NEW TOMMY ATKINS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1933, Page 8

NEW TOMMY ATKINS

LATEST TACTICS IN WAR

STALKING MACHINE-GUNS

A new American debt is being contracted —l»y> the British Army. 1 More exactly, it- might be termed a return on Britain’s original inveiAineut in America.. Or it may be a fresh compensation- for the loss of the American Colonies.

The Army this year is going to •revive a profitable les-on it learned, to its cost, m fighing against the 18th. century black-woodsmen. Ti e infantry are to be trained, says the military correspondent of. the Daily Telegraph, above aid, as stalkers and marksmen. This is to be the key-note of thenwork in 1913.

- The training is to match the new clothing. Each, it is hoped, will react HxuiefiOiaMy on the other. Freedom of movement and adaptability are to be developed, and given full scope.' Skill and craft in using ground to conceal • movement and. surprise the enemy are to be the objects of special attention. • When, the American backwoodsmen gave the British Army the original lesson, they made their enemies pay heavily for it. In one case they inflicted over 3090 casualties on a British force, while themselves losing a bare score! Their marksmen, skilled in taking cover, repeat'edty found a superb target in the rigid ‘ and stiff-drilled formations of then- antagonists, i. But the lesson was invaluable. For it helped. Britain to win the. war against Napoleon. The seam.from which grew the famous light infantry of Moore and Wellington had been planted in America. .It was by the skill in using .ground and fire that the deadly answer to. Napoleon’s suppocedly invi’iciHe masses was found. To-day'the problem is to find an answer to the machine-gun, which dominated the battlefields of 1914-1918. The answer is the tank. But this dies not cure the helplessness of 'the infantry. They are left with a servde roie.' ■ So they are setting out. to develop an answer of their own.

The primary aim of the'training this year is to create a-body .of infantry t.iat ean challenge the machine-gun by its own craft. With tliiss aim riflemen are toe Ep specially trained in the ways of stalking,, machine-guns-, and taking them unawares.

For such training the wooded and broken country round Aldershot offers good opportunities. When they have the new kjt and lightened equipment-, they should, have an aid. toward the nec&se&ry rimbleness and actia ity.