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Obstacles

Categories: OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS
Military Handbooks: The Plattsburg Manual

The main object in placing obstacles in front of a defensive position is

to delay the enemy while he is under the defenders' fire, and thus make

his advance as difficult as possible. To accomplish this result they

must be so placed that the enemy must cross them. They must not

interfere with the defenders' view or fire; they must not be easily

destroyed by artillery fire; they must not afford concealment to the

enemy; and they must be so made that they will not obstruct a counter

attack on the part of the defenders. The present war has demonstrated

that the barb wire entanglement fulfils more of these requirements than

any other form of obstacle.--See Engineer Department's Manual on Field

Fortifications on how to construct obstacles.



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