the erroneous assumption that the heights of Spicheren were only occupied by troops covering the entraining at Forbach, issued orders to General von François to drive away the hostile artillery. All of Frossard's Corps, however, was in position on the heights on which the artillery was posted.[3]
At 10 A. M., on August 6th, 1870, the commanding general of the Vth Army Corps issued orders to the advance guard to cross the Sauer with four battalions at Wörth and Spachbach (1500 m. apart) and to occupy Wörth and the heights beyond, where the entire corps of Mac Mahon was in position.[4]
- ↑ "It is a general principle to push as close as the terrain permits to the enemy's position with advance troops for the purpose of opening fire."
- ↑ The French regulations hint at this. Look up the advance of French infantry during the combats around Ste. Marie aux Chênes. Der 18. August, pp. 174 and 179.
- ↑ Gen. St. W., I, p. 310.
- ↑ Gen. St. W., I, p. 320.
