He kept in
contact, or in communication, with his own certain batteries, or his
infantry division, directing the shots of the former and the advance
of the latter. So, really, he had little time to observe anything
save the effect of the firing of his own side on a certain limited
objective.
As for the soldiers in battle, they are, of course, unable to
observe anything except that which goes on immediately in their
neighborhood. The artilleryman fires his gun under the direction of
some observer, often far away, who telephones to him to lower or
elevate his piece, or deflect it to the tight or left. The
infantryman advances as the barrage lifts, and rushes forward
according to orders, firing or using his bayonet as the case may be,
digging in when halted, and waiting for another rush forward. The
machine gunner and his squad aim to put as many of the advancing,
retreating, or standing enemy out of the fighting as possible, and
to save themselves.
The truck men hasten up with loads of ammunition, fortunate if they
are not sent to their death in the drive. The stretcher bearers
look for the wounded and hasten back with them.
So, all in all, no single person can observe more than a very small
part of the great battle. It is really like looking through a
microscope at some organism, while the whole great body lies beyond
the field of vision.
Only the general staff-the officers in their headquarters far behind
the lines, who receive reports as to how this division or corps is
retreating or advancing--can have any real conception of the big
battle, and these persons may see it only at a distance.
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