Page:Machine-gun tactics (IA machineguntactic00appl).pdf/231

 not hold on to their fire position even at the risk of losing the guns.

''Para. 512.''—Owing to the character of the cavalry encounter, it is often advisable to keep the limbers with the guns. And it may sometimes be well to leave a portion of the second-line wagons and the carts of the machine-gun detachments behind in a place of security, and to order the light-ammunition column to march at the head of the second-line transport. Yet another question may arise for the machine-gun detachments; whether to take the wheeled carriage or only the sleigh mountings into the firing line.

''Para. 513.''—If the assault succeeds, guns and machine guns hurry to the captured position to take part in the pursuit.

Should their own attack fail, or should that of the enemy succeed, artillery and machine guns must endeavour to cover the retirement, and, disregarding the hostile artillery, must turn their fire into pursuing riflemen.

In a recent article in the ''Jahrbücher für die Deutschen Armeen und Marine'' Captain von Beckmann gives the following summary of the tactical use of machine guns:—

1. Machine guns must take up the smallest possible space, and be capable of quickly coming into action (at rifle ranges). They must be capable of accompanying infantry and cavalry wherever these arms can go.