r^ /^^-•?«riK "^51 S ?^?^'^ f'lFf J .e Ja^,^^ ^^trff V I ANT E,B. CAREY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF Henrg HI. Sage ■L3b5.o?.^ ■ !ifjZ|.i:::i- U294.5.P6''e47"i'9i'7"""-"'"'^ olin 3 1924 030 724 995 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030724995 THE PLATTSBUEG MANUAL A HANDBOOK FOB FEDERAL TRAINING CAMPS BY O. O. ELLIS riRST LIEUTENANT, UNITED STATES INFANTRY AND E. B. GAREY FIBST LIEUTENANT, UNITED STATES INFANTRY (INSTRUCTORS, PLATTSBURG TRAINING CAMP, 1918) WITH MORE THAN 150 ILLUSTRATIONS NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1917 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL A HANDBOOK FOR FEDERAL TRAINING CAMPS PREFACE This book is to tell the man who is going to Platts- burg, or to any Federal Training Camp, what he should know. Its further purpose is to offer a means of review to the man who has attended any Training Camp and to start him, if he so desires, along the cor- rect road for a commission in the officers' Reserve Corps. The authors have commanded companies at Platts- burg, New York, and noting the need of such a text compiled their observations while there. The average man attending a Federal Training Camp wants to know as much as possible about the Art and Science of war. He wants to acquire a good knowledge of the principles involved. He is inter- ested in the technique of movements. He is willing to work for these things but he often becomes lost in confusion when he attempts to study the technical serv- ice manuals. He does not know how to select the most important and omit the less important. The authors have selected from the standard texts some of the vitally important subjects and principles and have presented them to the civilian in a simple and plain way. The first part of the text is for the beginner. It tells him what steps to take to attend a Federal Camp, how viii PREFACE to prepare physically for the strenuous work. After assisting him through the first month, in which it ad- vises him what to do and what not to do, how to direct his energies for the greatest efficiency in the short time at his disposal, it presents for his consideration and study the Officers' Reserve Corps. The second part, or supplement, is a more technical discussion of those subjects introduced in the first. It is intended principally for those who have made excel- lent progress, and for the Officers' Reserve Corps man. The authors intend to revise this work as new condi- tions arise. They would like to have the advice and assistance of any one who has attended, or who wishes to encourage. Federal Training Camps. TO THOSE FAR-SEEING MEN WHO INAUGURATED AND ATTENDED THE FIRST FEDERAL TRAINING CAMP THIS TEXT IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED FOREWORD The Plattsburg Manual, written by Lieutenants Ellis and Garey, will prove very useful to men who are contemplating attendance at Plattsburg or other United States military training camps. It will also be of great value to those who are undergoing training thereat. It is full of practical information presented in a simple and direct manner and gives in detail much data not easily found elsewhere. It is a useful book, easily understandable by those who have had little or no mili- tary experience. It will be useful not only at training camps but it will be of very great value at schools and colleges where military instruction is being given. The authors of this book have performed a valuable service, one which will tend to facilitate and aid very much the development of military training in this coun- try. In addition to the purely mechanical details of training the book presents in a very effective and simple manner the tactical use of troops under various condi- tions. In a word it is a useful and sound work and one which can be commended to those who contemplate a course in military training. (Signed) Leonard Wood, Major General U. S. A. February 27, 1917. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I Geneeal Advice 3 II Physical Exeecise 21 III School oe the Soldier 28 IV School of the SauAD 63 V School of the Compaky 86 VI Fire Superiority 130 VII The Ser,vice of Security 136 VIII Attack and Defense 144! IX General Principles of Target Practice . . 153 X Practice March or "Hike" 159 XI Officers' Reserve Corps 169 SUPPLEMENT I The Theory of Security 213 II Attack and Defense 234 III Patrolling 246 IV Target Practice 252 V Tent Pitching 279 VI Signals and Codes 284 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL CHAPTER I GENERAL ADVICE HOW TO ATTEND A FEDERAL TRAINING CAMP The United States is divided geographically into Mil- itary Departments with a general officer commanding each department. There will be, most probably, one or more Federal Training Camps, each year in each de- partment within the United States. To attend one of these camps it is necessary to secure the permission of the Commanding General of the Department in which the camp is located. To do this write to the Command- ing General at his Department Headquarters and make your wishes known. Ask for an application blank and any necessary data for you to have on the subject. The Departments and their Headquarters are as fol- lows: ( 1 ) The Eastern Department, with Headquarters at Governors Island. (2) The Central Department, with Headquarters at Chicago, 111. (3) The Southern Department, with Headquar- ters at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. 3 4 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL (4) The Western Department, with Headquar- ters at San Francisco, Cahfornia, (5) The Phihppine Department, with Headquar- ters at Manila. (6) The Hawaiian Department, with Headquar- ters at Honolulu, Hawaii, The Government will pay your railroad transporta- tion by the most usual and direct route to and from the nearest camp, supply you with uniforms, including a hat and one pair of shoes, necessary arms, equipment, medical attention, and subsistence. All such informa- tion to govern your particular case will be sent you upon application to your Department Commander. There are certain qualifications as to age, citizenship, physical condition, etc., that the Government demands of each man attending one of these camps. This, also, will be sent to you by your Department Commander. For the purpose of answering inquiries, the Military Training Camp Association of the United States has established the following departmental offices : Eastern. 31 Nassau Street, New York City. Central. Military Training Camps Association, 502 Federal Building, Chicago, 111. Western. M. T. C. A. First National Bank Building, San Francisco, Cal. Southern. M. T. C. A., Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. This association is not in any way connected with the Government. It is for the purpose of promoting Train- GENERAL ADVICE 5 ing Camps. Any of its branch offices will answer all questions about your transportation, uniforms, food, military equipment, and all practical questions that are not clear in your mind. GENERAL INFORMATION The designation of the civilians attending Military Training Camps will be "Federal Reserve Students." The first camp for all reserve students will be an infantry camp. It is called the RED camp. In this camp instruction will be given in the duties of a private. After the first camp, the students will, as far as prac- ticable, be trained for the arm or corps of the service for which they express preference and for which they may seem suited. The second camp is called the WHITE camp. In this camp instruction will be given in the duties of a corporal and sergeant. The third camp is called the BLUE camp. In this camp instruction will be given in the duties of Reserve Company Oflicers. In all practical instructions in the second and third camps the functions of command will, as far as practicable, be exercised by roster. Credit under certain regulations will be given for camp attendance in 1915 and 1916. DEPOSITS If you have not been able to purchase your uniform, you will be required, upon reporting to make a deposit 6 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL of ten dollars to secure the United States against loss or damage other than the result of reasonable wear to the uniform the Government will issue to you. The proper refund will be made at the end of the camp when the uniform is returned to the Government. Each re- serve student who provides his own uniform will not be required to make this deposit, but will be reimbursed by the United States the cost price of the same to the United States, plus 10 per cent. This reimbursement is made in three payments, each being of one third the entire amount. The last payment is made at the end of the blue camp. Upon reporting, each reserve student must make a deposit of ten dollars to cover loss of, or damage to, equipment (gun, etc.) ; proper refund wiU be made at the end of the camp. This is in addition to the deposit required in the preceding paragraph. MAIL For the first week after camp commences, the camp post-office is swamped with incoming mail. The de- livery of your mail will be delayed unless your letters are sent to the company and the regiment to which you belong. Therefore, prepare, before you reach camp, several stamped postal cards, addressed to your family and business associates, containing directions to address all communications to you care of Company , Train- ing Regiment . As soon as you are assigned to a company and regiment, fill in these data and mail these GENERAL ADVICE 7 postal cards at once. This should be done by wire in case important mail is expected during the first week of camp. Mail is delivered to each company as soon as a complete roll of the regiment can be made out and sent to the post-office; this usually required about five or six days at Plattsburg in 1916. During these five or six days only the mail addressed in care of a company and regiment was delivered at the company streets. TYPHOID INOCULATION The Government administers the typhoid prophylaxis inoculation free of charge to any man desiring it. The first inoculation (there being three in all) is given dur- ing the first few days of each camp. It is recommended that this inoculation be taken either at the camp or be- fore arrival. In the past typhoid fever has often been a far more dangerous foe than the opposing army. Dur- ing our war with Spain to every one American soldier killed by a hostile bullet, fourteen were killed by this disease. Indeed, it is more dangerous than the average citizen realizes, because a typhoid patient can be a car- rier of the germs for many years after his recovery and thus unconsciously be a menace to his community. Since the typhoid prophylaxis inoculation is a specific, it is a generous precaution on the part of every patriotic citizen to become inoculated. The reactions are never serious and are frequently mild. The inoculations are usually administered on Saturday, thus avoiding a seri- ous interference with the military service. 8 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL WHAT TO DO ON YOUR AKKIVAL The official communication containing directions to report for training is lost by a great number ol" men. Have yours in your pocket book with your deposit money, and, upon arrival at camp, go immediately to Headquarters where, after presenting it, you will be as- signed to a regiment and company. Then proceed as follows : 1. Report at once with your hand baggage to your company commander, whom you can easily find when you reach the company street. 2. Upon being assigned to a tent, proceed to it and place your hand baggage on an unoccupied cot or on the ground if cots have not been provided. 3. Draw your property, checking it at the time to see that you have been issued the correct amount. 4. Take this property to your cot or tent and recheck it if you are not satisfied with the first check or if it was not checked when issued to you. If j'ou find a short- age, report it to one of the regular noncommissioned officers on duty with the company, and ask him to check it with you. Then in case he is unable to find the miss- ing articles, report the matter to your company com- mander. You will probably be issued the following articles, known as "Quartermaster Property": 1 barrack bag (used as laundry bag) 2 or 3 blankets 2 ])illow cases GENERAL ADVICE 9 1 cot 1 mattress cover 1 mattress 1 pillow 1 shelter half (half of a shelter tent) 5 small metal tent pins 1 poncho 1 sweater Eight men are assigned to a tent. 1 basin, 1 bucket, and 1 lantern are issued to each tent. Clothing. The Government will furnish the follow- ing: 1 hat, service 1 hat, cord 1 coat, service cotton, O. D. 2 shirts, flannel, O. D. 1 pair leggins, canvas 1 pair shoes, marching This hst may be slightly modified. Note that you are to supply yourself with underwear, socks, extra pair of shoes, if necessary, handkerchiefs, and toilet articles. 5. After checking your property, make up your bed and arrange neatly your personal and issued property on or under your cot. Your company commander will, as soon as it is practicable, prescribe the manner in which beds are to be made up and property arranged. 7. Get into uniform as soon as possible. 8, Spend all your spare time the first day cleaning 10 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL your rifle and bayonet. This will require several hours of hard work. Get a rag and rub the heavy grease off of them ; then get a soft pine stick, pointed at one end, and with this point, remove the grease from the cracks, crevices, and corners. Clean the bore from the breech. When the heavy grease has been removed, the metal part of the gun, bore included, should be covered with a light coating of "3-in-l" oil. Heavy grease can be re- moved from the rifle by rubbing it with a rag which has been saturated with gasoline or coal oil. 9. Don't leave the company street on the first day, except with the permission of your company comman- der. Don't ask for this permission unless you have a valid reason. 10. You will have plenty of work to do the first day arranging your property, making up your bed, and cleaning your rifle and other ordnance property. 11. Travel light. Bring only the bare necessities of life to camp with you. Don't bring a trunk. Two suit- cases will hold more than enough. 12. Report in uniform if you have one. 13. Bring a pair of sneakers or slippers, also a com- plete bathing suit. 14. The Government will provide you with a pair of shoes. However, if you can afford it, buy, before you reach camp, an extra pair of high-top tan shoes and have them well broken in by the time you reach camp. Rub- ber heels are recommended. GENERAL ADVICE 11 RULES OF CONDUCT The first few days will be easy and profitable if you will read carefully and adhere to the followng plan of procedure : 1. Get up at the first note of reveille and get quickly into proper uniform. Do not go to the toilet. 2. Get within two or three feet of your place in ranks and await the sounding of assembly for reveille and then step into ranks. 3. Stand at attention after the first sergeant com- mands "Fall In." Remember that this command is equivalent to "Company, Attention." 4. After reveille go first to the toilet, then to your tent to make up your bed, arrange neatly your equip- ment, and clean up the ground under and around your cot. The company commander will require the beds made up and the equipment arranged in a prescribed way. 5. Wash for breakfast. 6. Upon returning from breakfast, go at once to the toilet. Next prepare the equipment prescribed to be worn to drill. This is especially important when the full pack is prescribed. Assist your tent mates in po- licing the ground in and around your tent. 7. If you need medical attention give your name to the first sergeant at reveille and report to him at his tent upon your return from breakfast. Sick call is usually immediately after breakfast. Don't wait until you are 12 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL sick to report to the hospital, but go as soon as you feel in the least unwell, 8. When the first call for drill is blown, put on your equipment, inspect your bed and property to see that everything is in order, and then go to your place in ranks. 9. After the morning drill, get ready for dinner. Get a little rest at this time if possible. 10. After dinner a short rest is usually allowed be- fore the afternoon drill. Take advantage of this op- portunity; get off your feet and rest. Be quiet so that your tent mates may rest. 11. Following the afternoon drill there is a short in- termission before the ceremony of retreat. During this time take a quick bath, shave, get into the proper uni- form for retreat, shine your shoes and brush your clothes and hat. Be the neatest man in the company, 12. Supper usually follows retreat. 13. You will frequently be marched from supper to a lecture. 14. After these lectures the companies ai'e dismissed. At Plattsburg in 1916 it was the custom of most com- pany commanders to hold company conferences in the company streets after these lectures. These confer- ences were for the purpose of, reviewing the day's work and going over that of the next day. The acting non- commissioned officers were required, and all other men invited and encouraged, to attend. 15. Be in bed with lights out at taps. After taps and GENERAL ADVICE 13 before reveille remain silent, thus showing consideration for those who are sleeping or trying to sleep. 16. Consult the company bulletin board at least twice daily. On this bulletin board is usually found the fol- lowing information: (a) A list of calls. (b) The proper uniform for each formation. (c) Schedule of drills. (d) Special orders and instructions. 17. Get all your orders from (a) the bulletin board, (b) the first sergeant, (c) the acting noncommissioned officers, (d) the company commander. Don't put much faith in rumors. ADVICE KEGAKDING HABITS Your life at a federal training camp in regard to food, exercise, hours of sleep, surroundings, and com- forts will differ greatly from that which you are now leading. You will submit your body to a sudden severe phj'sical test. In order to prepare your bodj^ for this change in manner of living and work we recommend that for a short time prior to your arrival in camp and thereafter, you observe the following suggestions: 1. Use no alcohol of any kind. 2. Stop smoking, or at least be temperate in the use of tobacco. 3. Eat and drink moderately. Chew your food well. It is advisable, however, to drink a great deal of coo^ (not cold) water between meals. 14 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL 4. Don't eat between meals, 5. Accustom yourself to regular hours as to sleep- ing, eating, and the morning functions. 6. Keep away from aU soda fountains and soft drink stands. 7. For at least two weeks prior to your arrival at camp take regularly the exercises described in this book. Most men are troubled with their feet during the first week of each camp, usually because they do not observe the following precautions : 1. If you have ever had trouble with the arches of your feet, wear braces for them. 2. Lace your shoe as tightly as comfort will permit. 3. Wash the feet daily. 4. Every morning shake a little talcum powder or "Foot Ease" in each shoe. 5. Each morning put on a fresh pair of socks. Your socks should fit the feet so neatly that no wrinkles re- main in them and yet not be so tight that they bind the foot. Do not wear a sock with a hole in it or one that has been darned. 6. Do not wear silk or cotton socks imtil you have given light wool socks a fair trial. Some men cannot wear with comfort light wool socks. 7. In case of a blister treat it as directed in Chapter X. 8. Most of the foot troubles are caused by wearing shoes that do not fit properly. If the shoe is too large it rubs blisters, if too small it cramps the foot and causes severe pain. Marching several hours while carrying GENERAL ADVICE 15 about thirty pounds of equipment causes each foot to expand at least one half a size in length and corre- spondingly in breadth; hence the size of the shoe you wear in the office will be too small for training-camp use. If you have been hving a sedentary life, ask for a pair of shoes larger than you ordinarily wear. 9. In case the tendon in your heel becomes tender, report at once to the hospital tent and get it strapped. CADET STATUS The official and social relation that is to exist between you and the regular army officers on duty at the camp will be the same as that which exists at West Point be- tween the cadets and the regular army officers over them. In ranks and at drill your officers will accord you the same strictly impersonal and military treatment which is accorded an enlisted man in the regular army. When not in ranks your relation with the regular army officer will be that of one gentleman to another, with the exception that the military salute takes the place of the civilian voice salutation or greeting. You should feel no hesitancy whatsoever about going to your com- pany officer at any time that they are unoccupied to ask for information or advice; however, you should always remember that these officers are exceedingly busy men and conduct yourself accordingly.. Every company of- ficer desires to know each man in his company more in- timately than is permitted by strictly official relations. Endeavor, therefore, to have a short, quiet, social chat 16 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL with him at some appropriate time, such as Sunday, when j'ou know he is not tired or busy. In the evening he will frequently want to rest, study, or write letters; hence at this time do not make your visit too long. A DISCIPLINED SOLDIER You will be expected to become quickly amenable both mentally and physically to discipline. A clear con- ception on j^our part of what drills are disciplinary in character and what discipline really is will help you to become a disciplined soldier. Drills executed at at- tention are disciplinary exercises and are designed to teach precise and soldierly movements and to incul- cate that prompt and subconscious obedience which is essential to proper military control. Hence, all cor- rections should be given and receiA'^ed in an impersonal manner. Never forget that you lose your identity as an individual when you step into ranks; you then be- come merely a unit of a mass. As soon as you obey properly, promptly, and, at times, unconsciously the commands of your officers, as soon as you can cheerfully give up pleasures and personal privileges that conflict with the new order of life which you have submitted, you will then have become a disciplined man. DRESS The uniform you will wear stands for Duty, Honor, and Country. You should not disgrace it by the way you wear it or by your conduct any more than you would GENERAL ADVICE 17 trample the flag of the United States of America under foot. You must constantly bear in mind that in our country a military organization is too often judged by the acts of a few of its members. When one or two sol- diers in uniform conduct themselves in an ungentle- manly or unmilitary manner to the disgrace of the uni- form, the layman shakes his head and condemns all men wearing that uniform. Hence, show by the way in which you wear your uniform that you are proud of it; this can best be accomplished by observing the following rules : 1. Carry yourself at all times as though you were proud of yourself, your uniform, and your country. 2. Wear your hat so that the brim is parallel to the ground. 3. Have all buttons fastened. 4. Never have sleeves rolled up. 5. Never wear sleeve holders. 6. Never leave shirt or coat unbuttoned at the throat. 7. Have leggins and trousers properly laced. 8. Keep shoes shined. 9. Always be clean shaved. 10. Keep head up and shoulders square. 11. Camp life has a tendency to make one careless as to personal cleanliness. Bear this in mind. SALUTING "The military salute is universal. It is at foundation but a courteous recognition between two individuals of 18 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL their common fellowship in the same honorable profes- sion, the profession of atms. Regulations require that it be rendered by both the senior and the junior, as bare courtesy requires between gentlemen in civil life." It is the mihtary equivalent of the laymen's expressions "Good Morning," or "How do you do?" Therefore be punctilious about saluting all regular army officers; be proud of the manner in which you execute your salute and make it indicative of discipline and good breeding. Always look at the officer you are saluting. The junior salutes first. It is very unmilitary to salute with the hands in the pocket, or with a cigarette, cigar, or pipe in the mouth. Observe the following general rules: 1. Never salute an officer when you are in ranks. 2. Indoors (in your tent) unarmed, do not salute but stand at attention, uncovered, on the entrance of an officer. 3. Indoors, armed, render the prescribed salute, i.e., the rifle salute at order arms or at trail. 4. Outdoors, armed, render the prescribed salute, i.e., the rifle salute at right shoulder arms. 5. Outdoors, unarmed, or armed with side arms, but covered, salute with the right hand. ARMY SLANG The following army slang is uniyersally employed: "Bunkie" — the soldier who shares the shelter half or tent of a comrade in the field. A bunkie looks after his comrade's property in the event the latter is absent. GENERAL ADVICE 19 "Doughboy" — the infantryman. 'Trench leave" — unauthorized absence. "Holy Joe" — ^the chaplain. "K. O." — the commanding officer. "On the carpet" — a call before the commanding officer for admonition. "Q. M." — quartermaster. "Rookie" — a new recruit. "Sand rat" — a soldier on duty in the rifle pit dur- ing target practice. "Top sergeant" — the first sergeant. "Come and get it" — the meal is ready to be served. TENTATIVE EEGULATIOXS ^ A Student may attend when practicable, two or three camps in the same year but transportation will be fur- nished for only one camp. An applicant for admission to his first camp must be vouched for as to his good moral character bj^ the holder of a Red, White or Blue certificate, or by two other reputable citizens, or he must present a satisfac- tory discharge from the Federal Training Camp for Boys. FINAL SUGGESTIONS Each man attending a Federal Train camp can buy any part of the ordnance equipment issued to him. This includes a rifle. 1 These tentative regulations are at present (February 20, 1917) being compiled. They are, therefore, subject to change. 20 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Don't be profane or tell questionable stories to your bunkies or around the company. There is a much greater number of silent and unprotesting men in camp than is generally supposed to whom this is offensive. Keep everything on a high plane. CHAPTER II ^ Read this chapter as soon as you decide to attend a Federal Training Camp. PHYSICAL EXERCISE The greatest problem you will have to solve will be that of making your body do the work required. Every one else will be doing exactly what you are doing, and you have too much pride to want to take even a shorter step than the man by your side. Some men have to leave the training camps because they are not in the proper physical condition to go on with the work. If this chapter is taken as seriously as it should be, it will be of great help to you. If you have not a pair of sensible marching shoes (tan, high- tops, no hooks on them) get a pair. These shoes should be considerably larger than a pair of office shoes. Walk to and from your business. Take every op- ■ portunity to get out in the country where the air is pure. Fill your lungs full. Get into the habit of taking deep breaths now and then. Don't make this a task, but surround it with pleasantries. Get some de- lightful companion to walk with you. Walk vigorously. 1 These exercises are selected from those commonly given by Major H. J. Koehler, United States Army. 21 22 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Let down on your smoking. Better to leave it alone for a while. You will enjoy the air. Deep breathing seems to be more natural. Make it a work for your country. View it in that light. If you are not going to be called upon to un- dergo the cruel hardships and physical strain of some campaigns, your son will be, and you can be of great help to him by being fit yourself. You and your sons will form the backbone of America's strength in her next peril. You will have a great deal of walking after you arrive in camp, possibly a great deal more than you have ever had, and probably a great deal more than you expect, even with this word of warning. If you have failed to provide yourself with proper shoes and socks, great will be the price of your lack of forethought. You will wince at your own blisters. You will get no sympathy from any one else. It is the spirit of the camp for each man to bear his own burdens. So arrive at camp with hardened legs and broken in shoes. Don't buy shoes with pointed or narrow toes. They should be broad and airy. Immediately after you arise in the morning and just before you retire at night, go through the following exercises for two or three minutes. In a short time you may want to make it more. No objection. Give it a fair trial. Be brisk and energetic. Forget, for the time being, what you are going to get out of it. Give and then give more. The result will take care of itself. PHYSICAL EXERCISE 23 1st Exercise Involving practically every important muscle in the body. ^,,,..,-^-,-_„y„. No. 1 No. 3 From first position spring to second position; instantly return 'to first position and continue. Be light on your feet. Alight on your toes. Begin with a limited number of times. Day by day increase it a little until you reach a fair number. Be most moderate at first. Never allow yourself in any exercise to become greatly fatigued. 24 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL 2d Exercise To reduce waist, strengthen back muscles, and be- come limber. Xo. 1 No. 2 Assume position No. 1. Swing to position (No. 2), return at once to No. 1, and continue. Shoot your head and arms as far through your legs as your conformation permits. PHYSICAL EXERCISE 25 3rd Exercise To harden leg muscles and exercise joints. Xo. 1 No. 3 From position Ko. 1 come to position No. 2. Return at once to No. 1 and continue. Toes turned well out. Body and head erect. Up with a slight spring. After a little practice, you will have no difficulty with this exercise in balancing yourself. 26 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL 4th Exercise To exercise arms and shoulders and organs of chest and shoulder muscles. No. 1 Vary by thrusting arms downward, side- ward and upward. Be moderate at first. Grow more vigorous witli practice. From position No. 1 thrust arms forward to position No. 2, and return at once to posi- tion No. 1. No. 3 PHYSICAL EXERCISE 5th Exercise 27 No. 1 Go up on your toes as higli as you can. To strengthen ankles and insteps. From position No. 1 rise on the toes to position No. 2, re- turn at once to position No. 1, and continue. ^ No. 2 CHAPTER III SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER Success in battle is the ultimate object of all military training; hence the excellence of an organization is judged by its field efficiency. Your instruction will be progressive in character, and will have as its ultimate purpose the creation of a company measuring up to a high standard of field efficiency. The Preparatory Con)mand, such as Forward, in- dicates the movement that is to be executed. The Command of Execution, such as MARCH, HALT, or ARMS, coinmences the execution of the movement. Preparatory Commands are distinguished by bold face, those of execution by capitals. As, 1. Forward, 2. MARCH. The average man understands better and learns faster when you show him how a thing is done. Don't be content with telling him how. Bear this in mind when you become an instructor. On account of the absence of the Regular Army on the border, it was not practical to obtain photographs of regular troops with which to illustrate this book. The photographs used were taken under the direct 4 supervision of the authors. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 29 POSITION OF A SOLDIER AT ATTENTION No. 1 No. 2 CORRECT POSITION These are the common errors of beginners. No. 1. Eyes to the front. Hands hang naturally. Rest weight of body equally on feet. Feet turned out making angles of 45°. N.o. 2. Head erect. Shoul- ders down and back. Chest out. Stomach up. Thumb along seams of trousers. Knees straiglit, not stiff. Heels on line and together. No. 1. Don't gaze K about. That's not play- B P ing the game. B No. 2. Don't slouch. f R. Hold yourself up. Keep your eyes off the ground. 11 No. 1 No. 2 INCORRECT POSITION'S 30 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL 1. Parade, 2. REST. No. 1. Clasp hands with- out constraint in front of center of body. Left hand uppermost. Fingers joined. Thumb and fore finger right hand clasps the left thumb. No. 2. Bend left knee slightly. Eiglit foot is car- ried 6 inches straight to the rear. Xo. 1 No. 2 CORRECT POSITION No. 1. Not looking straight to the front. Eight foot not carried straight to the rear. No. 2. Leaning back too far. Right foot carried back too far. No. 1 No. -2 INCORRECT POSITIONS SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 31 1. Hand, 2. SALUTE. No. 1 No. 2 CORRECT POSITION No. 1. Look toward the person saluted. No. 2. Tip of forefinger right hand touches cap or hat above right eye. Thumb and forefingers extended and joined. Hand and wrist straight. Palm to the left. 32 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL 1. Hand, 2. SALUTE. Xo. I Xo. 3 IXCORRECT POSITIOXS OR COMMOX ERRORS No. 1. Palm of the hand to the front and fingers not joined. No. 2. Arm held too high. Fingers not perfectly joined. No. 3. Fingers not extended and joined. Left hand not by side while salute is being made. Some beginners forget, while saluting, to remove their pipes, cigarettes, or cigars from their mouths. This proves clearly that they are beginners, for trained and experienced men are careful about military honors and salutes. THE RESTS Being at a halt, the commands are: FALI OUT; REST; AT EASE; and, 1. Parade, 2. REST. At the command fall out, the men may leave the ranks, but are SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 33 required to remain in the immediate vicinity. They resume tlieir former places^ at attention, at the command fall in. At the command rest, each man keeps one foot in place, but is not required to preserve silence or immobility. At the command at ease, each man keeps one foot in place and is required to preserve silence, but not immobility. 1. Parade, 2. REST. Previously explained. To resume the attention: 1. Squad, 2. ATTENTION. The men take the position of the soldier. EYES RIGHT OR LEFT 1. Eyes, 2. RIGHT (LEFT), 3. FRONT. At the command right, turn the head to the right oblique, eyes fixed on the line of eyes of the men in, or supposed to be in, the same rank. At the command front, turn the head and eyes to the front. Notice the right file does not turn the eyes to the right. 34 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL FACINGS To the flank: 1. Right (left), 2. FACE. Raise slightly the left heel and right toe; face to the right, turning on the right heel, assisted by a slight pressure on the ball of the left foot; )jlacs the left foot by tlie side of the right. Left face is executed on the left heel in the corresponding man- ner. Right (left) Half Face is executed similarly, facing 45°. To the rear: 1. About, 2. FACE. Carry the toe of the right foot about a half foot-length to the rear and slightly to the left of the left heel without changing the position of the left foot; face to the rear, turning to the right on the left heel and right toe; place the right heel by the side of the left. There is no left about face. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 35 STEPS AND MARCHINGS All steps and marchings executed from a halt, except right step, begin with the left foot. The length of the full step in quick time is 30 inches, measured from heel to heel, and the cadence is at the rate of 120 steps per minute. The length of the full step in double time is 36 inches ; the cadence is at the rate of 180 steps per minute. The instructor, when necessary, indicates the cadence of the step by calling one, two, three, four, or left, right, the instant the left and right foot, respectively, should be planted. All steps and marchings and movements involving march are executed in quick time unless the squad be marching in double time, or double time be added to the command; in the latter case double time is added to the preparatory command. Example: 1. Squad right, double time, 2. MARCH (School of the Squad). QUICK TIME Being at a halt, to march forward in quick time: 1. Forward, 2. MARCH. At the command forward, shift the weight of the body to the right leg, left knee straight. At the command march, move the left foot smartly straight forward 30 inches from the right, sole near the ground, and plant it without shock; next, in like man- ner, advance the right foot and plant it as above; con- tinue the march. The arms swing naturally. 36 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Being at a halt, or in march in quick time, to march in double time: 1. Double time, 2. MARCH. If at a halt, at the first command shift the weight of the body to the right leg. At the command march, raise the forearms, fingers closed, to a horizontal posi- tion along the waist line; take up an easy run with the step and cadence of double time, allowing a natural swinging motion to the arms. If marching in quick time, at the command march, given as either foot strikes the ground, take one step in quick time, and then step off in double time. To resume the quick time: 1. Quick time, 2. MARCH. At the command march, given as either foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the other foot in double time; resume the quick time, dropping the hands by the sides. TO MARK TIME Being in march: 1. Mark time, 2. MARCH. At the command march, given as either foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the other foot; bring up the foot in rear and continue the cadence by alternately raising each foot about 2 inches and planting it on line with the other. Being at a halt, at the command march, raise and plant the feet as prescribed above. Common errors are to raise the feet several inches and to run up the cadence, i.e., go too fast. 1. Half step, 2. MARCH. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 37 Take steps of 15 inches in quick time, 18 inches in double time. Forward, half step, halt, and mark time may be executed one from the other in quick or double time. Any step less than the full step (i.e., half step, right step, or backward) is apt to be too fast, i.e., greater than 120 steps a minute. To resume the full step from half step or mark time: 1. Forward, 2. MARCH. SIDE STEP Being at a halt or mark time : 1. Right (left) step, 2. MARCH. Carry and plant the right foot 15 inches to the right; bring the left foot beside it and continue the movement in the cadence of quick time. The side step is used for short distances only and is not executed in double time. If at order arms, the side step is executed at trail without command. BACK STEP Being at a halt or mark time: 1. Backward, 2. MARCH. Take steps of 15 inches straight to the rear. The back step is used for short distances only and is' not executed in double time. If at order arms, the back step is executed at trail without command. 38 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL TO HALT To arrest the march in quick or double time: 1. Squad, 2. HALT. At the command halt, given as either foot strikes the ground, plant the other foot as in marching; raise and place the first foot by the side of the other. If in double time, drop the hands by the sides. TO MARCH BY THE FLANK Being in march: 1. By the right (left) flank, 2. MARCH. The command march must be given when the right foot is on the ground as shown in No. 1. Then ad- vance and plant the left foot and turn on the toes to right as shown in No. 2, and step off with the left foot. No. 1 No. 2 SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 39 TO MARCH TO THE REAR Being in march: 1. To the rear, 2. MARCH. At the command march, given as the right foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the left foot; turn to the right about on the balls of both feet and immediately step off with the left foot. The turn is made on the toes as shown. The command march must be given when the right foot is on the ground. The left foot is then advanced to the position shown. If marching in double time, turn to the right about, taking four steps in place, keeping the cadence, and then step off with the left foot. CHAXGE STEP Being in march: 1. Change step, 2. MARCH. At the command march, given as the right foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the left foot; plant the toe of the right foot near the heel of the left and step off with the left foot. The change on the right foot is similarly executed, the command march being given as the left foot strikes the ground. 40 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL MANUAL OF ARMS To acquire proficiency in the Manual of Arms, you should practice, practice, and practice. Position of order arms standing, i.e., the position of attention under arms. No. 1. Arm and hands hang naturally. Right hand holding piece between thumb and fingers. Butt rests evenly on ground. Bar- rel to the rear. No. 2. Toe of the butt on a line with toe of and touching the right shoe. No. 1 No. 2 CORRECT POSITION To execute the movements in detail, the instructor first cautions. "By the Numbers" ; all movements, divided into motions, are then executed singly. That is to say, make one motion and then wait until a further command for another. This is for the purpose of correcting erroneous positions and giving detailed instructions. We are explaining the manual by the numbers. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 41 Being at order arms: 1. Present, 2. ARMS. It takes two counts. At command arms, with the right hand carry the piece in front of the center of the body. Barrel to the rear and vertical. Grasp it with left hand at the balance. Left forearm is horizontal and rests against body. The balance of the piece is approximately the position of the rear sight. FIRST POSITION OF PRESENT ARMS FROM ORDER ARMS At command two, grasp the small of the stock with the right hand. CORRECT POSITION OF PRESENT ARMS 42 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL No. 1 No. 3 No. 3 INCORRECT POSITION OF PRESENT ARMS These are the common errors made by beginners. No. 1. Thumb along barrel. No. 2. Piece held too low. The front sight will be a little above the ej^es when the left fore arm is horizontal. No. 3. Piece not vertical; too close to body. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 43 Being at order arms: 1. Port, 2. AEMS. It takes one count. 1 CORRECT POSITION OF PORT ARMS At the command of arms, with the right hand raise and throw the piece diagonally across the body, grasp it smartly with both hands; the right, palm down, at the small of stock ; the left, palm up, at the balance; barrel up, sloping to the left and crossing opposite the junction of the neck with the left shoulder; right forearm horizontal; left forearm resting against the body. The rifle is held in a verti- cal plane parallel to the front. 44 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL In executing this movement, it is a common error with beginners to raise the piece as though it weighed much more than it does. No part of the body should move except the arms, in coming to "port arms" from "order arms." No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 INCORRECT POSITIONS OF PORT ARMS No. 1. Arms held away from side. No. 2. Piece held too low and too close to body. No. 3. Piece held too high and not in a vertical plane parallel to the body. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 45 Being at present nrms: 1. Port, 2. ARMS. It is executed in one count. At the command arms, carry the piece diagonally across the body and take the position of "'port arms." Being at port arms: 1. Present, 2. ARMS. It is executed in one count. At the command arms, carry the piece to a vertical position in front of the center of the body and take the position of present arms. Being at present or port arms: 1. Order, 2. ARMS. It is executed in two counts. At the command arms, let go with the right hand; lower and carry the piece to the right with the left hand; regrasp it with the right hand just above the lower band; let go with the left hand and take the position shown here, which is the next to the last position in coming to the order. The left hand should be above and near the right, steadying the gun, fingers extended and joined, forearm and wrist straight and inclined downward. Barrel to the rear. All the fingers of the right liand grasp the gun. Butt about 3 inches from the ground. NEXT TO THE LAST POSITION OF ORDER ARMS Being in the above position, at the command Two, lower the piece gently to the ground with the right hand, drop the left hand quickly by the side, and take the position of order arms. The common errors are to slam the gun down on the ground and to drop the left hand by the side in a slow and indiff'erent manner. 46 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 INXORRECT POSITIONS Common errors in the next to the last position of order arms. No. 1. Thumb is up. Gun too far from the ground. No. 2. Gun too near to ground. Thumb is up. Butt of gun too far to the right. No. 3. Gun held too high and too far away from body. Being at order arms: 1. Eight shoulder, 2. ARMS. It is exe- cuted in three counts. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 47 At the command arms, with the right hand raise and throw the piece diagonally across the body; carry the right hand quickly to the buttj and grasp the heel be- tween the first two fingers as shown. Note the position of the first two fingers of right hand. THE FIRST POSITIOX OF RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS FROM THE ORDER >(^l At the command two, with- out changing the grasp of the right hand, place the piece on the right shoulder, right elbow near the side, the piece in a vertical plane perpendicular to the front; carry the left hand, thumb and fingers extended and joined, to the small of the stock, wrist straight and elbow down. Barrel up, and inclined at an angle of about 45° from ihe horizontal. Trigger guard in the hollow of the shoulder, tip of forefinger touching the cocking piece. Right fore arm horizontal. NEXT TO THE LAST POSITION OF RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS 48 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL No. 1 No. 3 No. 3 COMMON ERRORS IN THE NEXT TO THE LAST POSITION OF RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS No. 1. Right arm not by side. Left arm too high. Remember that the left arm rests on the chest. This is very commonly con- fused witli rifle salute. No. 2. Thumb is up. Butt of rifle carried to the right. No. 3. Trigger guard not against shoulder. Butt held too low. Hand not straight. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 49 At the command three, drojj the left hand by the side. CORRECT POSITION OF RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS No. 1. Right arm not by side. Right forearm not horizon- tal. No. 2. Heel of gun too far to left. No 3. Trigger guaid not against shoulder. Butt held too low. Xo. I No. -2 Xo. 3 INCORRECT POSITION OF RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS 50 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Being at right shoulder Arms: 1. Order, 2. ARMS. It is executed in 3 counts. Press the butt down quickly and throw the gun diagonally across the body, to the position shown here. At the command two, lower the gun and assume the next to the last position of order arms. At the command three, come to the order arms. The common errors in this movement are to move the head to the left and to throw the gun too far to the front. Being at port arms: 1. Right shoulder, 2. ARMS. It is executed in three counts. At the command arms, change the right hand to the butt. At the command two and three, come to the right shoulder as from order arms. Being at right shoulder arms: 1. Port, 2. ARMS. It is executed in two counts. At the command arms, press the butt down quickly and throw the piece to the diagonal position across the body with the left hand grasping it at the balance; the right hand retaining its grasp of the butt. At the command two, change the right hand to the small of the stock. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 51 Being at right shoulder arms: 1. Present, 2. ARMS. It is executed in three counts. At the command arms, execute port arms. (This requires two counts.) At the command three, execute present arms. Being at present arms: 1. Right shoulder, 2. ARMS. It is executed in four counts. At the command arms, execute port arms. At the command two, three, four, execute right shoulder arms as from port arms. Being at port arms: 1. Left shoulder, 2. ARMS. It is exe- cuted in two counts. THE NEXT TO THE LAST POSITION OF THE LEFT SHOULDER ARMS 52 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL At the command Arms, carry tlie piece with the right hand and place it on the left shoulder; at the same time grasp the butt with the left hand, heel between first and second fingers. Thumb and fingers of right hand closed on the stock. Barrel up, trigger guard in the hollow of the shoulder. Xo. 1 l\o. 2 Xo. 3 COMMON ERRORS IX THE NEXT TO THE LAST POSITION OF LEFT SHOULDER ARMS No. 1. Right arm too high. Butt too high. No. 2. Butt too close to center of body. Not grasping gun correctly with fingers of left hand. No. 3. Right arm too high. Butt too high. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 53 At the command two, drop the right hand by the side. THE COKRECT POSITION OF LEFT SHOULDER ARMS The incorrect positions are usually the same as are found in the right shoulder arms, and as illustrated here. 54 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Being at left shoulder arms: 1. Port, 2, ARMS. It is executed in two counts. At the command arms, grasj) the piece with the right hand at the small of the stock. At the command two, carry the piece, with the right hand to the position of port arms, regrasp it with the left. Left shoulder arms maj' be ordered from the order, right shoulder or present, or the reverse. At the com- mand arms, executed port arms and continue to the position ordered. Being at order arms: 1. Parade, 2. REST. It is executed in one count. At the command rest, carry muzzle in front of the center of the body, barrel to the left. Grasp piece with the left hand just be- low the stacking swivel, and with the right hand below and against the left. Left knee slightly bent. Carry tlie right foot 6 inches straight to the rear. CORRECT POSITION OF PARADE REST Being at parade rest: 1, Squad, 2. ATTENTION. Executed in one count. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 55 At the command attention (it is a custom of the service to execute the moyement at the last syllable of the command), resume the order, the left hand quitting the piece opposite the right hip. Being at order arms: 1. Trail, 2. ARMS. At the command arms, raise the piece, right arm slightly bent, and incline the muzzle forward so that the barrel makes an angle of about 30° with the vertical. When it can be done without danger or inconvenience to others, the piece may be grasped at the balance and the muzzle lowered until the piece is horizontal; a similar position in the left hand mav be used. CORRECT POSITION' OF TRAIL ARMS Being at trail arms: 1. Order, 2. ARMS. At the command arms, lower the gun with the right hand and resume the order. Being at right shoulder arms: cuted in two counts. 1. Rifle, 2. SALUTE. It is exe- 56 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL At the command salute, carry the left hand smartly to the small of the stock, fore- arm horizontal, palm of hand down, thumb and forefingers extended and joined. Look toward the person saluted. At the command two, drop the hand by the side; turn the head and eyes to the front. Forefingers touching end of cocking piece. THE CORRECT POSITION OF RIFLE SALUTE, BEING AT RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS. No. 1. Lefb elbow too low. Forearm should be horizontal. No. 2. , Left elbow too high. Fingers not extended and j oined. COMMON ERRORS IN RIFLE SALUTE AT RIGHT SHOUL- DER ARMS. No. 1 No. ii SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 57 Being at order or trail arms: 1. Rifle, 2. SALUTE. At the command salute, carry the left hand smartly to the right side, palm of the hand down, thumb and fingers extended and joined, forefinger against piece near the muzzle ; look toward the person saluted. At the com- mand two, drop the left hand by the side ; turn the head and eyes to the front. RIFLE SALUTE BEING AT ORDER ARMS Xo. 1. Fingers not extended and joined. No. 2. Fingers not joined. Gun lield too high. COMMOX ERRORS IV RIFLE SA LUTE AT ORDER OR TRAIL ARMS No. 1 Xo. 3 58 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Being at order arms: 1. Fix, 2. BAYONET. If the bayonet scabbard is carried on the belt : execute parade rest; grasp the bayonet with the right hand, back of hand toward the body; draw the bayonet from the scabbard and fix it on the barrel, glancing at the muzzle ; resume the order. If the bayonet is carried on the haversack: draw the bayonet with the left hand and fix it in the most con- venient manner. Being at order arms: 1. Unfix, 2. BAYONET. If the bayonet scabbard is carried on the belt: Ex- ecute parade rest ; grasp the handle of the bayonet firmly with the right hand, passing the spring with the fore- finger of the right hand; raise the bayonet until the handle is about 12 inches above the muzzle of the piece; drop the point to the left, back of the hand toward the body, and, glancing at the scabbard, return the bayonet, the blade passing between the left arm and the body; re- grasp the piece with the right hand and resume the order. If the bayonet scabbard is carried on the haversack: Take the bayonet from the rifle with the left hand and return it to the scabbard in the most convenient manner. If marching or lying down, the bayonet is fixed and unfixed in the most expeditious and convenient manner and the piece returned to the original position. Fix and unfix bayonet are executed with promptness and regularity but not in cadence. Exercises for instruction in bayonet combat are pre- scribed in the JNIanual for Bavonet Exercise. SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 59 Being at order arms: 1. Inspection, 2. ARMS. At the command arms, take the position of port arms; at the command two, seize the bolt handle with the thumb and fore- finger of the right hand, turn the handle up, draw the bolt back, and glance at the chamber. Having found the chamber empt}"^, or hav- ing emptied it, raise the head and eyes to the front. INSPECTION ARMS It is a very common error to change tlie position of the piece while drawing the bolt back. Guard against this. Being at inspection arms: 1. Order (or right shoulder, or port) , 2. ARMS. At the preparatory command (i.e., at the command order), push the bolt forward, turn the handle down, pull the trigger, and resume port arms. At the com- mand arms, complete the movement ordered. TO DISMISS THE SQUAD Being at a halt: 1. Inspection, 2. ARMS, 3. Port, 4. ARMS, 5. DISMISSED. 60 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Make a point of becoming sufficiently familiar with the different parts of the rifle to obey the following general rules governing the manual. The following rules govern the carrying of the piece : First, The piece is not carried with cartridges in either the chamber or the magazine except when spe- cifically ordered. When so loaded, or supposed to be loaded, it is habitually carried locked; that is, with the safety lock turned to the "safe." At all other times it is carried unlocked with the trigger pulled. Second. Whenever troops are formed under arms, pieces are immediately inspected at the commands: 1. Inspection, 2. ARMS, 3. Order (right shoulder, port), 4. ARMS. A similar inspection is made immediately before dis- missal. If cartridges are found in the chamber or magazine they are removed and placed in the belt. Third. The cut-off is kept turned "off" except when cartridges are actually used. Fourth. The bayonet is not fixed except in bayonet exercise, on guard, or for combat. Fifth. Fall in is executed with the piece at the order arms. Fall out, rest, and at ease are executed as with- out arms. On resuming attention the position of order arms is taken. Sixth. If at the order, unless otherwise prescribed, the piece is brought to the right shoulder at the com- mand march, the three motions corresponding with the SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER 61 first three steps. Movements may be executed at the trail by prefacing the preparatory command with the words at trail; as, 1. At trail, forward, 2. MARCH; the trail is taken at the command march. When the facings, alignments, open and close ranks, taking interval or distance, and assemblings are exe- cuted from the order, raise the piece to the trail while in motion and resume the order on halting. Seventh. The piece is brought to the order on halt- ing. The execution of the order begins when the halt is completed. Eighth. A disengaged hand in double time is held as when without arms. The following rules govern the execution of the manual of arms: First. In all positions of the left hand at the balance (center of gravity, bayonet unfixed) the thumb clasps the piece ; the sling is included in the grasp of the hand. Second. In all positions of the piece, "diagonallj^ across the body" the position of the piece, left arm and hand are the same as in port arms. Third. In resuming the order from any position in the manual, the motion next to the last concludes with the butt of the piece about 3 inches from the ground, barrel to the rear, the left hand above and near the right, steadying the piece, fingers extended and joined, forearm and wrist straight and inclining downward, all fingers of the right hand grasping the piece. To com- plete the order, lower the piece gently to the ground 62 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL with the right hand, drop the left quickly by the side, and take the position of order arms. Allowing the piece to drop through the right hand to the ground, or other similar abu'se of the rifle to produce effect in executing the manual, is prohibited. Fourth. The cadence of the motions is that of quick time; the recruits are first required to give their whole attention to the details of the motions, the cadence being gradually acquired as they become accustomed to hand- ling their pieces. The instructor may require them to count aloud in cadence with the motions. Fifth. The manual is taught at a halt and the move- ments are, for the purpose of instruction, divided into motions and executed in detail; in this case the com- mand of execution determines the prompt execution of the first motion, and the commands, two, three, four, that of the other motions. To execute the movements in detail, the instructor first cautions : By the numbers; all movements divided into motions are then executed as above explained until he cautions: Without the numbers; or commands movements other than those in the manual of arms. Sixth. Whenever circumstances require, the regular positions of the manual of arms and the firings may be ordered without regard to the previous position of the piece. Under exceptional conditions of weather or fatigue the rifle may be carried in any manner directed. CHAPTER IV SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD CLOSE ORDER DRILLS For several days after reporting you will undergo many hours of close order di'ill. You will ask yourself, "Why is all this mental and physical strain necessary MS the file leader. A file which has no rear rank man is^ when these exercises are not used in battle?" The i answer is: they are disciplinary exercises and are de- signed to inculcate that prompt and subconscious j obedience which is essential to proper military control I and to teach you precise and soldierly movements; , hence, they are executed at attention. SQUAD Deploy. To extend the front. A squad deploys when it goes "As skirmishers." File. Two men, the front rank man and the cor- responding man in the rear rank. The front rank man a blank file. Interval. Space between elements of the same line. The interval between men in ranks is 4 inches and is measured from elbow to elbow. It is to get this in- terval that each man is required to raise his arm when the company is formed. 63 64 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Distance. Space between elements in the direction of depth. It is measured from the back of the man in front to the breast of the man in rear. The rear rank when in hne or column is 40 inches from the front rank. The guide of a squad in line is right unless otherwise announced. The guide of a squad deployed, (i.e., skirmishes) is center unless otherwise announced. TO FORM THE SQUAD To form the squad the instructor places himself 3 paces in front of where the center is to be and com- mands: Fall in. The men assemble at attention, pieces at the order, and are arranged by the corporal in double rank, as nearly as practicable in order of height from right to left, each man dropping his left hand as soon as the man on his left has his interval. The rear rank forms with distance of 40 inches. The instructor then commands: Count off. At this command all except the right file execute eyes right, and beginning on the right, the men in each rank count one, two, three, four; each man turns his head and eyes to the front as he counts. Pieces are then inspected. SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 65 The purpose of putting the left hand on the hip is to get enough elbow room. A man should have sufficient space to operate his piece. These four-inch intervals give it to him. gnnn^i^^ 4.0 I ( ^ B pT"* i ?snk Note the spaced* between elbows (interval), is 4 inches. The space between the- front and rear rank (distance) is 40 inches, and is measured from the back of the man in front to the breast of the man in the rear. 66 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL ALIGNMENTS To align the squad, the base file or files having been established: 1. Right (left), 2. DRESS, 3. FRONT. At the command dress, all men place the left hand upon the hip (whether dressing to the right or left) ; each man, except the base file, when on or near the new lines executes eyes right, and, taking steps of 2 or 3 inches, places himself so that his right arm rests lightly against the arm of the man on his right, and so that his eyes and shoulders are in line with those of the men on his right; the rear rank men cover in file. The instructor verifies the alignment of both ranks from the right flank and orders up or back such men SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 67 as may be in the rear, or in advance, of the hne; only the men designated move. At the command front, given when the ranks are aligned, each man turns his head and eyes to the front and drops his left hand by his side. There are in dressing a number of common errors that we should try to avoid. Don't jab the man on your left with your elbow. If you are not on the line, move your feet. Don't lean forward or backward. Be sure to touch gently the man on your right with your right arm. Be certain to keep your left elbow forced well to the front. This is a little uncomfortable at first, but unless we do this our arms will not measure the 4 inches correctly. Don't hump up the left shoulder, and don't turn the shoulders to the right. Keep fingers of left hand extended and joined. We want to place especial stress on the importance of three movements in the school of the squad. When you have thoroughly mastered these three, you will have a splendid basis for the remainder of the School of the Squad, the full value of which you will later appreciate. These are: Squad right. Squad right about, and Right turn. The first line drawing in this chapter shows correct proportions of interval and distance. To save space and for convenience, the drawings hereafter are made without regard to proportions (intervals and distances) . 68 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL FiEST Movement SQUAD RIGHT Being in line, to turn and march: 1. Squad right (left), 2. MARCH. (The "left" in parenthesis means that we can sub- stitute it for right and have the movement executed in a similar manner to the left.) At the command ° ^ ^ Wh'jte «^^r«h' N«- 1 i^ the 1^ [D 1313^^^'''''^ front rank faces to ^13 [Zl ' ^1^ * the right in march- ?I3 ing and marks time; *I3 Nos. 2, 3, and 4 of It'J^Jfcrnt'^ the front rank turn 45 degrees to the right (right oblique), place themselves abreast (on the same line) of No. 1 and mark time. Now it is difficult quickly to understand the move- ments of the rear rank. Give them a lot of study •■ "L ■" 1. ^ "> ^ "■ and dont go on until -.N ♦ rh}s}sfhe you are certain that you ^^_^ rn j im^^ it 's understand. ^^ "" ""^ ""■ No. 3 moves straight ^ to the front. "^ No. 2 follows No. 3. No. 1 follows No. 2. When they (Nos. 3, 2 and 1) arrive in rear of their SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 69 file leaders, (Nos. 3, 2 and 1, front rank) they face to the right in marching and mark time. No. 4 of the rear rank moves straight to the front four paces, and places himself abreast of No. 3, rear rank. When No. 4, front rank, and No. 4, rear rank, are on the line, (and the remainder of the squad must glance toward them to see when that is true) , the whole squad moves forward without further command. Note that we have said that No. 1 front rank marks time. We see that he becomes, temporarily, an im- movable pivot for his squad. We, therefore, call him a fixed pivot. Had the command been squad left, instead of squad right. No. 4 would have been the fixed pivot instead of No. 1. Being in line, to turn and halt: 1. Squad right (left), 2. MARCH, 3. Squad, 4. HALT. The turn is executed as prescribed in the preceding case except that all men, on arriving on the new line, mark time until the command halt is given, when all halt. Whenever the third command (i.e., squad) is given it means that the command halt is to follow. This is a caution to the squad to prepare to halt. The com- mand halt should be given as No. 4 arrives on the line. 70 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Second Movement squad right about Being in line, to turn about and march: 1. Squad right (left) about, 2. MARCH. D D D n^T-Z^/./a I > what T... /Ki IS El El H s lay'^® '^^^'^ This IS \ 4 3 2 I 2.3 4 what < I iveivc7/7zf Id p D D At the command march, the front rank twice exe- cutes Squad right, initiating (starting) the second Squad right when No. 4 has arrived on the line. That much is very simple. The rear rank has a harder task. Let us have the front and rear rank execute the movement separately: Fl'ont Rank El 3 IS 2 1 IS 2 " 1 i i d. 1 n R&af ^ .. .«. 4 .&V-1.. 3 2 --8-- "<- 1 1 .^..,..4 H**a The rear rank is to take its place on the dotted line a b. No. 3 rear rank moves straight to the front until in SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 71 prolongation of the line to be occupied by the rear rank. 'No. 2 follows No. 3. No. 1 follows No. 2. When No. 3 arrives on the line to be occupied by the rear rank he changes direction to the right; he moves in the new direction until in rear of No. 3, front rank, when Nos. 3, 2, and 1, rear rank, are in rear of Nos. 3, 2, and 1, front rank, (i.e., when they are in rear of their front rank men), they face to the right in marching and mark time. No. 4 marches on the left of No. 3 to his new position. As he arrives on the line, both ranks execute forward march without command. For the remainder of the squad to know when No. 4 front and rear rank have arrived on the line, they glance to see. Third Movement right turn Being in line: 1. Right (left) turn, 2. MARCH. Before /^/-/^^^lEI-dl— -'-f^ff 4.^-S^ — - THIS IS THE WAY IT IS DONE At the command march, No. 1 front rank faces to the right in marching and takes the half step. Nos. 2, y -• / / 72 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL 3, and 4 front rank right oblique (turn 45 degrees to the right) until opposite their places in line, then exe- cute a second right oblique and take the half step on arriving abreast of the pivot man. When No. 4 ar- rives on the line Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 take the full step without further command. (To know when No. 4 arrives on the line it is necessary to glance in his di- rection. ) The rear rank executes the movement in the same way and turns on the same ground as the front rank. The rear rahk, therefore, moves forward at the com- mand march, or continues to move forward, if already marching, until it arrives at the place where the front turned, when it turns. Note that the squad turns on No. 1 front ranks but that he does not remain in his position even temporarily, as in squad right; he is, therefore, called the moving pivot. No. 4 is called the marching flank. Had the command been left turn, No. 4 would have been the moving pivot, and No. 1 the marching flank. Knowing the three above movements, we are pre- pared for the following: Being in line at a halt: 1. Take interval, 2. To the right (left), 3. MARCH, 4. Squad, 5. HALT. SIS IS IS I a 3 4- BEING IN THIS FORMATION SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 73 At the command to the right (left), the rear rank men march backward four steps (15 inches each step) and halt. LIKE THIS Note that the ac- Q d HI @ tual distance from Rear rank 4- --—- the front rank to the ha/fpace5-^-40 from -front .^ar rank is now 40 r,T rn ry rvi rafiK , \is i5j c?j iSi plus 4x15 mches, S S S S i-e., 100 inches. I z 3 -4- At the command march, all face to the right and No.l front and rear rank step off. No. 2, front and rear rank, follow No, 1, front and rear rank, at a dis- tance of four paces. Likewise with the other numbers. El L] H Like this, when No. 1 front and rear rank have gained four paces distance. / Z 3 -^ At the command halt, given when No. 3 is three paces distant from No. 4, all halt and face to the front. D D D D The squad looks like this when the move- /Jf /nteri^a/s ment is completed. S SI SI s 12 3 4- 74 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Being at intervals: 1. Assemble, to the right, (left), 2. MARCH. At the command march. No. 1 front rank stands fast. No. 1 rear rank closes to 40 inches. The other men face to the right, close by the shortest line, and face to the front. n 4. Being in line at a halt: 1. Take distance, 2. MARCH, 3. Squad, 4. HALT. At the command march. No. 1 of the front rank moves straight to the front; Nos. 2, 3, and 4 of the front rank and Nos. 1, 2, 8, and 4 of the rear rank, in the order named, move straight to the front, each stepping off so as to follow the preceding man at four paces. The command halt is given when all have their distances. In case more than one squad is in line, each squad executes the movement as above. The guide of each rank of numbers is right. n / DD n r-\ UJ LJ ISIS / SS2 Sl^ 2 3 SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 75 In i/ne pi MSI ld)l If! ?[i] /cp I /q-f- i:>fi5tcfnces 4^ [i ?gi The front rank men should walk straight to the front and their rear rank men should cover them accurately. Being at distances, to assemble the squad: 1. As- semble, 2. MARCH. No. 1 of the front rank stands fast ; the other num- bers move forward to their proper places in line. 76 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL THE OBLIQUE MARCH For the instruction of recruits, the squad being in column or correctly aligned, the instructor causes the squad to face half right (or half left), points out to the men their relative positions, and explains that these are to be maintained in the oblique march. 1. Right (left) oblique, ^ MARCH. Each man steps off in a direction 45 degrees to the right of his original front. He preserves his relative position, keeping his shoulders parallel to those of the guide (the man on the right front of the line or column), and so regulates his steps that the ranks re- main parallel to their original front. At the command halt, the men halt faced to the front. To resume the original direction: 1. Forward, 2. MARCH. n n n n L.J L^ LJ LJ r-\ r 1 n n LJ LJ LJ LJ / S. 3 4- 9PPP PPPP A / I SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 77 The men half face to the left in marching and then move straight to the front. If at half step or mark time while obliquing, the oblique march is resumed by the commands: 1. Ob- lique, 2. MARCH. TO FOLLOAV^ THE COEPORAL Being assembled or deployed, to mai-ch the squad without unnecessary commands, the corporal places himself in front of it and commands : FOLLOW ME. If in line or skirmish line. No. 2 of the front rank follows in the track of the corporal at about 3 paces; the other men conform to the movements of No. 2, guiding on him and maintaining their relative positions. If in column, the head of the column follows the cor- poral. / 2 3 13 Elian Corpora/ Note that No. 4 rear rank takes the place of the cor- poral when the corporal is in front of the squad. This is a general rule. When any front rank man is absent his rear rank man steps up in the front rank. When 78 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL the squad is following the corporal No, 4 rear rank re- mains blank (i.e., No. 3 does not step to the left and cover No. 4). TO DEPLOY AS SKIRMISHERS Being in any formation, assembled: 1. As skir- mishers, 2. MARCH. The corporal places himself in front of the squad, if not already there. Moving at a run, the men place themselves abreast of the corporal at half-pace intervals. Nos. 1 and 2 on his right, Nos. 3 and 4 on his left, rear- rank men on the right of their file leaders, extra men on the left of No. 4; all then conform to the corporal's gait. There is a rule of thumb that must be remembered. The rear-rank man is always on the right of his file leader. A common error is for beginners to execute the movement at a slow trot when a run is required. When the squad is acting alone, skirmish line is simi- larly formed on No. 2 of the front rank, who stands fast or continues the march, as the case may be; the corporal places himself in front of the squad when advancing and in rear when halted. When deployed as skirmishers, the men march at ease, pieces at the trail unless otherwise ordered. The corporal is the guide when in the line; otherwise No. 2 front rank is the guide. The normal interval between skirmishers is one-half SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 79 pace, resulting practically in one man per yard of front. The front of a squad thus deployed as skirmishers is about 10 paces. No. 1 No. 1 No. 2 No. 2 Cpl. No. 3 No. 3 No. 4, RR FR RR FR RR FR RR SQUAD DEPLOYED ON CORPORAL /.-;' n n n l_J UJ LJ •/ ^Z *3^ / t^ kir^ lAi I I /435em6>/ec^ /n //ne I \ \ y \ D 13 ■ D lEI t^Deph^ec^ /n //he 2 2 CorpomI 3 3 4- /O Paces * THIS IS THE WAY IT IS DONE The common error is to keep an interval of a very few inches when 15 inches are required. TO INCREASE OR DIMINISH INTERVALS If assembled, and it is desired to deploy at greater than the normal interval; or if deployed, and it is de- sired to increase or decrease the interval: 1. As skirmishers, (so many) paces, 2. MARCH. 80 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Intervals are taken at the indicated number of paces. If already deployed, the men move by the flank or away from the guide. The above command is used but very little. THE ASSEMBLY Being deployed: 1. Assemble, 2. MARCH. The men move toward the corporal and form in their proper places. If the corporal continues to advance, the men move in double time, form, and follow him. The assembly while marching to the rear is not exe- cuted. Note. It will be better for the beginner to let the remainder of this chapter go for awhile. Your instructor will explain all of the following points in a way that will be easier for you than for you to try to work them out alone. They will come up in the month's work and will be explained and shown as you go along. As you become more proficient we advise you, then, to take up the re- mainder of the chapter. If standing: KNEEL. Half face to the right; carry the right toe about 1 foot to the left rear of the left heel ; kneel on the right knee, sitting as nearly as possible on the right heel ; left forearm across left thigh; piece remains in position of order arms, right hand grasping it above the lower hand. If standing or kneeling: LIE DOWN. Kneel, but with right knee against left heel; carry back the left foot and lie flat on the belly, inclining body SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 81 about 35 degrees to the right; piece horizontal, barrel up, muzzle off the ground and pointed to the front; elbows on the ground; left hand at the balance, right hand grasping the small of the stock opposite the neck. This is the position of order arms, lying down. If kneehng or Ij^ing down: RISE. If kneeling, stand up, faced to the front, on the ground marked by the left heel. If lying down, raise body on both knees; stand up, faced to the front, on the ground marked by the knees. If lying down: KNEEL. Raise the body on both knees; take the position of kneel. In double rank, the positions of kneeling and lying down are ordinarily used only for the better utilization of cover. When deployed as skirmishers, a sitting position may be taken in lieu of the position kneeling. LOADINGS AND FIRINGS The commands for loading and firing are the same whether standing, kneeling, or lying down. The fir- ings are always executed at a halt. When kneeling or lying down in double rank, the rear rank does not load, aim, or fire. The instruction in firing will be preceded by a com- mand for loading. Loadings are executed in line and skirmish line only. Pieces, having been ordered loaded, are kept loaded 82 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL without command until the command unload, or inspec- tion armSj fresh clips being inserted when the magazine is exhausted. The aiming point or target is carefully pointed out. This may be done before or after announcing the sight setting. Both are indicated before giving the command for firing, but may be omitted when the target appears suddenly and is unmistakable; in such case battle sight is used if no sight setting is announced. The target or aiming point having been designated and the sight setting announced, such designation or announcement need not be repeated until a change of either or both is necessary. Troops are trained to continue their fire upon the aiming point or tai^get designated, and at the sight setting announced, until a change is ordered. If the men are not already in the position of load, that position is taken at the announcement of the sight setting; if the announcement is omitted, the position is taken at the first command of firing. When deployed, the use of the sling as an aid to ac- curate firing is discretionary with each man. TO LOAD Being in line or skirmish line at halt: 1. "With dummy (blank or ball) cartridges, 2. LOAD. At the command load each front-rank man or skir- misher faces half right and carries the right foot to the right, about 1 foot, to such position as will insure the SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 83 greatest firmness and steadiness of the body; raises, or lowers, the piece and drops it into the left hand at the balance, left thumb extended along the stock, muzzle at the height of the breast, and turns the cut-off up. With the right hand, he turns and draws the bolt back, takes a loaded clip and inserts the end in the chp slots, places the thumb on the powder space of the top cartridge, the fingers extending around the piece and tips resting on the magazine floor plate; forces the cartridges into the magazine by pressing down with the thumb; without removing the clip, thrusts the bolt home, turning down the handle; turns the safety lock to the "safe" and carries the hand to the small of the stock. Each rear rank man moves to the right front, takes a similar posi- tion opposite the interval to the right of his front rank man, muzzle of the piece extending beyond the front rank, and loads. A skirmish line may load while moving, the pieces being held as nearly as practicable in the position of load. If kneeling or sitting, the position of the piece is similar; if kneeling, the left forearm rests on the left thigh ; if sitting the elbows are supported by the knees ; if lying down, the left hand steadies and supports the piece at the balance, the toe of the butt resting on the ground, the muzzle off the ground. 84 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL STACK AND TAKE AEMS The subject of stack and take arms is less important than the rest of this chapter. It is difficult to be learned from a book. Your company commander will explain it to you. It is given here to serve as a reference. Being in line at a halt : STACK ARMS. Each even number of the front rank grasps his piece with the left hand at the upper band and rests the butt between his feet, barrel to the front, muzzle inclined slightly to the front and opposite the center of the in- terval on his right, the thumb and forefinger raising the stacking swivel; each even number of the rear rank then passes his piece, barrel to the rear, to his file leader, who grasps it between the bands with his right hand and throws the butt about 2 feet in advance of that of his own piece and opposite the right of the interval, the right hand slipping to the upper band, the thumb and forefinger raising the stacking swivel, which he engages with that of his own piece ; each odd number of the front rank raises his piece with the right hand, carries it well forward, barrel to the front ; the left hand, guiding the stacking swivel, engages the lower hook of the swivel of his own piece with the free hook of that of the even number of the rear rank; he then turns the barrel out- ward into the angle formed by the other two pieces and lowers the butt to the ground, to the right of and against the toe of his right shoe. SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD 85 The stacks made, the loose pieces are laid on them by the even nmnbers of the front rank. When each man has finished handling pieces, he takes the position of the soldier. Being in line behind the stacks : TAKE ARMS. The loose pieces are returned by the even numbers of the front rank; each even number of the front rank grasps his oMrn piece with the left hand, the piece of his rear-rank man v^^ith his right hand, grasping both be- tween the bands; each odd number of the front rank grasps his piece in the same way with the right hand, disengages it by raising the butt from the ground and then, turning the piece to the right, detaches it from the stack; each even number of the front rank disengages and detaches his piece by turning it to the left, and then passes the piece of his rear-rank man to him, and all resume the order. Should any squad have Nos. 2 and 3 blank files, No. 1 rear rank takes the place of No. 2 rear rank in making and breaking the stack; the stacks made or broken, he resumes his post. Pieces not used in making the stack are termed loose pieces. Pieces are never stacked with the bayonet fixed. CHAPTER V SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY The company in line is formed in double rank with the men arranged, as far as practicable, according to height from right to left, the tallest on the right. The original division into squads is effected by the command: Count off. The squads, successively from the right, count off as in the School of the Squad, cor- porals placing themselves as No. 4 of the front rank. At the formation of the company the platoons or squads are numbered consecutively from right to left, and these designations do not change. For convenience in giving commands and for refer- ence, the designations, right, center, left, w^hen in line, and leading, center, rear, when in column, are applied to platoons or squads. These designations, right, cen- ter, left, when in line, and leading, center, rear, when in column, are applied to the actual right, left, center, head, or rear, in whatever direction the company may be facing. The center squad is the middle or right middle squad of the company. If there are an even number of squads in the company, for instance eight, the center squad would be the fourth. The designation "So-and-so's" squad or platoon may also be used. 86 SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 87 iM in ID I ID--i-| ■■ 2 8 s *-,?■■ OJ -4-3 1 a o tj:i ^ o Qi o w dJ QJ -Q B 1 I I M I I M 1 I l>M m ^^ B 1 1 1 1 1 1 r 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 M 1 1 M 1 1 Iy1 1 1 M 1 1 M 1 _L:Id I Z"' Platoon I I • I Befyre /}-r^er n LJ VTsTRiafoo n LJ SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 99 The remaining platoon commanders give right turn, MARCH, when opposite their places, and the command, forward, MARCH, when the turn has been completed. When the leading platoon has advanced the desired distance the captain gives the command, company, HALT. At the command company, the leading pla- toon leader gives the command, platoon. His platoon only halts at the captain's command, halt. The pla- toon leader then gives the command, right dress, and takes his post in the file closers. The remaining pla- toons are successively halted and dressed by their leader. FRONT INTO LINE Being in column of platoons or squads, to form line to the front: 1. Right (left) front into line, 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT, 5. FRONT. (Right [left] front into line means move to the right front and get into line. It is necessary to be in column to begin this movement.) Let us first consider the company in colimin of squads. At the captain's command, right front into line, the corporal of the leading squad, if halted, commands for- ward; if marching, he cautions his squad, continue the march. The corporals of the remaining squads com- mand right oblique. At the command march, the leading squad moves forward. The remaining squads oblique as indicated. The command halt is given when the leading squad has advanced the desired distance; its corporal then commands left dress. 100 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL The remaining corporals command forward, MARCH, when opposite their places in line. They halt and dress their squads on the line established by the leading squad. When the company is in column of platoons the movement is executed in the same manner and by the same commands except the word platoon is substituted for squad. f r -^ t r / y* I 9 I I I 'CgD Before Before I ! i 4- J, i I L I T-l I I I L^J I I I I 4' Y ^ t I I J i_ 1 z \ K- / / z. / M — ^ / / / 1 1 1 1 / 1 1 ^^ 1 1 r — 1 _i , ■1- 1 , 1 1 1 z 1 / 1 (el ■7\e\s\.k\3\z\f~\ ^ffer- /Ifter- Being in line, to form column of platoons, or the re- verse: 1. Platoons right (left), 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT; or, 3. Forward, 4. MARCH. Before 'r~7 /ifh -er SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 101 Executed by each platoon as described for the com- pany. Before forming hne the captain sees that the guides on the flank toward which the movement is to be exe- cuted are covering. This is effected by previously an- nouncing the guide to that flank. The two common errors are : 1. First, the pivot man takes a short step instead of marking time. Second, (being in line), the pivot men of the platoons forget that they are the pivots and therefore do not execute the command when ordered. The following illustration shows the side view of a platoon. Note the common errors : No. 1 rear rank is closed up to about twenty inches. He is looking down 102 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL at the heels of his front rank file (man) . Rifles are im- properly held. Some men in the rear rank have more than forty inches distance from their front rank men. Being in line, to form column of squads, or the re- verse; or, being in line of platoons, to form column of platoons, or the reverse: 1. Squads right (left), 2. MARCH; or, 1. Squads right (left), 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT. Executed by each squad as described in the School of the Squad. FB"-B¥ffB-F-B-^ If the company or platoons be formed in line toward the side of the file closers they dart through the column and take posts in rear of the company at the second command. If the column of squads be formed from line, the file closers take posts on the pivot flank, abreast of and 4 inches from the neiarest flank. Being in column of platoons, to change direction: 1. Column right (left), 2. MARCH. At the first command the leader of the leading platoon commands : Right turn. At the command march the leading platoon turns to the right on moving pivot; its leader commands: Forward, 2. MARCH, on com- pletion of the turn. Rear platoons march squarely up to the turning point of the leading platoon and turn at SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 103 the command of their leaders. When each platoon has completed its turn, the leader commands forward, MARCH. Before /Jffer I I J- I I / Being in column of squads, to form line of platoons or the reverse: 1. Platoons, column right (left), 2. MARCH. Executed hy each platoon as described for the com- pany. Being in line, to form column of squads and change directions: 1. Squads left (right), column right (left), 2. MARCH. i::i:i-iaa§.M en CD The right squad initiates (begins) the column right as soon as it has completed the squad right. Being in line, to form line of platoons: 1. Squads left (right), platoons, column left (right), 2. r"" n P s Q ^ I n Q ^ I iilfiitoiiiiii IS n s Q 1^ I- O O o 55 S □ HP la f 104 SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 105 MARCH; or, 1. Platoons, right (left) by squads, 2. MARCH. Executed by each platoon as described for the com- pany in the preceding paragraph. FACING OR MARCHING TO THE REAR Being in line, line of platoons, or in column of platoons or squads, to face or march to the rear: 1. Squads right (left) about, 2. MARCH; or, l. Squads right (left) about, 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT. Executed by each squad as described in the School of the Squad. If the company is in line of platoons, or in column of squads, the file closers turn about toward the column, and take their posts; if in line, each darts through the nearest interval between squads. To march to the rear for a few paces: 1. About, 2. FACE, 3. Forward, 4. MARCH. If in line, the guides place themselves in the rear rank, now in front rank; the file closers, on facing front, maintain their relative positions. No other movement is executed until the line is faced to the original front. Being in column of squads to form column of platoons, or being in line of platoons, to form the com- pany in hne: 1. Platoons, right (left) front into line, 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4>. HALT, 5. FRONT. Executed by each platoon as described for the com- pany. If forming column of platoons, platoon leaders 106 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL verify the alignment before taking their posts; the captain commands front when the alignments have been verified. When front into line is executed in double time the commands for halting and aligning are omitted and the guide is toward the side of the first unit in line. AT EASE AND ROUTE STEP » The column of squads is the habitual column of route, but route step and at ease are applicable to any march- ing formation. To march at route step: 1. Route step, 2. MABCH. Sabers are carried at will or in the scab- bard; the men carry their pieces at will, keeping the muzzles elevated; they are not required to preserve silence, nor to keep the step. The ranks cover and preserve their distance. If halted from route step, the men stand at rest. To march at ease: 1. At ease, 2. MARCH. The company marches as in route step, except that silence is preserved when halted, the men remain at ease. Marching at route step or at ease: 1. Company, 2. ATTENTION. At the command attention the pieces are brought to the right shoulder and the cadenced step in quick time is resumed. FOR GUIDES A guide is a noncommissioned officer or a private upon whom the company regulates its march. SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 107 It is difficult for an inexperienced man to learn, with little practice, the duties and the correct positions of a guide. Remember the rule of thumb. The guide and the file closers are on the opposite flanks when the com- pany is in column of squads. In squads right about it would be ridiculous for the file closers to move from one flank to another. Guides are permitted and supposed to look around to see if they are in their proper places; most new men are timid about this. The following general rules and examples will help you: The guide of a company or platoon in line is right, unless otherwise announced. The guide of a company or platoon in column of squads is toward the side of the guide, who places himself on the side of the company away from the file closers. The guide of a deployed line (a skirmish line) is always center unless otherwise announced. EXAMPLES The company is assumed to be in line. In executing: 1. Squads right. The guides go to the left flank. 2. Right by squads. The guides go to the left flank. 3. Squads left. The guides go to the right flank. 4. Left by squads. The guides go to the right flank. If the company is in column of squads and the com- mand is either squads right or left about, the guides simply remember to remain on the flank opposite from 108 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL the file closers. It is very easy to see that a world of confusion would be caused by the file closers attempting to move to the opposite flank during squads right or left about. If the guides are in doubt look to see where the file closers are and then apply the rule of thumb: File closers and guides are always on opposite flanks. TO DIMINISH THE FRONT OF A COLUMN OF SQUADS Being in column of squads: 1. Right (left) by twos, 2. MARCH. At the command march all files except the two right files of the leading squad execute "in Place Halt"; the two left files of the leading squads oblique to the right when disengaged and follow the right files at the shortest practicable distance. The remaining squads follow successively in like manner. Being in column of squads or twos: r"i'""ir-ii — > 1. Right (left) by file, 2. MARCH. '^'\^^'''^^'^:!^ At the command march, all files exe- li^ ^i ^ !^ cute "In Place Halt," except the right [] ["] [^J ^^j file of the leading two or squad. The K-^^'1'^-f'^;^ left file or files of the leading two or \''~^/' )^^ squad oblique successively to the right ^j-^^'' when disengaged and each follows the ^^ file on its right at the shortest practi- rhrS cable distance. The remaining twos or T^ t squads follow successively in like man- S Si ^^^"' RIGHT BY TWOS SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 109 r n TT n r-i kV h J L J L J 4 ' " ' RX K1 K.;i KA Ity St-^ itV KM ririnrT L,J V,J L,J U.J Being in column of files or twos, to form column of squads; or, being in column of files, to form column of twos: 1. Squads utciirV*;! (twos), right (left) front into line, 2. "Xh'^y MARCH. V'-'' ,'' At the command march, the leading ^y' file or files halt and come to order arms. [^ The remainder of the squad, or twos, R| obliques to the right and halts on line with p. the leading file or files. The remaining 3! squads or twos close up and successively ^ form in rear of the first in like manner. Q The movement described in this para- ^ graph will be ordered right or left, so as RIGHT BY FILE to restore the files to their normal relative positions in column of twos or in column of squads. The movements prescribed in the three preceding paragraphs are difficult of execution at attention and have no value as disciplinary exercises. Marching by twos or files can not be executed without r-1 ^ r,-\ rzi n n rT / 2 I Z S -4- 110 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL serious delay and waste of road space. Every reason- able precaution will be taken to obviate the necessity for these formations. The remainder of chapter on close order drill. School of the Company, is in general for those above the grade of private, therefore, unless we are perfectly clear in what we have had so far, let us not go too deeply into these special features until we have more experi- ence. The captain is responsible for the theoretical and practical instruction of his officers and noncommissioned officers, not only in the duties of their respective grades, but in those of the next higher grades. If the left squad contains less than six men, it is either increased to that number by transfers from other squads or is broken up and its members assigned to other squads and posted in the line of file closers. These squad organizations are maintained, by transfers if necessary, until the company becomes so reduced in numbers as to necessitate a new division into squads. No squad will contain less than six men. The company is further divided into two, three, or four platoons, each consisting of not less than two nor more than four squads. In garrison or ceremonies the strength of platoons may exceed four squads. Platoons are assigned to the lieutenants and noncom- missioned officers, in order of rank, as follows : 1, right ; 2, left; 3, center (right center) ; 4, left center. The noncommissioned officers next in rank are as- SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 111 signed as guides, one to each platoon. If sergeants still remain, they are assigned to platoons as additional guides. When the platoon is deployed, its guide, or guides, accompany the platoon leader. The first sergeant is never assigned as a guide. When not commanding a platoon, he is posted as a file closer opposite the third file from the outer flank of the first platoon; and when the company is deployed he accompanies the captain. Musicians, when required to play, are at the head of the column. When the company is deployed, they ac- company the captain. Guides and enlisted men in the line of file closers execute the manual of arms during the drill unless specially excused, when they remain at the order. Dur- ing ceremonies they execute all movements. In taking intervals and distances, unless otherwise directed, the right and left guides, at the first command, place themselves in the line of file closers, and, with them, take a distance of 4 paces from the rear rank. In taking intervals, at the command march, the file closers face to the flank and each steps off with the file nearest him. In assembling the guides and file closers resume their positions in line. Being in line at a halt, the captain directs the first sergeant, dismiss the company. The officers fall out ; the first sergeant places himself faced to the front, 3 paces to the front and 2 paces from the nearest flank of the company, salutes, faces toward opposite flank of 112 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL the company, and commands: 1. Inspection, 2. ARMS, 3. Port, 4. ARMS, 5. DISMISSED. The ahgnments are executed as prescribed in the School of the Squad, the guide being established instead of the flank file. The rear-rank man of the flank file keeps his head and eyes to the front and covers his file leader. At each alignment the captain places himself in pro- longation of the line, 2 paces from and facing the flank toward which the dress is made, verifies the alignment, and commands: FRONT. Platoon leaders take a like position when required to verify alignments. EXTENDED ORDER DRILLS As soon as your progress in close order is sufficiently advanced, you will be given extended order drill, which will teach you the formations used in battle, and how a firing line is controlled. They are executed at ease. We should know the meaning of the two following terms: Base and Deploy. Base. The element on which a movement is reg- ulated. In company drill it is usually the right or left ; leading, rear, or center squad. Deploy. To extend the front. The company de- ploys when it executes as skirmishers. There are really only two conditions that we must consider in this drill. The movements are very easy to SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 113 1^' II 114 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL understand, but they require a lot of practice to prevent confusion. Let us take the first case of the company being in line at a halt. It is desired to form a skirmish line to the front. 1. As skirmishers, guide right (left or cen- ter), 2. MARCH. At the preparatory command (i.e., as skirmishers, guide right) all the corporals, except the corporal of the first squad, give the command, by the left flank, the corporal of the first squad gives the command, as skirmishers. At the command march, all squads, except the first squad, move to the left, and when they have their proper intervals they are deployed to the right (left) and on the line of the base squad by the corporals giving the commands: As skirmishers, 2. MARCH. The cor- poral of the first squad deploys his squad as soon as he has sufficient room (interval). That 's all there is to the first movement with some slight modifications. Of course if the command had been as skirmishers, guide left, the base squad would have been the left or fourteenth squad instead of the first squad, for when we speak of the right or left of a company, in the deploy- ments, the company being in line, we mean the right or left squads of the company. Another modification: Suppose the command had been as skirmishers, guide center. In that case the base squad would be the center or seventh squad. The SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 115 base (seventh) squad deploys without moving to the right or left. There is only one thing for the first six squads to do and that is to move to the right. There is only one thing for the last seven squads to do and that is to move to the left. We have considered the company so far to be at a halt; suppose that it had been moving forward. The corporal of the base squad deploys his squad as soon as he has sufficient interval, and then continues straight to the front until the command: 1. Company, 2. HALT, is given by the captain. The other corporals move their squads to the left front (or right front), by command- ing their squads. Follow me. They conduct their squads on the shortest and easiest route to their places on the line and then deploy their squads as they arrive on the general line. ' ' ■ ' ^^ ' ^\ ' '^^ ' Befor-e \ \ X I \ • V' ^ I \> ''A ^x I o% \ \ '\ \ \ X n ri ri ri ft n rT n \ \ \ t-A ij kJ k-I kJ L-i 4^ kJ ^ N X I \ \ \ I \ \ \ □DDDDDDDaDDODDDDaDDnDDDODnDaaDaD /ifter-. The corporals should remember that they are not to step out from their squads to conduct them to their proper places until the captain has given the command march. 116 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL The corporals often fail to take sufficient intervals thus causing a jam. The company being at a halt, the corporals should remember to give by the right or left flank instead of right or left face. SECOND CASE Now suppose the company is in column of squads at a halt. It is desired to f oi'm a skirmish line to the front : 1. As skirmishers, guide right (left), 2. MARCH. At the command march, the corporal of the first, or leading squad, deploys his squad without advancing. All of the other corporals move to the left front and deploy their squads on the line formed by the first squad. At the preparatory command the corporals command, follow me, and at the command MARCH, they step in front of their squads and conduct them to their places. Had the command been as skirmishers, guide left, of course all except the leading squad would have moved to the right. For when the company is in column of squads, as skirmishers, guide right means that the first or leading squad is to be the right of the skirmish line. If left, instead of right is given that simply means that the leading or base squad is to be the left of the skirmish line. Now we come to the last variation. It is difficult for the new man. The command as skirmishers, guide center, the company being in column of squads, simply means that the center squad is to be the base squad. SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 117 All other squads are to regulate their movements on the base squad as in all other cases. This is a peculiar case and for it the authorities have adopted a rule of thumb. All squads in front of the base squad go to the right, those in rear to the left. That 's all there is to it. But that must be remembered. Corporals will conduct their squads to their proper places by the shortest and easiest routes. We will use a platoon of four squads to illustrate the idea. Befone \ (^ I I I 3rd \ _ .^--< \ \^ * I I 2nc*\^ \ ^^ D □ b D □ □ D □ d^ DDDD D"n DnDDDDtJDDna n D D D D ni'l'ey Y Note that the leading corporal turns his squad well to the right rear and then to the left. We have assumed the company to be at a halt; sup- pose it is moving forward. In that case the base squad simply continues moving forward after it has deployed until the captain gives the command halt. The other corporals conduct their squads by the shortest routes to their proper places and deploy them on the general line. 118 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL When the company, while moving, is deployed, it is a common error for squads in rear of the base squad to ^ -Before > Z'^/ □ aaDcrDDnaaDaDDDnDaDD ob n a a a d d nT3 aaa y^ffer I -a- I I 3 I Before ^\ n ' ri r-» r"> ir-* "-T TT r-i \ ■ ■ ■ Lj I.J \ I tJ I.J lJ Lj bJ Lj Lj kJ * X^ / 1^ \ \ DDDDDDDnDDnnDDDDDnDDnDDDDDaDDnDD /irter take long and fast steps and come up on the line of the base squad. This should not be done unless the com- mand double time is given. Extended Ordee rules for deployments The command guide right (left or center) indicates the base squad for the deployment; if in line it designates SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 119 the actual right [left or center) squad; if in column the command guide right (left) designates the leading squad, and the command guide center designates the center squad. After the deployment is completed, the guide is center without command, unless otherwise ordered. At the preparatory command for forming skirmish line, from either column of squads or line, each squad leader (except the leader of the base squad, when his squad does not advance) cautions his squad, follow me or by the right (left) flank, as the case may be; at the command march, he steps in front of his squad and leads it to its place in line. Having given the command for forming skirmish line, the captain, if necessary, indicates to the corporal of the base squad the point on which the squad is to march; the corporal habitually looks to the captain for such directions. The base squad is deployed as soon as it has suf- ficient interval. The other squads are deployed as they arrive on the general line ; each corporal halts in his place in line and commands or signals, as skirmishers; the squad deploys and halts abreast of him. If tactical considerations demand it, the squad is de- ployed before arriving on the line. Deployed lines preserve a general alignment toward the guide. Within their respective fronts, individuals or units march so as best to secure or to facilitate the 120 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL advance but the general and orderly progress of the whole is paramount. On halting, a deployed line faces to the front (di- rection of the enemj') in all cases and takes advantage of cover, the men lying down if necessary. The company in line or column of squads may be deployed in an oblique direction by the same commands. The captain points out the desired direction; the cor- poral of the base squad moves in the direction indicated; the other corporals conform. To form skirmish line to the flank or rear the line or the column of squads is turned by squads to the flank or rear and then deployed as described. The intervals between men are increased or decreased as described in the School of the Squad, adding to the preparatory command, guide right (left or center), if necessary. THE ASSEMBLY The captain takes his post in front of, or designates, the element on which the company is to assemble and commands: 1. Assemble, 2. MARCH. If in skirmish line the men move promptly toward the designated point and the company is re-formed in line. If assembled by platoons, these are conducted to the de- signated point by platoon leaders, and the company is reformed in line. Platoons may be assembled by the command: 1. Platoons, assemble, 2. MARCH. SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 121 Executed by each platoon as described for the com- pany. One or more platoons may be assembled by the com- mand: 1. Such platoon (s), assemble, 2. MARCH. Executed by the designated platoon or platoons as described for the company. Wherever it is necessary in campaign to deploy troops there is often so much noise and confusion that it is im- possible for the officers and noncommissioned officers to make themselves heard. Signals must be used instead of verbal commands. WHISTLE SIGNALS There are only two kinds of whistle signals; a short blast and a long blast. A short blast means pay at- tention, or look out for a signal or command. A long blast means stop firing for a minute (suspend firing) . THE ADVANCE The advance of a company into an engagement (whether for attack or defense) is conducted in close order, preferably column of squads, until the probability of encountering hostile fire makes it advisable to deploy. After deployment, and before opening fire, the advance of the company may be continued in skirmish line or other suitable formations, depending upon circum- stances. The advance may often be facilitated, or bet- ter advantage taken of cover, or losses reduced by the 122 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL employment of the platoon or squad columns or by the use of a succession of thin lines. The selection of the method to be used is made by the captain or major, the choice depending upon conditions arising during the progress of the advance. If the deployment is found to be premature, it will generally be best to assemble the companj'^ and proceed in close order. Patrols are used to provide the necessary security against surprise. Being in skirmish line: 1. Platoon columns, 2. MARCH. The platoon leaders move forward through the center of their respective platoons; men to the right of the platoon leader march to the left and follow him in file ; those to the left march in like manner to the right ; each platoon leader thus conducts the marqh of his platoon in double column of files; platoon guides follow in the Ml Dp DiD na Did Dp np PD niD rn n n r-t r^ n,. , L^ La kJ LJ {.J *-^ CJ L.J LJ LJ n D n n n D Din SHOWING HOW PLATOON COLUMNS ARE FORMED ^ >^ "N^ ^ N. ' y y ^ Corporal SQUAD COLUMN 123 124 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL z: K c\ II M\ jl^x Before J\ /g\ //d \ //£i\ \ - /IA\ //f3\ \ ///p\ \ // /f:\ \ /! h\ \ /'' '«\ \ ///r^.\\ ///;?A\ ///?3\\\ //7?^\\\ /irter SQUAD COLUMNS rear of their respective platoons to insure prompt and orderly execution of the advance. Being in skirmish line: 1. Squad columns, 2. MARCH. See 'preceding page. Each squad leader moves to the front; the members of each squad oblique toward and follow their squad leader in single file at easy marching distances. Platoon columns are profitably used where the ground is so diflicult or cover is so limited as to make it desir- able to take advantage of the few favorable routes; no two platoons should march within the area of burst of a single shrapnel (ordinarily about 20 yards wide). Squad columns are of value principally in facilitating the advance over rough or brush-grown ground; they afford no material advantage in securing cover. To deploy platoon or squad 'columns: 1, As skirmishers, 2. MARCH. Skirmishers move to the right or left front and suc- cessively place themselves in their original positions on the line. SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY 125 \ \ Before .. ,.\ ///7///ibi\\V\Vx\ d d d d 6 6 b (ii 6 d b b h ti b b d b d d d d d lii rii lb ej Ci b h-b b /Iffer i PLATOON COLUMNS Being in platoon or squad columns: 1. Assemble, 2. MARCH. The platoon or squad leaders signal assemble. The men of each platoon or squad, as the case may be, ad- vance and, moving to the right and left, take their proper places in line, each unit assembling on the lead- ing element of the column and reforming in line. The platoon or squad leaders conduct their units toward the element or point indicated by the captain, and to their places in line ; the company is reformed in line. 'd' / D 1 0e^ Before /D / D I Q 1°' a'"'\3i, ^r\4^\ -—- I BODV /t is most impor- tant to note that ■the gnjups are p/aced accorcttng to the Condi- ^ tions and circumstances of the particular^ case Don t foi'ow any hiinct rules four juet^ment must tell yeu yvhen tc place ft7/s grvup tiere anet not .i-o place that ffrvup ttiene /%'/«' as fkt^ mer> on such ett/ty as prac- ticable If a foreit^ or steep tiilb here, itery small par- ties mil afforct the necessary security Assurrie fheif we want /o afYbrd security for our main boi?ly from any especially elangerous sector such eis ABC Our cavalry is in front of our first line a net in toucti tviln ttie enemy The, elanger zone represents Ihe direction ftvrri which the enemy is expecteel . This plan must be modified according to the particular case. Let us suppose that we are camping by a large body of water, or that we are surrounded by mountains. 140 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL We can easily imagine where we could change the above general plan so as to give adequate protection and at the same time lessen the number of men detailed for security. We must never forget that men are generally tired when they arrive in camp, and that we should make their work as light as circumstances permit. It requires a nice judgment to choose the correct number for se- curity. We should know the names of these groups. Far- thest away is the line that sees, and reports what it sees, but can offer only a limited resistance. This is called the "line of observation" or the "line of outguards." In rear of the line of outguards we have larger groups placed at greater distances. These are called "sup- ports." This is the line that fights. This is the line that makes extensive preparations for fighting (or re- sisting) . It is called the "line of supports" or the "line of resistance." We have one farther and last line of groups which is still larger and occupies still greater dis- tances than the two we have just discussed. This is the safety valve and is called the "reserve," or the "line of re- serves." This is the line that gives a sound factor of safety. It will only be called upon in cases of emer- gency and may therefore generally enjoy a consider- able degree of repose. But it and the line of supports combined must have sufficient strength to delay the enemy, in case of a general attack, long enough for our main body to form for battle. Let us look at the line of outguards for further im- THE SERVICE OF SECURITY 141 portant considerations and distinctions. The enemy's movements and operations should ordinarily be ex- pected where there are for him least difficulties. Large (dangerous) bodies of troops find trouble in marshes, thick forests, steep mountainous country. They avoid these obstacles as much as possible, selecting open coun- try, solid soil, strong bridges, and good roads. Here is where large and strong groups in opposition are neces- sary. Small and unimportant groups (or no groups at all) should be placed where the enemy's advance is exceptionally difficult. Finally, there will be places between these last two extremes that require just an average amount of attention, that is to say, require groups of medium strength. The groups that are largest and are used at the im- portant places where danger is most expected, are called "Pickets." (These consist of from two squads of eight men each to eight squads.) The least important groups are called "Cossack Posts." (These consist of four men, usually a noncommissioned officer and three pri- vates.) The groups of average importance are called "Sentry Squads." (These consist of eight men, a cor- poral and seven privates.) Having discussed in broad terms the security of troops in camp, we are prepared to consider their se- curity while either advancing upon or retreating from the enemy. In either case groups are placed between our main body and the actual or supposed position of the hostile troops. When we are advancing upon an 142 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL enemy our advanced groups constitute what we term the "advance guard." If we are retreating from the enemy, our rear groups compose the "rear guard." The main general ideas of an advance guard are illus- trated by the husband who takes his wife and family to his house after an evening's absence. The house is dark and without occupants. The wife and children are ap- prehensive of danger. The husband goes first, turns on the light, and searches for any indications of an en- emy. He looks, if desirable, in the closets and under the beds. If there is any one that may harm his family it is his duty to find out and dispose of him. In the advance guard we have exactly the same gen- eral scheme as with outposts. Far advanced to the front (and often to the sides or flanks) we have small groups (called, when considered collectively, the "ad- vance party") whose business it is to inform us of the presence of the enemy. Next we have a large group ("support") to assist these small and rather helpless ones in advance in case of difficulty. And last we have a still larger group ("reserve") that may be called upon in great emergencies. We should fully understand that all these groups are out to accomplish several ends, but their one great and ultimate object should be to push on ahead of the main body so that it may be secure and its march iminter- rupted. To accomplish this it is desirable to get all possible information about the enemy; it is also desir- THE SERVICE OF SECURITY 143 able to keep him from getting any information about your own troops. The ideas are nearly the same with rear guards. Note this important difference: if, in an advance upon the enemy, your advance guard should suddenly be fired upon, your main body would (temporarily) halt. If, in a retreat, your rear guard is halted by the enemy's fire, your main body would normally be marching far- ther from it. In the first case assistance is near at hand. In the second it is withdrawing. The rear guard in a retreat should therefore be a little larger than in an advance. It must be able to extricate itself from any situation however difficult or it loses its usefulness. Its commander should have a cool, level head. To delay the enemy and thus assist the main body to escape is his mission. For him to remain too long in a good position might endanger not only his safety but that of the main body as well. CHAPTER VIII ATTACK AND DEFENSE The European War has demonstrated more clearly than ever before two points in attack and defense. First, no people, or group of people, can claim a monop- oly on bravery. They all move forward and give up their lives with the same utter abandon. Courage being equal, the advantage goes to him in the attack who pos- sesses superior leaders, greater training, and better equipment. Second, a man's training and courage, his clear eye and steady nerve, his soul's blood and iron, constitute a better defense than steel and concrete. A soldier has little business attacking or defending anything in this day unless he is an athlete, unless he is skilled in the technique of manoeuver, unless he is a good shot, unless he knows the value of many features of the terrain (which means the nature of the country — ^its hills, rivers, mountains, depressions, etc. — considered from a military point of view) , unless he is disciplined to a splendid degree, and unless his training has im- bued him with an irresistible desire to push forward, to get at his opponent. Assuming, at least, as much as this, we are prepared to consider the subject of the at- tack (the offensive). To have your troops superior in number, condition, 144 ATTACK AND DEFENSE 145 training, equipment, and morale to that of your enemy ; to be at the right place, at the right time, and there to deliver a smashing, terrific blow — this is the greatest principle of the attack. And history shows that victory goes more often to him who attacks. Initiative in war is no less valuable than in business life. Become at once imbued with the desire to put "the other fellow" on the defensive. That makes him somewhat dependent upon your own actions. That gives you opportunities to fool him that he does not so fully enjoy. Your commander can elect to attack any point of the defensive line. Your dead and wounded — always a demoralizing element — are left behind. Your target is stationary.- Your side is closing in. The en- emy is straining every nerve to fire faster and more ef- fectively, and still your side is closing in. There is the thrill of motion. To attack, you will usually require a greater number of troops than the defense. Why so? Because you will be more exposed. You will have to move forward, how- ever dangerous the ground. Your enemy, for his pro- tection, will be certain to utilize and improve every ad- vantage of cover. Your losses will be greater. You should have a greater ntimber of reserves to fill the de- pleted ranks. If the defensive can maintain a better (superior) fire, that is to say, a fire that kills and wounds a greater number than the opposing fire (this we call fire superiority), he will stop the advance of the attack- ing force unless that force is so superior in numbers that 146 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL it can send forward reinforcements after reinforcements as an ocean sends shoreward its series of waves. Suppose that you were in command of a group of men and that you were ordered to attack. Just what prin- cipal points should you weigh? First, you should avail yourself of every opportunity to obtain all information of military value, such as the enemy's strength, his po- sition, and intentions. For this you would have to send out groups of reconnoitering patrols exceptionally skilled in woodcraft, or trained to gather information. As soon as such information as is available is reported to you, you should at once begin the consideration of all the important elements that affect your problem. You must not lose sight of what you were sent out to do (your mission) . Consider how this and that fact bear upon your course of action (estimate the situation) . For instance : the enemy's force is reported to be greatly inferior to your own. He is out of supplies. He is greatly fatigued with forced marches. His morale is shattered on account of recent and frequent reverses. His camp is disorganized. It is poorly guarded. Cer- tain roads are in fine condition. Others are very poor. Your troops are in splendid shape and excellent spirits. They believe that they can crush the enemy and want to attack. As you easily see, all such points have great significance in sizing up the case (estimating the situa- tion) . Having estimated the situation, you should investi- gate and consider all possible courses of attack that are ATTACK AND DEFENSE 147 open to you. Don't ask any advice from any one. Se- lect the course that appears to offer the greatest chance of success. Make up your mind what you are going to do (come to a decision) . Having come to a decision, stick to it, right or wrong. Your next and final thing to do is to put your decision into action. To do that, give your subordinates the in- formation they should possess; tell them what you are going to do and how you are going to do it; i.e., issue your orders. A study of the orders of successful generals in history teaches us that we will be greatly aided in issuing them, if we will observe a system. We understand an order more easily and quickly if it conforms to some plan with which we are familiar. In order to give your group an opportunity to act with a greater degree of teamwork, and intelligence in case of an emergency, it is necessary to give it data (in- formation) concerning the enemy. Your men should know where there are friendly troops. Now tell them what you are going to do (your plan), whether it be to attack, retire, or assume the defensive. And then or- der the execution of that plan by assigning to each gToup its task. Next tell (direct) what is to be done with the wagons (trains) , and last, state where you may be found at any time in case of need or where messages may be sent to you. Having issued the order, let us now observe the prog- ress of the attack. You are probably three or four thou- 148 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL sand yards from the enemy. His position is invisible. His artillery has opened fire. Your artillery is reply- ing. The troops must advance cautiously over exposed ground. They are not firing. They are not deployed for action (in battle line). They are waiting to get within as short a distance of the enemy's line as possible, for their ammunition is limited; and after troops are actually launched in the attack, control over them, for ordinary purposes, is practically lost. The farther from the enemy the attack is launched, the longer the ex- posure to their fire and the greater the number of casu- alties, so the leaders of the different groups are taking advantage of all the accidents of the ground, of all cover in advancing. They are using one formation here, an- other there, with a view to minimizing the losses and reaching an advantageous position as soon as possible where they can open an effective fire on the enemy. Now the enemy's fire is severe. Casualties are be- coming heavy. The men are growing restless. It is necessary to return the fire. Fire superiority should be gained at once. Don't move forward until you gain it. If difficult to gain, use every means at your dis- posal. When you have it, keep it. Part of your men can advance when your side has fire superiority. The remainder of the firing line should fire faster to main- tain that superiority. If you lose fire superiority, re- gain it. If necessary, troops from the rear will gen- erally be sent forward. Now you are approaching the point where the charge ATTACK AND DEFENSE 149 is to be made. Bayonets are fixed; not all at one time, for that would affect the advantage that you possess with your fire. Groups that have been held back in support are advanced. These are to be used at decisive mo- ments. They are held well in hand. The firing hne is lost in noise and confusion. Not so the supports; control is exercised over them. If they are not used in the attack they can be used to great advantage to com- plete the discomfort of the enemy after the clash (shock). There is at last, if the enemy remains in his position, the clash. Bayonet against bayonet, man against man, nerve against nerve. Apply the great principle of at- tack and decide for yourself who the victor will be. If successful, then organize your men and prepare for the pursuit or for the return (counter attack) of the enemy. Now you are to handle groups on the defense. You must bear in mind that there are two kinds of defense : first, where you do nothing but defend (passive de- fense) ; second, where you defend, but temporarily, with the idea of attacking the enemy as soon as a favorable opportunity arises (active defense). Let us assume that you have been ordered by superior authority to locate and prepare a definite position to check the ad- vance of an enemy. Just what main points should you bear in mind? Suppose you have found an ideal posi- tion; what conditions should it fulfil? You should be able to see the enemy long before he arrives at your position. Intervening objects and trees would make 150 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL that impossible. You should be hidden from his view. The ends of your lines (your flanks) should rest, if pos- sible, on ground easy to defend; for instance, a high mountain, a large body of water, or an impassable swamp. A few acres of ground will not hold tens of thousands of men. Therefore the extent of the ground must be suitable for the size of your group (force or command). It would be of great advantage to have such cover that one group (for instance, a support) could move from this position to that without danger of being fired upon or observed. A wise general has plans for any contingency. He is either going to win or he is not going to win. If he loses, he should have a means of escape (retreat). In selecting his position he should place it where the enemy must attack or give up his mission. Verdun had to be attacked before the ad- vance on Paris from the east was practicable. In defense there is a generous allowance of advan- tages. Usually you have time to select and prepare your position. By preparing a position we mean, you can dig trenches, destroy intervening objects that ob- struct the view of what you should see, construct ob- stacles that will embarrass the enemy in his advance, estimate (or determine) distances to important places. You have opportunities for collecting ammunition, ar- ranging wires for communication, establishing stations for the wounded. Troops in motion are easier to see. You are not called upon for as much physical strain as the attacking troops. You are less fatigued. Your ATTACK AND DEFENSE 151 machine guns are better concealed and the gunners know the ranges better than those of the attack. But it is most distressing to a man on the defense to see the enemy, regardless of everything he can do, ad- vance step by step. He begins to question within him- self the efficacy of his fire, which is to doubt his own ability. The more he questions and worries, the less effective his aim becomes. His comrades are dead and wounded about him. Their cries of distress are heard above the noise and confusion of battle. He becomes less methodical and deliberate in his actions. His shoot- ing becomes high and wild. This becomes generally true. The attacking force gains fire superiority. Suppose that it is actually your business to construct a defensive position. Just how will you assign the tasks? What are the important things to be done at first, and what, if time is pressing, may with least hard- ship be omitted? You would first cut down trees, blow up buildings, destroy crops that prevented you from seeing in any direction of danger. Next you should provide protection (concealment and cover), so that there will be as few casualties as possible. Then do what is in your power to make it most difficult for the enemy to arrive at your position; i.e., construct some barbwire fences (entanglements) that he will be unable to cross. Have your expert range finders determine and make notes of the distances to important points from which the enemy must advance. Next, dig ditches (trenches) so that your groups (supports or reserves) 152 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL may pass from one point to another without danger. Now take steps to protect your most vital and vulner- able points, your flanks. Have them so strong, if prac- ticable, that the enemy will leave them alone. Assign to each group of men a section of the ground to defend. Having done these important things, then go about those things that will make you more comfortable in the trenches. CHAPTER IX GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF TARGET PRACTICE The most thrilling experience you will have at a train- ing camp will probably come when you step up to the firing line on the target range to fire your first shot. The great majority of new men grow pale, become nervous, lose their calm and poise, while they are on the firing line. This is a fact, not a theory. And this loss of nerve is not confined to the new man. Any shot, however old and experienced, will tell you that he fully understands what we have just described. To become a good shot, we must solve a mental con- dition that corresponds in a way to that of beginners in golf. And we must master some details in technique. We should know something about the machine (rifle) we are to operate. We must know what the sights are and how to use them. We should know how those men most successful in the science and art of shooting hold the rifle under different conditions, how they adjust their slings, how they prepare (blacken) their sights and care for their rifles, what practice and preparation they take, and what bits of advice they have to offer. The primitive man had no means of accurately aiming his crude devices to throw stones. But in this day and age we have. The modern rifle is one of the most per- 153 154 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL feet pieces of scientific machinery in the world. Very shortly after you arrive in camp your captain will ex- plain to you its sights and how they are adjusted. He has a sighting bar for that purpose. It wiU take you only a few minutes to grasp the subject when you have a rifle in your hands, and your instructor is pointing out and explaining just what you should know. On paper it seems to be hard. Now you will want to learn how to load your piece (rifle), work your bolt, and squeeze the trigger. Sim- ple as these points may seem, you will have something to learn after you have been at it ten years. Practise! practise! practise! Sit on your bunk and work your bolt ten thousand times before you go on the range. Get in the habit of doing it quickly. Learn to keep your piece at your shoulder while you pull the bolt back and push it home. Learn to make the fewest possible motions of your body in working it. To pull a bolt back and push it forward seems to be a simple thing to do. It is simple. But when you are actually firing at the target, experience tells you that you will have more trouble and a greater collection of hard luck stories to amuse your friends with than you ever imagined pos- sible, unless you have had plenty of practice. To squeeze a trigger seems to be a simple thing to do. It is simple. But after you have been squeezing trig- gers for twenty years you will have something more to learn about it. Ninety-five per cent, of the failures on the target range in the training camps come from not TARGET PRACTICE 155 squeezing the trigger properly. You can't learn how to squeeze it on paper. You have got to practise. Every time you work your bolt, squeeze your trigger. Get in some extra "squeezes." You will find that your whole muscular and nervous system will need to be co- ordinated and harmonized. After you have been long about it you will find an extreme delicacy in its opera- tion. You will find that it requires a great deal more than a finger. All the muscles of your hand and arm will be required. We cannot overemphasize the impor- tance of squeezing your trigger. When you learn to do this without jumping (flinching), without moving an eyelash, you are making progress and are prepared for more advanced work. Why do you suppose we have "gallery practice," i.e., practice with a greatly reduced charge of powder? Simply to determine and correct your errors. We as- sume that you have normal sight and that you are in fair physical condition. Suppose that you make a per- fect score. What conditions must you fulfil? 1st, You must aim in exactly the same way every time. 2d, At the instant of firing your body must be in perfect repose. 3d, You must squeeze your trigger properly (without a jerk). You could not aim exactly the same way every time unless you understood your sights and unless you could see them plainly. You will be told to blacken them. Many forget and fail to do this. They do not fully realize that the sights are much easier to see when black- 156 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL ened, and that therefore the chances of hittirig the bull's- eye are much greater. There 's no more luck in shoot- ing than there is in solving a problem in geometry, or in a game of billiards. It 's all practice, nerve, and sci- ence. Your body cannot be in repose at the instant you fire unless you have your sling properly adjusted, unless you are reasonably comfortable (not constrained), and unless you, temporarily, stop breathing. Your body must be, for an instant, a vise. Any trivial thing such as a puff of wind, a jerk of the trigger, or a noise near you, will ordinarily change your hold and throw you off the bull's-eye. Suppose you are making a poor score. What is the trouble? In the first place don't blame it on the rifle or the ammunition. Assume full responsibility your- self. You are the responsible party. Practise a great deal and see if you can locate the fault. If you cannot, your captain will assist you. When we go from gallery practice to the target range, where we fire the service rifle with the service charge, we find a great difference in the recoil of the rifle and in the sound. The good Lord has made our muscles and nervous system to react automatically at danger or anything connected with it. That is prob- ably why we shudder and close our eyes when a door is slammed very near to us. But sound, unless we get too close, does not hurt any one, and we should steel our TARGET PRACTICE 157 nerves to remember that fact when we are firing. We also know that there is going to be a certain amount of recoil of the rifle. But if you will hold your sling as you have been instructed, if you will provide yourself with proper elbow and shoulder padding, the authors of this text assure you that you will experience no pain or harm from the recoil. It is their judgment that if you are healthy and can see and will go on the range with your jaws set to fire with anything like your gallery practice coolness, and calmness, you will qualify. Your greatest stumbling block will be your rapid fire. This is where you fire a definite number of shots in a limited time. And this is where you will experience the extreme amount of nervousness. When you return from firing your first score at rapid fire, and have had time to think calmly over your ac- tions, you will probably realize that your nerves were pitched up in G and that you did a number of foolish things. You should realize that you are not an excep- tional man. Ninety-nine out of every hundred normal, virile men are more or less nervous when they first step up for rapid fire. Practice and will power are the cor- rectives. Let us suppose that you have ten shots to fire in two minutes. If you fire your ten shots in one minute it is plain that you return unused one minute given to you. This minute may have been of great use to you in get- ting closer to the bull's-eye. If you fire at the rate of 158 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL ten shots in three minutes, it is plain that when your two minutes shall have expired you have missed the op- portunity of firing four times at the bull's-eye. Get one of your bunkies to go back of your tent and time you. Then swap about and you hold the watch for him. Try to make of yourself a machine that fin- ishes the ten shots just before the time expires. And here is a little rule of thumb we want you to bear constantly in mind while you are having rapid fire: Load your piece quickly, but aim and squeeze your trig- ger deliberately. Keep cool. The best shot in the company is the man who prac- tises the most. Go to the supplement for a fuller and more technical discussion of the art and science of shooting. CHAPTER X PRACTICE MARCH OR " HIKE " The practice march usually lasts from seven to ten days and comes at the end of each camp. It will be the most instructive, the most pleasant, and one of the hard- est periods of your service. You will return from it proud of the hardships you have undergone and capable of speaking with authority on many practical matters pertaining to soldiering. You will be able to amuse yourself and your friends with reminiscences of the many incidents which you will never forget. It is dur- ing the practice march that you will put into practical use the tactical principles and battle formations of which, up to that time, you will have heard at lectures, or which you will have executed in a mechanical manner at drill. You will return from this march with a knowledge of many practical points on camp sanitation, of the pleas- ures and hardships incident to manoeuver warfare, and of the manner in which a soldier adapts himself to changing conditions, all of which cannot be learned from books or lectures. The practice march demands a large expenditure of physical and mental energy; however, the hardships are greatly exaggerated by the second-year men. To make up a set of equipment, to assist in cleaning up camp and loading trucks, to march and fight for a distance 159 160 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL of ten or twelve miles while carrying a heavy pack on the back and a nine-pound gun on the shoulder, and upon reaching camp to pitch your tent, make up your bed, do some fatigue work, and probably some guard duty in addition, all in one day, is a hard physical strain on the average man. By obeying implicitly the advice of your company commander, you will greatly lessen the hardships incident to a practice march, and by dis- obeying it you may possibly undergo the mortification of having to drop out of ranks and be jeered at by the passing column. The following suggestions, if fol- lowed implicitly, will lessen the hardship of the "hike." MARCHIXG RULES 1. Adjust your equipment, if necessary, at the first halt. 2. Do not leave the column without the express per- mission of your company commander. 3. Keep in your proper place in the column. 4. Keep forty inches from the man in front of you. HALTS Halts are made for the purpose of resting. Take ad- vantage of the opportunity by sitting down at once along the side of the road near the place where your squad will form when the march is resumed. Remain seated until the command to fall in is given. Sit down in such a way that you do not support the weight of the pack on your shoulders while resting. PRACTICE MARCH OR "HIKE" 161 Don't go wandering off into people's yards or orchards. Relax as completely as possible. CAMPING Two men tent together — the front rank man and his rear rank file. After pitching your tent, get inside and level off the ground. Cut a drain around the tent to carry the water off; this should be done even in pleasant weather. In case you do not trench your tent and a sudden rain comes, your blankets may get wet and you will probably lose some much-needed rest and sleep. If the tent pins will not stay in the ground, cut some small sticks to a length of about twelve inches and use them as tent pins. PREPARING YOUR BED After you have pitched your tent, get some hay, grass, straw, or leaves and cover the floor. Place one poncho on this, then one or two blankets on top of the poncho to sleep on, and use the remaining blankets as cover. Spread the other poncho over the tent. Many men are careless about making a comfortable bed. You will be rewarded with large dividends if you are zealous in making yourself comfortable. Arrange your equip- ment at the rear just under the small triangle. Get 5'^our meat can, knife, fork, spoon, and tin cup out where they will be handy. 162 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL MAKING UP YOUR PACK Immediately after reveille, take down your tent and make up your pack. Place your extra blankets on the pile with those of the other members of your squad. Make up your surplus kit bundle and put it in the sur- plus kit bag. WATER Fill your canteen each evening, as the water wagons sometimes do not reach camp before the morning march is commenced. Excessive water drinking on the march is the besetting sin of the inexperienced soldier. One swallow of water calls for another. Soon your canteen is empty. Your stomach feels uncomfortable. You are still thirsty. If it is necessary to replace some of the water of the body which is lost by perspiration, and this is often necessary, first gargle out the mouth and throat and spit the water out; then take a swallow or two, but be careful not to drink to excess. Injudicious and excessive water drinking fills the hospital ambu- lances and auto trucks with men who should be in ranks. One half a canteen of water is sufficient for you on any march you will have to make. After you arrive in camp and have cooled off a little, drink as much water as you desire, but do so slowly. CARE OF THE FEET The infantryman's feet are his means of transporta- tion. If you care for them properly, you will be re- warded. PRACTICE MARCH OR "HIKE" 163 1. Wash and dry the feet carefully and put on clean socks as soon as practicable after getting into camp. 2. Wash out the socks you have been wearing and hang them out to dry, 3. Do not wear socks with holes in them if you can possibly avoid it. Should a hole begin to cause rub- bing, turn the sock inside out or change it to the other foot. 4. Just as soon as you decide to attend a training camp, cut your toe nails square across the ends so they will not grow in. 5. In case of any foot trouble that you cannot relieve, report to the surgeon at once. Don't wait until you cannot march before reporting. 6. A Treatment for Blisters. Be careful not to tear off the skin covering the blister. Heat the point of a needle until it is red hot and when it cools insert it under the live skin a little distance away from the blister. Push it through to the under side of the bruised skin or blister and then press out the water. To protect the blister, grease a small piece of chamois with vaseline and place it so that it covers the blister and extends over on the solid skin surrounding it. Then place a piece of oxide adhesive tape over the chamois. This method al- lows the protective covering to be removed without rup- turing the skin over the blister and protects the new tender and sensitive skin so that the weight can be rested upon the foot without causing severe pain. One man in each squad should be provided with a needle, adhesive 164 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL tape, a bottle of vaseline, and a piece of chamois for the common use of the squad. 7. Shoes. a. Be sure they fit your feet. The business shoe you wear at the office won't do for marching when, with the additional weight you carry, your foot spreads in breadth and extends in length; hence your marching shoes should be longer and broader than your business shoes. This is a very important item and should not be neglected. If your shoes are too large, blisters will result ; if too small, your foot will be cramped, and every step will be painful. b. Break your shoes in prior to the practice march. c. Keep your shoes well oiled so they will be soft and pliable and keep out water. d. If your shoes get wet on the inside heat some small pebbles (not so hot as to burn leather) and keep them inside the shoes until dry. CAMP SANITATION In camp you are really your brother's keeper. It is the duty of every man to keep the camp clean, sanitary, and livable. Constantly bear in mind that a great number of men are living together in a very small area ; that food is being prepared in the open; that there are no sewers ; and that the ground or dust and streams must not be polluted. Obey conscientiously and diligently the following rules : PRACTICE MARCH OR "HIKE" 165 1. Don't'take food to your tent. 2. Use the latrines that are provided. 3. When possible bathe each day as soon as prac- ticable after you arrive at camp. 4. Don't throw food or fruit peeling on the ground. 5. Dispose of any food you cannot eat by burning in the kitchen incinerator. 6. Keep away from the kitchen and cooks. 7. Don't dip your cup in the drinking water re- ceptacle. Use the dipper provided for that pur- pose. 8. If sick, report to a surgeon. 9. Don't litter up the camp with paper. 10. Get your drinking water and bathe at the author- ized places. The camp commander always designates different places for cooking and drinking water, for watering the animals, for bathing and washing clothes. 11. On leaving camp the ground should be in better condition than when you arrived. All sinks, latrines, ditches, and holes , are filled and the earth stamped down; all combustibles that have no value should be burned and noncombustible matter either buried or piled so it can be carted away. 12. All deposits in the rears should be covered with earth. MISCELLAjSTEOUS 1. Take great pains each morning to make a neat, small and solid pack and strap it up securely. 166 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL 2. Don't put your pack on until ordered to do so by your company commander or first sergeant. 3. Get your pack properly adjusted. 4. Don't take your equipment off during the ten- minute halt allowed for resting. 5. Don't eat anything or patronize the soft drink stand during a march. 6. Retire early and get a good night's rest. 7. Use only heavy or light wool socks and see that they fit perfectly. If you cannot wear wool socks, try cotton and then silk socks. 8. Don't overeat or overdrink. 9. A light pair of sneakers or canvas tennis shoes are serviceable for camp wear in the afternoons and are restful to the feet. 10. Each morning sprinkle a little talcum powder or footease in the shoes. 11. Keep the bowels functioning properly. Should you become constipated, report to the doctor for medi- cine before you begin to feel badly. 12. Clean your mess kit immediately after each meal. 13. Respect the property of others. EQUIPMENT During the hike your equipment for living will be lim- ited to: (1) your pack (things that you carry on your back), (2) a few authorized articles which are placed in a squad laundry bag (called a surplus kit), and (3) a blanket roll. PRACTICE MARCH OR "HIKE" 167 Contents of the Pack 1 bacon can. 1 comb and any other toi- 1 condiment can. let articles desired. 1 blanket. 1 cake of soap. 1 poncho. 1 or 2 towels. 1 shelter half (one -half of 1 extra suit of underwear, a small tent) . 1 pair socks. 5 small tent puis. 1 pair shoe strings. 1 tooth brush. Contents of Surplus Kit 1 pair of shoes. 1 olive drab shirt. 1 pair breeches. 2 pair socks. Any other article that may be prescribed by the com- pany commander. The surplus kit of each man will be made up into a neat, compact bundle, tied with a string (use a shoe string for the purpose), and tagged with the owner's name. These individual kits will be packed in a laun- dry bag, called "surplus kit bag," tagged, one for each squad. ^ Contents of Blanket Roll 1. Extra blanket. 2. One ramrod for each squad. 3. Any other articles that majj^ be prescribed by the company commander. Each squad makes these extra blankets, etc., into a 168 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL long roll which is called the "squad blanket roll." A tag is tied to it, showing to what regiment, company, and squad it belongs. Notes 1. The bacon can is a convenient place to carry a small face towel, shaving outfit, and other small toilet articles. 2. Keep your soap in a soap box. 3. Each squad should have its own cleaning material which should be tied into a small package and carried in the surplus kit bag. 4. Interest in the hike and the manoeuvers will be stimulated if at least one member of each squad has a map showing all the camp sites and route of march. CHAPTER XI OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS To make it possible to fill the gaps made in the Regu- lai' Army, by the heavy loss of commissioned officers which is inevitable in time of war and to make it possible to train large volunteer armies which are called into ex- istence when war is imminent or actually upon the coun- try, the Government has provided for an Officers' Reserve Corps. It is, indeed, a patriotic and far-sighted act on the part of a citizen to become a reserve officer, for, by so doing, he will increase his measure of usefulness for the time when his country will need him most and when he will, if he is a real, virile man, desire to be of the utmost service to his country. The President alone is authorized to appoint officers in the Reserve Corps. Each officer must be physically, mentally, and morally qualified to hold his commission. The highest rank in the reserve corps will be that of major. Age limits for appointment in the line of the Reserve Corps : 2nd Lieutenants must be under 32 years of age. 1st Lieutenants must be under 36 years of age. Captains must be under 40 years of age. 169 170 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Majors must be under 45 years of age. If you are considering taking the examination to en- ter the Officers' Reserve Corps, write to the Department Commander in whose department you hve, and make your intentions known. Ask for these items: 1st, An appUcation blank. 2d, "General Orders No. 32, War Department, July 28, 1916," with amendments thereto. 3d, Any additional information that you should know. In reply you will receive instructions in full from the Adjutant General. General Orders No. 32 gives the subjects in which you will be examined. GENERAL INFGKMATION CONCEENING THE OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS An officer in the Reserve Corps cannot, without his consent, be called into service in a lower grade than that held by him in the Reserve Corps. When a Reserve Officer reaches the age limit fixed for appointment or reappointment in the grade in which commissioned, he will be honorably discharged from the service of the United States and he will be entitled to retain his official title, and, on occasions of ceremony, to wear the uniform of the highest grade he held in the Reserve Corps. The preceding provisions as to ages of officers do not apply to the appointment or reappoint- ment of officers of the Quartermaster, Engineer, Ord- nance, Signal, Judge Advocate, and Medical Sections of the Reserve Corps. A commission in the Reserve Corps will cover a period OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 171 of five years, except as provided in the preceding para- graph, unless sooner terminated in the discretion of the President. An officer may be recommissioned, either in the same or a higher grade for successive periods of five years, subject to examination and age hmits. To become eligible for appointment as an officer of the Officers' Reserve Corps a man must be not less than twenty-one years of age and must be a citizen of the United States. No applicant will be examined who is an officer on the active list of the National Guard. THE officers' RESERVE CORPS IN WAR In time of actual or threatened hostilities the Presi- dent can order officers of the Reserve Corps to tempo- rary duty with the Regular Army, or as officers at re- cruiting rendezvous and depots, or on such duty as he may prescribe. An officer thus called into service re- ceives the same pay and allowances as an officer of the same rank in the Regular Army. When thus called out Reserve Officers may be promoted in rank to va- cancies in volunteer organizations. Retired officers of the Officers' Reserve Corps are not entitled to retired pay but are entitled to pensions for disability incurred in line of duty and while in active service. When called out for active service an officer in the Reserve Corps will be required to obey the laws and regulations for the gov- ernment of the Army of the United States in so far as they are applicable to officers whose permanent reten- tion in the military service is not contemplated. 172 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL INSTRUCTION OF OFFICERS OF THE RESERVE CORPS During peace the Secretary of War can order any Reserve Officer to duty for instruction for a period not to exceed fifteen days in any one calendar year. While so serving, an officer will receive the pay and allowance of his grade in the Regular Army. This period of serv- ice may be extended with the consent of the Reserve Officer. By thus extending such periods of instruction a Reserve Officer may, at the conclusion thereof, be ex- amined for promotion to the next higher grade. Any citizen who has creditably attended the prescribed series of three training camps (covering in all a period of three months) shall, after undergoing the required' physical and practical examination, be eligible for ap- pointment in the Officers' Reserve Corps. ■ The examinations for Reserve Corps commissions are for the purpose of ascertaining the practical ability of the applicant. The record of all the service and train- ing the applicant has had at training camps is consid- ered as part of the examination. Those desiring to enter the Officers' Reserve Corps may elect any of the following sections : 1. Infantry Officers' Reserve Corps. 2. Cavalry Officers' Reserve Corps. 3. Field Artillery Officers' Reserve Corps. 4. Coast Artillery Officers' Reserve Corps. 5. Medical (to include the reserve officers of the Medi- OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 173 cal Corps, Dental Corps, and Veterinary Corps) Officers' Reserve Corps. 6. Adjutant General's Officers' Reserve Corps. 7. Judge Advocate General's Officers' Reserve Corps. 8. Inspector General's Officers' Reserve Corps. 9. Quartermaster Officers' Reserve Corps. 10. Engineer Officers' Reserve Corps. 11. Ordnance Officers' Reserve Corps. 12. Signal Officers' Reserve Corps. REPORTS TO BE MADE Officers in the Officers' Reserve Corps are required to report at once to the Adjutant of the Department in which they live or to the heads of the Staff Corps or Departments to which they may belong of any perma- nent change of address. If a change of address to any other department is involved the adjutant of each de- partment should be notified. THE RESERVE OFFICERS' TRAINING CORPS The President is authorized to establish and maintain in civil educational institutions a Reserve Officers' Train- ing Corps which shall consist of senior and junior di- visions. SENIOR DIVISION A senior division of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps may be established at any university and college requiring of its students four years of collegiate study 174 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL for a degree, and at essentially military schools which, as a result of annual inspection of such institutions by the War Department, are especially designated as quali- fied to establish a unit of the senior division. Authori- ties of the former (universities and colleges not essen- tially military) must establish and maintain a two years' elective or compulsory course of military training, as a minimum, for its physically fit male students. This course, when entered upon, must in the case of such students be a prerequisite for graduation. When any member of this senior division has com- pleted two academic years of service in that division; has been selected by the president of the institution and by its professor of military science and tactics (who must be an army officer) ; has made a written agreement to continue in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps for the remainder of his course in the institution, devoting five hours per week to the military training prescribed by the Secretary of War; has also made a written agree- ment to pursue the courses in training camps (one camp of not more than six weeks' duration each year) pre- scribed by the Secretary of War) — when he has fulfilled all these conditions, he may be given, at the expense of the United States, a money commutation of subsistence at a rate not exceeding the cost of the garrison (army) ration during the rentiainder of his service in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. This will amount to about thirty cents a day. This provision applies only to the senior division. OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 175 JUNIOR DIVISION A junior division of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps may be established at any institution to which an army officer has been detailed as the professor of mili- tary science and tactics, and which cannot meet the nec- essary requirements for the senior division. In this case the Government does not give a commutation of sub- sistence and the students are not asked to obligate them- selves as in the senior division. TO ENTER THE RESERVE OFFICERS' CORPS The President is authorized, under such regulations as he may prescribe, to appoint in the Officers' Reserve Corps any graduate of the senior division of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, who shall have satisfactorily completed the two-year course of training (five hours a week) , incident to receiving a commutation of rations; also any graduate of the junior division who shall have satisfactorily completed the courses of military training prescribed for students of the senior divisions, referred to in the first part of this paragraph, and shall have par- ticipated in such practical instruction, subsequent to graduation, as the Secretary of War shall have pre- scribed. They must be twenty-one years of age and must make written agreement under oath to serve the United States for ten years. Any physically fit male citizen of the United States, between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-seven years, 176 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL who graduated prior to June 22, 1916, from any educa- tional institution at which an officer of the Army was detailed as professor of military science and tactics, and who, while a student at such institution, completed courses of military training substantially equivalent to those prescribed for the senior division of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, may, after satisfactorily com- pleting such additional practical military training as the Secretary of War shall prescribe, be eligible for appoint- ment to the Officers' Reserve Corps. The President can appoint and commission, as a tem- porary second lieutenant of the Regular Army in time of peace, for the purpose of instruction and for a period not to exceed six months, any Reserve Officer who was appointed in the manner described in the two preceding paragraphs. A temporary second lieutenant will re- ceive the allowance authorized by law for that grade and pay at the rate of $100 a month. He will be at- tached to a unit of the Regular Army for duty and train- ing. At the end of the six months he will revert to the status of a Reserve Officer. DEPARTMENT COMMANDEr's REPORT At the end of each calendar year department com- manders and chiefs of staff corps and departments com- pile lists of members of the Officers' Reserve Corps un- der their command, showing: (a) Name, rank, age, and address. OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 177 (b) Amount of instruction received. (c) Progress made. (d) Efficiency of officer. (e) Recommendation. A copy of these lists will be forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Army. The remainder of this chapter boils down to an irre- ducible minimum some of the most important subjects with which a Reserve Officer or an applicant for a com- mission in the Officers' Reserve Corps should be famil- iar. It in no way covers the subjects in which an appli- cant for a commission will be examined. It merely opens up a broad field of study for a reserve officer and at the same time can be used as a place of reference. THE LAND FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES You now are, or expect to become, a member of the land forces of the United States. Of what do the land forces of the United States consist? They consist of the Regular Army, the Organized Land Militia, when called into the service of the United States, and such volunteer forces as Congress may authorize. The last two become available only under certain conditions. The land forces are grouped under two general heads : (1) The Mobile Army. (2) The Coast Artillery. "The Mobile Army. The mobile army is primarily organized for offensive operations against an enemy, and on this account requires the maximum degree of 178 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL mobility," (Field Service Regulations.) It consists of: Infantry. Field Artillery. Cavalry. Engineers. Signal Corps Troops. "The Coast Artillery. The coast artillery is charged with the care and use of the fixed and movable elements of the land and coast fortifications." (Field Service Regulations.) The President of the United States is the Comman- der-in-Chief of the Army. He exercises his command through the Secretary of War. The Chief of Staff acts as military adviser to the Secretary of War. He puts into effect the Administration's wishes. For the purpose of equipping, inspecting, directing, and administering to the Army, there are the following corps and departments: (1 (2 (3 (4 (5 (6 (7 (8 (9 (10 General Staff Corps. Adjutant General's Department. Inspector General's Department. Judge Advocate General's Department. Quartermaster Corps. Medical Department. Ordnance Department. Bureau of Insular Affairs. Signal Corps. Engineer Corps. OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 179 The following are the grades of rank and commands of oiBcers and noncommissioned officers: (We have no lieutenant-generals at present.) Commands : Division. Commands : Brigade. Commands : Regiment. Second in command in a Regiment. Commands: Battalion. Commands : Company. Commands : Platoon. Commands : Platoon. ( 1 ) Lieutenant-General (2) Major-General (3) Brigadier-General (4) Colonel (5) Lieutenant-Colonel (6) Major (7) Captain (8) First Lieutenant (9) Second Lieutenant (10) Veterinarian He has no command. (11) Cadet at United States Military Academy — -He has no com- mand. (12) Sergeant-Major He has no command. (Regimental) (13) Ordnance Sergeant (14) Quartermaster Sergeant (15) Sergeant-Major (Battalion) (16) First Sergeant (17) Sergeant (18) Corporal He has no command. He has no command. He has no command. Commands : Platoon. Commands: Sometimes a Platoon. Commands : Squad. ARTICLES OF WAR The Army is governed by the Articles of War, which can be found in the Army Regulations. Any laws, orders, et cetera, pertaining to the Army must not vio- late directly or indirectly any of the Articles of War. It is therefore desirable that each Reserve Officer know where to find them and become, in a general way, fa- miliar with them. 180 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL GENERAL ADVICE To become a first-class drillmaster is desirable and necessary. But, being one, you are not to be intrusted with the command of troops in the field unless you have gone much farther than that. To become an excellent drillmaster means simply that you have mastered a de- tail. In order to become one you should bear this in mind : You cannot teach a man how to do a thing un- less you know that thing yourself. If you don't know your drill, don't try to "bluff" your men. Burn the midnight oil, or remain a private. MILITARY CORRESPONDENCE An official letter should refer to one subject only. In writing to the War Department address your let- ter to "The Adjutant General of the Army, Washing- ton, D. C." The United States (including colonies) is divided into the following departments: (1) The Eastern Department, with Headquarters at Governor's Island, New York. (2) The Central Department, with Headquarters at Chicago, Illinois. (3) The Southern Department, with Headquarters at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. (4) The Western Department, with Headquarters at San Francisco, California. (5) The Philippine Department with Headquarters at Manila, P. I. OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 181 (6) The Hawaiian Department, with Headquarters at Honolulu, Hawaii. You will be in one of these departments. Address your communication to "The Commanding General" at his department headquarters. Answer all official communications promptly. This is important. Letters must be written, folded, signed as prescribed by the War Department. Models illus- trating the system are furnished by the Adjutant Gen- eral's office, Washington, D. C. "Ind." is the abbrevi- ation for indorsement. (Correspondence Model) 2039 COMPANY B, 40th INFANTRY, Fort William H. Seward, Alaska, July 19, 1916. From: The Commanding Officer, Co. B, 40th Inf. To: The Adjutant General of the Army (Through military channels.) Subject: Philippine campaign badge. Corporal John Doe. Inclosed are lists in duplicate of the enlisted men of Company B, 40th Infantry, entitled to the Philippine campaign badge. 2 Incls. John A. Brown, Capt., 40th Inf. 1st Ind. 824 Hq. Ft. William H. Seward, Alaska, July 19th, 1916. — To the Comdg. Gen., Western Department, San Francisco, Cali- fornia. A. F. R., Brig.-Gen., Comdg. 182 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL 2d Ind. 2 Incls. (Stamp) Eec'd Western Department, July 30, 1916. (Note. This correspondence is not complete but it illustrates how to write a military letter and indorsement.) USE OF THE COMBUSTED ARMS Every efficient officer must realize the possibilities and limitations of his own arm of the service as well as the possibilities and hmitations of the other arms. Each arm of the service is necessary and important. A proper understanding of the use of the combined arms is as essential to success in battle as cooperation between the different members of a football team is to its success. Don't "knock" any arm but th.e one you are in, and don't knock that unless you are willing to admit you are not man enough to improve it. INFANTRY "The infantiy is the principal and most important arm, which is charged with the main work on the field of battle and it usually decides the final issue of the com- bat." (Field Service Regulations.) The role (duty or job) of the infantry, whether offensive or defensive, is the role of the entire force. If it fails, all fail. When properly supported by artillery, trained infantrymen armed with rifles, bayonets, and the will to put the en- emy out of action, will settle all issues. OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 183 AKTILLEEY The chief duty of the artillery is to support the in- fantry. It does this in three ways: 1st, By firing at the hostile infantry. 2d, By putting out of action the hostile artillery so that it cannot fire at the infantry. 3d, By demolishing the obstacles in front of the enemy's works. It smothers the enemy with a curtain of fire, so that the infantry can move forward without ruinous losses. Cooperation with the infantry is essential. If the infantry is defeated the artillery covers its with- drawal; if the infantry is successful the artillery moves forward and assists in reaping the full reward of victory by firing on the fleeing enemy. The present European War has greatly increased the prestige and importance of this arm of the service. The amount of artillery on the Western front and the amount of ammunition con- sumed daily is appalling. CAVALRY This very important arm is the eye with which the general sees for many miles to the front and flank. In an advance it pushes ahead, combs the country for the enemy, disperses his .cavalry, and thus protects the in- fantry in the rear. It locates the enemy, and occupies his attention until the infantry comes up. It protects the flanks and rear of the infantry and artillery during the fight. If needed, it joins in the fight. If the in- 184 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL fantry is defeated it covers the withdrawal, and if the infantry wins it pursues and pounces upon the enemy. MACHINE GUNS Before the present European War, machine guns were classified as emergency weapons. It was not he- lieved that they could remain long in action, because they would soon be silenced by hostile fire (artillery and infantiy). It was recommended, therefore, that a fa- vorable opportunity be awaited before opening fire which was to be delivered with their utmost effectiveness. They were believed to possess very limited possibilities in an attacking line, but as being most valuable in de- fensive works where protection and concealment could be found. During this war they have lost, as a defensive weapon, no prestige. They have also proved of great value to the attacking side. They are being made light and portable to accompany the firing line in an attack. The supply of ammunition alone limits the number that can be used. Each side in the present war has used them by the thousands with effectiveness. Machine guns are more worthy of consideration to-day than heretofore. BOMBS AND HAND GRENADES The present European War has revived the use of hand grenades and bombs. A certain number of sol- diers in each British and French battalion are trained OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 185 as grenade throwers. Their principal weapon is a bucket or bag of grenades or bombs. They operate not only from trenches but accompany the firing line in an attack and dispose of sheltered or isolated group of the enemy bj'^ smothering their position with a shower of hand grenades or bombs. These weapons are in the first stages of development in this country. Thej offer to the service practically a virgin field of opportunities. Some Reserve Officers might make a specialty of this subject and assist in its development. NIGHT OPEKATIONS "By employing night operations troops make use of the cover of darkness to minimize losses from hostile fire, to escape observation, to gain time." (Infantry Drill Regulations.) They are dangerous because control is difficult and confusion is frequently unavoidable. Only trained troops should be used, and the formation must be simple. Don't attempt anything complicated. Observe the following suggestions. For an attack or offensive movement: ( 1 ) Study by daylight and after dark, if possible, the ground you are to cross. (2) Make careful preparations with secrecy. (3) Avoid fire action. Pieces should not be loaded. Rely on the bayonet. (4) Give each unit a definite objective and direction. Avoid collision. 186 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL (5) Have each man wear a distinctive badge. (For instance, a white band on one arm. ) If on the defensive and you expect a night attack, place obstacles in front of your position, heavily patrol your front, fix bayonets, move up your supports, open fire as soon as results may be expected, and illuminate the foreground. OBSTACLES The main object in placing obstacles in front of a de- fensive position is to delay the enemy while he is under the defender's fire, and thus make his advance as difii- cult as possible. To accomplish this result they must be so placed that the enemy must cross them. They must not interfere with the defender's 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 demon- strated that the barb wire entanglement fulfils more of these requirements than any other form of obstacle. — See Engineer Department's "Manual on Field Fortifi- cations" on how to construct obstacles. MEETING ENGAGEMENTS When two hostile forces suddenly meet we have what is termed a "meeting engagement." Very little or no reconnaissance is possible. There is an absence of trenches. Both sides deploy rapidly. The smaller the OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 187 force the more frequently will it fight a meeting engage- ment. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to junior officers. A great advantage will accrue to the side which can deploy the faster. The leader who has intuition, initiative, who can make a quick decision and is willing to take a long chance, will have a great ad- vantage. WITHDRAWAL FROM ACTION "The withdrawal of a defeated force can generally be effected only at a heavy cost." (Infantry Drill Regu- lations.) When a withdrawal is necessary, make every possible effort to place distance and a rear guard be- tween you and the enemy. Have one part of your line withdraw under protection of the fire of the other part and so on. Reorganize your command as soon as pos- sible. INTRENCHMENTS "Ordinarily infantry intrenches itself whenever it is compelled to halt for a considerable time in the presence of the enemy." ( Infantry Drill Regulations. ) Trenches are constructed with a view of giving cover which will diminish losses, but they must not be so built or placed as to interfere with the free use of the rifle. A good field of fire is the first consideration. The con- struction of a trench is simple, but the location of it is difficult. If possible, trenches are laid out in company lengths. Intrenchments usually take the following form; 188 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL (1) Hasty Cover. Constructed by troops with the tools they carry on their person. It is a shallow trench with a parapet at least three feet thick and one foot high. It furnishes cover against rifle fire, but scarcely any against shrapnel, ( 2 ) Fire Trench. It should be deep and narrow with the parapet flat and concealed. While in it, the troops fire at the enemy; hence the name fire trench. Usual forms of fire trenches are as shown in the fol- lowing illustration: Ifoot-commafid enlarged Foatbold Chambernined offer compleh Pockets may be exci^i 'nectssaiyexciTm/f for feet A'fttjT No pampet -waste the earfti Planks or poles ant bnjstilaidheforea aftierworkonFig.. Chamber, on Ft g 2 (3) Cover Trenches. The supports sleep and live in these trenches; hence they are covered. The cover (roof) must be thick enough to afford protection from high angle artillery fire. It is placed as near the fire trench as possible. (4) Communicating Trenches. These connect fire trenches with the cover trenches and the cover trenches with any trenches (reserve) in rear where natural cov- OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 189 ered communication is impracticable. They are zig- zagged to escape being enfiladed. ( That is, to prevent one explosion from doing too much damage in a single trench.) During an engagement, troops by using these trenches can go safely to the help of the troops in the fire trenches. They are usually deep and narrow. The following diagram illustrates the use of the three trenches : Communicating Trench MILITARY MAPS Definition. "A military map is a drawing made to represent some section of the country, showing the fea- tures that are of military importance, such as roads, bridges, streams, houses, and hills. The map must be so drawn that you can tell the distance between any two points, the heights of the hills, and the relative positions of everything shown." (Field Service Regulations.) In the field the military maps are supplemented by sketches, or field maps, prepared from day to day. For facility in reading, military maps are made according to a uniform system of scales and contour intervals as fol- lows : 190 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Road Sketches. Three inches on the map is equal to 1 mile on the ground, contour intervals of 20 feet. Position and Outpost Sketches. Six inches on the map are equal to 1 mile on the ground, contour intervals of 10 feet. Manoeuver or War Game Maps. Twelve inches on the map are equal to 1 mile on the ground, contour in- tervals of 5 feet. Large Strategical Maps for Extended Manoeuvers. One inch on the map is equal to 1 mile on the ground, contour intervals of 60 feet. Every officer in the Reserve Corps should be able to read a military map and make a road, an outpost, and a position sketch. BAYONET Importance of the Bayonet. The infantry soldier is armed with a bayonet. He relies mainly on fire action to disable the enemy, but he should know that it is often necessary for him to cross bayonets with the enemy. Therefore he must be instructed in the use of the rifle and the bayonet in hand-to-hand encounters. The pres- ent European War is demonstrating the importance of this instruction. If you do not receive instruction in bayonet fighting at a federal training camp, it will not be because it is unimportant, but because there is no available time to give it. Any Reserve Officer can well afford to specialize in this work. OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 191 AMMUNITION An infantry soldier goes into battle carrying 220 rounds of rifle ammunition. He habitually carries in his belt 100 rounds and when a fight is imminent he gets 120 rounds (2 bandoliers) from his combat train. He keeps 30 rounds in the right pocket section of his belt to be expended only when ordered by an officer. A cavalryman goes into battle carrying 150 rounds of rifle ammunition and 40 rounds of pistol ammunition. He habitually carries in his belt 90 rounds of rifle and 20 rounds of pistol ammunition. When about to go into a fight he gets 60 rounds of rifle and 20 rounds of pistol ammunition from his combat train. All officers must train their men to economize in the use of ammunition. Train service, even by rail for am- munition, would be inadequate if this were not done. TRANSPORTATION Organization commanders are responsible for all im- authorized material or supplies that may be put on their wagons. You should therefore become acquainted with the transportation attached to the smaller organizations. The wagons that carry your ammunition are called the Combat Train. The wagons that carry your authorized baggage, kitchen equipment, and food are called the Field Train. THE RATION A ration is the allowance (money) for the subsistence of one person for one day. It is based on the cost of a 192 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL fixed amount of certain foods (such as meat, potatoes, bread, etc.) necessary for a workingman. As the cost of food in the different sections of the country varies, so does the cost of the ration. There are several kinds of ration based on what the soldier is doing and the cli- mate he is in. If you are ever in command of a com- pany, whether in the field or in barracks, one of your most important duties will be to supervise the cooking and messing of your company. You should, therefore, become familiar with the following rations: (1) Garrison rations. Used by troops in garrison and during peace and on manoeuvers. (2) Reserve ration. Carried on the person and in the trains. (3) Field ration. The ration prescribed by the com- mander of a field force. (4) Travel ration. Used when traveling. (5) Emergency ration. Used by troops on an active campaign in an emergency. (6) Filipino ration. For use of Filipino Scouts. PROPERTY In the absence of regulations on the subject, each Re- serve Officer should own a good watch, a pair of field glasses, a compass, and a note book. GUARD DUTY Guards are used in camp or garrison to preserve or- der, to protect property, and to enforce police regula- OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 193 tions. The commander of the guard is an officer or non-commissioned officer. He performs his duties un- der the supervision of the officer of the day. A sentinel is on post two hours out of every six. And a tour of guard duty is twenty-four hours. As guard duty is of such utmost importance, and laxity, or failure to per- form it properly, is very severely punished, the duties of all connected with it are clearly prescribed in the Guard Manual. Orders for sentinels are divided into two classes, gen- eral and special. Each should be memorized. Special orders relate to particular posts and duties. General orders apply to all sentinels and are as follows : " (1) To take charge of this post and all government property in view. " (2) To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing. "(3) To report all violations of orders I am in- structed to enforce. "{4s) To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guard house than my own. " (5) To quit my post only when properly relieved. "(6) To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentinel who relieves me all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and officers and noncommissioned of- ficers of the guard only. "(7) To talk to no one except in line of duty. "(8) In case of fire or disorder to give the alarm. 194 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL "(9) To allow no one to commit a nuisance on or near my post. "(10) In any case not covered by instructions to call the corporal of the guard. "(11) To be especially watchful at night, and, dur- ing the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority." (Guard Manual.) SALUTING Saluting distance is that within which recognition is easy. In general it does not exceed thirty paces. A junior, who is mounted, dismounts before address- ing a senior who is dismounted. If the senior is mounted the junior does not dismount when addressing him. A junior officer walks or rides on the left of his senior. National Air. Whenever "The Star Spangled Ban- ner" is played at a military post or camp, all officers and enlisted men stand at attention, facing toward the music, except at retreat, when they face toward the flag and in each case salute at the last note of the air. When it is played at any other place where persons belonging to the military service are present in their official capacity or present unofficially but in uniform, they will stand at attention, facing the music, and salute at the last note of the air. If without arms, the hand salute will be rendered. Saluting at Retreat. Either "The Star Spangled Banner" or the call "to the color" is played at retreat OFFICERS' RESERVE CORPS 195 while the flag is being lowered. Stand at attention fac- ing the flag while it is being lowered and salute at the last note of "The Star Spangled Banner" or the bugle call "to the color." Colors or Standards. Colors are the national and regimental flags of foot troops. Standards are the na- tional and regimental flags of cavalry or field artillery. When passing colors or standards, uncased (not in a waterproof case), the prescribed salute must always be rendered. By the prescribed salute is meant, if un- armed or armed with a saber which is sheathed, the "hand salute" ; if armed with a drawn saber, the "present saber." BOOKS We reconmiend that each officer in the Reserve Corps read the following books. All except Moss's "Manual for Officers" can be obtained from the Adjutant Gen- eral of the Ai-my, Washington, D. C. Moss's "Man- ual" and any other military book desired can be pur- chased from the United States Infantry Association, Union Trust Building, Washington, D. C. (1) "The Military Policy of the United States," by Gen. E. Upton. (2) "The Guard Manual, United States Army." (3) "The Field Service Regulations, United States Army." (4) The Drill Regulations of the arm of the service to which you are assigned. 196 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL (5) "Officers' Manual," by Major J. A. Moss, United States Infantry. (6) "First Aid to the Sick and Injured" o OJ o 0) Oh 0) a o o s .Si o 03 ^ 4^ 268 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Sling. Your ability to hold the rifle steadily in any required position will be greatly increased by the proper adjustment and use of the sling. Indeed, you cannot hope to hold the rifle steadily unless the sling is prop- erly used. The following photographs illustrate the correct way to get into the sling. No. 1. Notice that the left arm is slipped into the sling from the left side of same. Notice how gun is held against leg. Notice that the muzzle of the gun is pointing up, not down. The bolt should be drawn back while you get into the sling. This is to avoid accidents. Notice that the sight leaf is down. No. 1. TARGET PRACTICE 269 No. 2. 'No. 2. Notice that the sling has been slipped up and over the large muscles of the upper arm. Also the left hand after being run through the sling is grasp- ing the gun so that the sling is to the right. By turning back now to the photographs illustrating the cor- rect body positions you will see how the sling is used. 2. Aiming. An error of one one-hundredth of an inch in the amount of front sight seen, at the instant the gun is fired, will cause you to completely miss a man 500 yards away. Hence, the eye must be trained unless the firer has at all times a mental picture of how the sights and the bull's-eye look when properly aligned. You should acquire this mental picture during your aiming exercises and by the time you go on the range you should have the eye so trained that you will focus it properly on your sights and the target without mental effort. 3. Trigger Squeeze. If you convulsively jerk the trigger to discharge the rifle, you disturb your hold and aim and the mark is missed ; this is the recruit's most common error. To properly squeeze trigger observe the following suggestions: 270 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL (a) As you place your rifle to the shoulder, take up the loose play in the trigger (called the creep) . (b) When the gun is properly aimed, don't endeavor at that particular moment to fire it but be content to apply additional pressure to the trigger and then hold this pressure until the gun is again steady and properly aimed when a little more pressure is added and so on until the gun is discharged. By using this system, the firer does not know the exact instant the gun is to go off and the common faults, namely, flinching and jerking the trigger are unconsciously avoided. (c) Fill lungs full, that is take a deep breath, let a little out, and then stop breathing to fire. 4. Calling the Shot. If the aiming eye is open when the gun is discharged, the firer should know at what part of the target the gun was aimed at that instant, and he should announce this fact to his coach or in the absence of a coach make a mental note of it. If the bullet struck the target at the point where the gun was aimed the instant of discharge, no sight correction is necessary; on the other hand, if the bullet did not strike the target at the point where the gun was aimed the instant of discharge, the sights are probably improperly adjusted, and should be changed as indicated in the following paragraph on sight adjustment. 5. Sight Adjustment. If, after firing two or more shots, you find that, in each case, there is a constant error between where the bullet hits the target and the place where you called the shot, your sights should be TARGET PRACTICE 271 readjusted in accordance with your preliminary eleva- tion and deflection drills. When you decide to change your sight adjustment don't be timid and deal in half measures but apply a sufficient correction so that the rifle will hit where the shot is called. The inexperienced man has a tendency to change his sights after each shot. Avoid this tendency. RAPID FIRE In rapid fire the battle sight is always used ; the firing is against time and at a field target (Target D), and from ranges 200, 300, and sometimes 500 yards. The battle sight corresponds to an elevation of 547 yards, which makes it necessary for the firer at the 200 and 300 yard ranges to aim at a point about 2% feet below the part of the target that it is desired to hit. Prior to record firing each man should determine these aiming points by slow fire, at ranges 200 and 300 yards, using the battle sight. There is one golden rule that must be followed if you are to get a good score at rapid fire: You must use the minimum time possible in loading and the maximum time possible for aiming and squeezing the trigger. To be more specific^ this means tvork your bolt quickly but aim and squeeze your trigger slowly. HINTS ON RAPID FIRE 1. When you go to the firing point get two clips of cartridges, one to be used at the command load and the extra one is placed in the belt. 272 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL 2. See that your cut off is up. 3. When the target first appears drop quickly into the required position for firing. A great deal of time is usually lost by the firer squirming around trying to get into a comfortable position. 4. Don't hurry your first or last shot. These are the two shots that are usually bad. 5. If your second clip jams or breaks, load and fire each cartridge separately. 6. Leave the gun at your shgulder while working the bolt. 7. Be careful to fire on your own target. 8. If a cartridge fails to fire, it is very probably be- cause the bolt is not all the way down; therefore recock the gun (pull the firing pin back) , make certain the bolt is down, and fire again. 9. As soon as the targets disappear cease firing, come to Inspection Arms, examine your rifle for unfiled cartridges. GENERAL HINTS AND CAUTIONS 1. Don't be afraid of the kick; it is more imaginary than real when the sling is properly used, your shoulder properly padded, and the gun properly held. 2. Rest your cheek, not your jaw bone, lightly against the small of the stock. 3. Rest your right thumb along the right side of the stock and not on top of it. TARGET PRACTICE 273 4. Blacken both front and rear sights, adjust and place your arm in the sling, and if possible set your sights while you are waiting your turn to go to the firing point. 5. Approach and leave the firing point with your bolt drawn back. This is to prevent accidents. 6. When not actually aiming, have your bolt drawn back. 7. Never attempt to force the bolt into the gun in case of a jam, but ask a coach to fix it for you. 8. Don't allow the muzzle to touch the ground. 9. Don't rub your eyes while at the firing point. 10. When not actually aiming, rest the eyes by shad- ing them or looking at something green. 11. Clean the bore of your rifle before and after fir- ing. After firing it should be cleaned daily, until a rag run through it will not be soiled. 12. Clean the rifle from the breech. 13. Zero of rifle. Every rifle, owing to slight in- equalities of boring, sights, and the personal errors of the firer, shoots differently. When you have ascertained its {rifle) and your own peculiar errors and you know where to set your sights to counteract these constant errors, you have determined what is commonly termed the zero of your rifle. To illustrate, if you were shoot- ing on a perfectly calm day (which is essential) at the target from the 500-yard range, and you found that you required one half a point left windage in order to hit 274 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL the bull's-eye when no wind is blowing, the zero of your rifle for that range would be one half a point left wind- age. CARE or THE RIFLE Keep the metal part of your rifle covered with a thin coating of light oil; "3-in-l" oil is ordinarily used. This is especially important in damp weather. Always clean the bore from the breech. This avoids injuring the muzzle. The pull through (a string found in the oiler and thong case) is only used in the field. After the rifle is fired the bore is covered with an acid which, if left in the bore, will eat into the metal and pit it. To avoid this, swab out the barrel as soon as pos- sible after firing with Hoppe's "Powder Solvent, No. 9" which can be purchased at the camp stores. If this powder solvent is not available, dissolve some soda in water and use it. When the barrel is clean, dry it out thoroughly by running several dry rags through it. Next run several rags, saturated in oil, through the barrel, this for the purpose of oiling the bore and pre- venting rust. This process of cleaning should be re- peated for at least three successive daj'^s following the firing of the rifle. The metal fouling, caused by the pealing off in the bore of the jacket of the bullet, can only be removed by an application of an ammonia solution which should not be used by an inexperienced man. TARGET PRACTICE 275 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION The Bayonet. The bayonet is a cutting and thrust- ing weapon consisting of three principal parts, viz., the blade, the guard, and the grip. The weight of a bayonet is 1 pound. Lieut. B. A. Dixon, 9th Infantry, has compiled the following interesting data about our military rifle and ammunition : "Name. United States Rifle (commonly known as the Springfield) . /^ ,- "Cost. $14.40 without the bayonet.lrV^ /^'^^ ^ "Barrel. 24.006 inches in length. The muzzle is rounded to protect the rifling. Any injury here would allow gases to escape around the sides of the bullet and destroy its accuracy. "On the top in rear of the front sight is stamped the Ordnance escutcheon, the initials of the place of manu- facture, and the month and year. "Caliber. .30-thirty hundredths of an inch. Caliber 276 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL is the interior diameter of the barrel measured between the lands. "Grooves. The four spiral channels within the bore of the rifle sometimes called rifling. They are .004 inches deep and are three times as wide as the lands. "Lands. The four raised spaces in the bore of the rifle between the grooves. These lands grip the bullet as it passes through the bore and rotate it to the right about the longer axis. This rotation serves to prevent tumbling and keeps the bullet accurately on its course. This spinning of the bullet also causes it to drift slightly to the right as it passes through the air. The same effect is produced by throwing a baseball with a twist. "Twist. The spiral formed by the grooves in the barrel of the piece. The twist is uniform and to the right, one turn in ten inches. "Length. The rifle without bayonet is 43.212 inches long. With bayonet it is 59.212 inches long. "Manufacture. The United States Rifle is manu- factured by the Government at Springfield Armory, Massachusetts, and Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. "Rear Sight Leaf. Graduated from 100 to 2850 yards. The odd range is on the right branch of the leaf, the even on the left. Note that the line corre- sponding to a range is below a numeral. "Battle sight is the position of the rear sight in which the leaf is laid down. The slide should be drawn all the way back to secure full advantage of the windage. It corresponds to a range of 547 yards. TARGET PRACTICE 277 "Rounds. The rifle will hold six cartridges. Five are carried in the magazine and one in the chamber. "Stock. Made of walnut wood. "Oiler and Thong Case. Furnished for every al- ternate rifle and is carried in butt of the stock. In one section is a supply of oil, in the other a thong and brush for cleaning the bore. In cleaning by this method draw the brush or rag from the muzzle toward the breech. "Weight. 8.69 pounds without bayonet. Bayonet weighs 1 pound. "ammunition "Cost. About two- and one-half cents per cartridge. "Bullet. Has a core of lead and tin composition in- closed in a jacket of cupro-nickel. The jacket being tough enables the lands in the bore to grip the bullet without rupturing and to rotate it while passing through the barrel. A lead bullet unjacketed would strip and pass through without rotating. It weighs 150 grains and is pointed to offer less resistance to the air. "Case. Made of brass. The government ammuni- tion is manufactured at Frankford Arsenal, Pennsyl- vania. "Powder. Pyrocellulose. The grains are cylindri- cal, single, perforated, and graphited. Normal charge is 47-50 grains. Pressure developed in the chamber is 51,000 pounds per square inch. "Penetration. This bullet will penetrate the follow- ing materials to depth stated at range of 100 yards: 278 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL Moist sand, 14.02 inches; loam, 17.46 inches; oak, 31.18 inches; brick wall, 5.5 inches; steel plate, 4 inches. Dry sand is the best stop. The bullet will penetrate 6.88 inches of it at 100 yards and 13.12 inches at 500 yards. "Range. Maximum range, 4891.6 yards (about 2% miles) with the muzzle elevated 45 degrees. The time of flight 38.058 seconds. "Velocity. About 2700 feet per second at 70 de- grees F. "Weight. Complete cartridges weigh 395.5 grains depending on amount of water. It is waterproof." CHAPTER V TENT PITCHING On the hike the camp will be laid out daily in advance by a staiF officer. The company being halted and in line, the company commander gives the order : FORM FOR SHELTER TENTS. The first sergeant and right guide fall in on the right of the company. The blank files in the squads have to be filled by men from the file closers, and the remaining guides and file closers form on the left flank or at such places as may be designated by the company com- mander. The company commander next gives the or- der: 1. Take interval, 2. To the left, 3. MARCH, 4. Company, 5. HALT. At the second command (to the left) the rear rank men march backward four steps of fifteen inches each and then halt. At the command MARCH, all face to the left and the leading man of each rank steps off. The remaining men step off in succession, each following the preceding man at four paces. The rear rank men march abreast of their file leaders. The company commander gives the command HALT when all have gained their intervals. At this com- mand all halt and face to the front, dressing to the right. 279 280 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL The more quickly you dress and establish the line of tents, the more quickly you will be relieved of those heavy packs. This is the time to brace up and give the company comjnander your support by giving him your attention. If you cover in file accurately as you take interval you will often be accurately aligned upon halt- ing. The next command is: PITCH TENTS. At this command each man steps off obliquely to the right with the right foot (about thirty inches) and lays his rifle on the ground, butt to the rear and near the toe of the right foot, muzzle to the front, barrel to the left. He then steps back to his original position. During this process of "grounding" the rifle, the front rank man must keep his left foot strictly in its position. Each front rank man then draws his bayonet from the scabbard and sticks it in the ground by the outside of his right heel. Now in order to insure the bayonet being properly aligned, thus producing a straight line of tents, the company ofiicers (first and second lieutenants), some- times are required to align the line of bayonets while the men are unslinging and opening their equipment. The equipment is then unslung and laid on the ground. The packs are opened and the shelter half and pins removed therefrom. Each man spreads his shelter half, small triangle to the rear, on the ground that the tent is to occupy, the rear-rank man's shelter half being on the right. Then the front- and rear-rank men but- ton the halves together, the rear-rank man's half on top. TENT PITCHING 281 The guy loops at each end of the lower half are then passed through the button holes provided in the lower and upper halves ; next the whipped end of the guy rope is passed through both guy loops and secured; this is done at both ends of the tent, the rear-rank man work- ing at the rear and the front-rank man at the front. Each front-rank man then inserts the muzzle of his rifle under the front end of the tent and holds the rifle upright, sling to the front, heel of the butt on the ground beside the bayonet. The rear-rank man comes to the front of the tent and pins down the two front corners on the line of bayonets, stretching the sides of the tent taut. He then inserts a pin in the loop of the front guy rope and drives it in the ground at such a distance in front of the rifle as to hold the rope taut. Then both men proceeding to the rear of the tent, each pins down a corner, stretching the sides and rear of the tent taut before driving the pin in. The rear-rank man next in- serts an intrenching tool or a bayonet, in its scabbard, under the rear end of the tent, the front rank man peg- ging down the end of the guy rope. The rest of the pins are then driven by both men, the rear-rank man working on the right. The front flaps of the tent are not fastened down, but thrown back on the tent. In pitching the tent, it is absolutely necessary that the front- and rear-rank men work together. Team work is essential. When the camp site is small, it is necessary that each 282 THE PLATTSBURG MANUAL •Arrangement /Shelter Teat w5|iendar \ Ele\;-<3ttioj7 TENT PITCHING 283 company pitch its tents in two lines facing each other. The following illustration shows the arrangement of the articles of the equipment when they are laid out for inspection. During the inspection, each man stands at attention in front of the corner pin of his own shelter half on a line with the front guy rope pin, unless ordered to the contrary. 6- Center lirfe Under tlothei lit AM GinTa&n Clover - Condimint Can (-loncho under fclcinkel rt Can Treif& line, of ter\t •Belt ofan MftfltCftA VYi+K Knifv. iorK (ind Sboorv cia Entrenching tool left fr\ place. fir clearness, straps, etc ..ore. orriitted. Soiberidcn rem