TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS MAJOR WILLIAM E. DUNN ■ : TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS Books by Major WILLIAM E. DUNN, N. A. TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS A Guide-Book for Tkoops en route to France INFANTRY OFFICERS' HANDBOOK OF ARTILLERY INFORMATION HARPER & BROTHERS, NEW YORK [Established 1817] TRAVELI NG UNDER ORDERS A Guide-Book for Troops en Route to France BY Major WILLIAM E. DUNN FIELD ARTILLERY, NATIONAL ARMT HARPER fcf BROTHERS PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON FEB 21 1918 Traveling Under Orders Copyright, 1018, by Harper & Brothers Printed in the United States of America Published February, 1918 ^ A-S 0GI.A4817 A.^ I CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE Preface vii I. Preliminary Preparations 1 II. Journey by Rail 13 III. The Sea Voyage 23 IV. Arrival in France 41 V. By Rail to the Training-camp .... 47 VI. At the Training-camp 49 VII. Marching Across France 51 VIII. Billets and Billeting 54 IX. Arrival at the Front 62 X. Conclusion 64 Appendix 66 PREFACE This guide-book contains notes on the voyage to France of one of our first regular batteries of field artillery to be sent on foreign service. It is hoped that the information and suggestions contained therein will be of service to other organization commanders ordered on foreign service. TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS Due to the necessity for secrecy in troop movements, notification of a troop movement _ . c . and the travel orders therefor will Notifications , • l i i i i 1 -ntr t\ and Travel be withheld by the War Depart- Orders. m i i -i i ment until the last possible mo- ment. This puts a burden upon the organiza- tion commander of preparing his organization for movement under the handicap of shortage of time. He must, accordingly, have his pre- liminary preparations thought out and as much of this work completed as can be done before- hand, well before the receipt of travel orders. Some preliminary information about the con- templated movement of troops will begin to drift in, in the form of rumors. Later an of- 1 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS ficial communication will be received, stating that such and such organizations will constitute a division of expeditionary forces that will shortly be sent on foreign service. The com- manding officer of these troops will probably not make this communication public, but will issue certain necessary instructions to prepare the troops under his command for a quick de- parture upon receipt of actual travel orders. In all this preliminary information a strict secrecy will be maintained as to the particular port of embarkation, the number of troops in the move- ment, of ships in the fleet of transport and the actual time of sailing. The actual travel orders usually give about twenty-four hours' time for entraining and departure from the station. An organization commander must make his plans in advance and arrange the packing of his organization property so as to have, ^tte t TtS£ e during each stage of the journey, the particular property ready for use as it is required for that stage. The trip may be divided into the following parts: (1) The movement by train to the port of embarkation. (2) The voyage at sea aboard the transports. 2 PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS (3) Debarkation and base cantonment. (4) Journey by rail to the training-camp. (5) Time at the training-camp. (6) Marching across France to the front. (7) Arrival at a sector of the fighting front. A captain must know something about the conditions he will encounter during each of these stages in order to make intelligent prepa- rations for his company or battery. He must make his plans in packing his organization property so that articles required for any par- ticular stage of the journey will be on hand ready for use during that stage. In the haste of final departure he will not have time to make an intelligent selection or wise provision for such needs. This part of his plans should be arranged before the receipt of travel orders. The season of the year will determine what clothing must be worn by the men on the trip, „«. «... and also what should be carried in What Clothing . , . . . . , to Take on their barrack-bags and what may safely be packed and boxed with company or battery property. Troops leaving a Southern training-camp must not forget that they are liable to en- counter much colder weather, especially if they 3 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS are to embark at one of our Northern ports, or if the convoy of transports is to take a northern route across the Atlantic. Absolutely no word of preliminary information will be given out on either one of these particulars. To be on the safe side, therefore, a captain must make his plans and arrangements so that his men will be comfortably clothed if sent by the northern route. If he is then so fortunate as to encounter the milder weather of the Gulf Stream, no harm will have been done by his forethought and provision for other eventualities. In regard to clothing, it must also be remembered that there will be practically no facilities whatever for any laundry-work from the date of departure to the date of landing in France. Every en- deavor should be made, accordingly, to take as ample a supply of underclothing as it is possible for the men to carry in their barrack- bags. The actual length of the journey by train depends, of course, upon the distance from the «„_ «,,,» station where the troops are en- What Will Be . . i. i i , • Needed on the trained to the port oi embarkation. Train. _ . i • 1 Jbor a journey that is known to require five or six days, it is wise to draw a PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS supply for ten days' rations, in order to be pre- pared for any unforeseen delay. Provision must be made to feed the men aboard train during their journey by rail. All railroads have a very limited number of kitchen- cars. It is probable, therefore, that each organi- zation will have to install its field-ranges in a baggage-car, to be used as a kitchen-car. The mess sergeant and cooks should be in- structed beforehand on the method prescribed by the War Department for building a sand-box on the floor of a baggage-car and of securing the field-range thereon, so that meals can be prepared aboard train. One baggage-car so arranged is sufficient to contain the organiza- tion kitchen and ten days' supply of rations for approximately two hundred men. If available, tourist sleeping-cars will be fur- nished. The men will need aboard the train their mess-kits and usual toilet articles. If the journey is to be made during the winter, it is wise to have them take their blankets also. Individual barrack-bags, with such clothing as the men take with them but do not need on the journey by rail, will be marked with a man's name and number, and be placed in a second TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS baggage-car — other than the one used for a kitchen. At sea, also, the men will need their mess- kits, blankets, and toilet articles. During the what wui voyage food will be prepared by Be Needed the ship's mess, so that all organi- zation mess property can be packed and stored upon completion of a journey by rail. In regard to rations remaining, it is well to turn all perishable articles into the ship's mess, for use of the organization, and carefully to box such as will keep and can be used at the base cantonment upon debarkation. Upon debarkation in France, troops will be held at the base cantonment until they can be what win Be sent ^y ra ^ to their training-camp. Needed at Base At the base cantonment, men will Cantonments. i i • iiii i i need their cot beds, bed-sacks, and blankets, barrack-bags containing a supply of clothing, mess-kits, and toilet articles. Rations must be drawn immediately upon landing, the field-ranges and mess property se- cured from the hold of the ship and set up as soon as possible at the camp. It is well to re- member this, and to make sure while loading 6 PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS ship that the mess equipment is placed where it can be unloaded first. Sufficient lumber for boxing all organization property may be obtained by requisition on the Quartermaster. Boxes are then Packing up. made and marked with the organi- zation stencil. The organization commander should go over, with his supply sergeant and the officer who is in charge of organization property, his plans for the troop movement. These plans should be made so that property needed at any stage of the voy- age can be readily gotten at. The best way is to pack property by units, wherever possible, so as to avoid mixing lots and articles. It is a cause of unnecessary confusion to have a variety of miscellaneous articles jumbled together in packing. So far as it can be arranged, pack all articles of a kind together. This greatly facili- tates the listing of the contents of each box. It also enables the supply sergeant readily to get at any particular article desired. The supply sergeant is then able to prepare a list of con- tents of each box of property with numbers of the boxes. All mess property must be marked, and pro- 7 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS vision made for packing small articles and kitchen utensils at embarkation. This not only facilitates transferring it from train to ship, but insures that all mess property will be together, ready for use upon debarkation. It is well to carry a crate for the field-range, and boxes for such articles of rations as remain upon com- pletion of the train journey. One or more boxes of books, magazines, and reading-matter for the men aboard ship should be taken in the baggage-car with Matte?" the barrack-bags. These are not to be listed on the organization prop- erty and must be kept separate from boxes which will be packed in the hold of the ship as cargo. Provision must be made to have the following articles available for use in the office: type- writer, field-desk, containing ser- offic? lzatlon vice records and the usual supply of selected blank forms, also army regulations, court-martial manual, and a limited supply of stationery. It is well to remember that property boxed for shipment will be packed in the hold of the transport as cargo, the hatches will be closed down, and it will be impossible to obtain any 8 PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS such boxes or articles during the course of the voyage at sea. Accordingly, property that will Property to be needed during the journey at 5S Hildas sea must be kept separate from the cargo. property to be packed in the hold. It must go aboard ship by a different route. It is best to keep all property for the voyage to- gether in the baggage-car and arrange to have it taken aboard the ship with the men. It can be stored temporarily in the space assigned to the organization for sleeping-quarters. This class of property includes such articles as the company or battery office, the barber-shop, men's barrack-bags, surplus kit-bags, and bags of reading-matter. Settle all bills and accounts, have the mess sergeant keep a list of his purchases from each ^ firm, so that he can close his ac- What to Do Preparatory counts on any day. A captain can then mail a check to each firm, upon receipt of travel orders. Have the men ship home all personal property they will not be able to take with them on the trip. In this connection, orders from regimental or higher authority will prescribe what articles must be taken. It will be possible, through the 9 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS facilities afforded each man, to pack a little more than this list of articles in his barrack- bag. All other clothing can be arranged in in- dividual packages and boxed by a section or platoon for shipment as organization property. The articles specified to be carried in surplus kit-bags are to be packed in these bags, and the surplus kit-bags should be taken to the men's sleeping-quarters for use during the ocean voy- age. The Company Fund is an important detail. After all bills have been settled it is well to convert the Company Fund into a United States Treasury check by deposit of cash with the Quartermaster, as a higher rate of exchange can be obtained for this check than for gold, silver, or any form of currency. Officers are wise if they ship home the bulk of their personal property and take with them only such equipment as is absolutely necessary. It is only an annoyance in the field to be bur- dened with a mass of articles for which one has little use. 1 Quartermaster property, over and above 1 In the appendix suggestions are given as to the necessary articles of an officer's equipment. 10 PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS Equipment C, will undoubtedly be ordered turned in to the Quartermaster. Some artillery organizations will probably be ordered to turn in their wheeled material and their horses and animals. It is essential that invoices and re- ceipts for property turned in be prepared, and arrangements made for tur ning over such prop- erty and obtaining receipts for the same before the departure of the organization. This may not always be possible, but it greatly facilitates the system of records and accounting in each department if such receipts can be obtained be- fore departure. A field return must be sub- mitted upon departure. Travel orders fix the time of departure so as to allow about twenty-four hours for loading. In this time camp must be struck, for e EnSig. all property not already packed must be boxed and listed, and the entire organization property must be placed aboard the train. Final settlement and closing out of all accounts, commercial and financial, must be completed, so that finally, when the men are marched aboard the train, nothing remains unsettled to follow the organization commander to France. The wise commander 11 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS keeps a supply of cash on hand for purchases en route. As a usual thing, this amount will not exceed one hundred dollars of the Company Fund. The mess sergeant and cooks should be placed in charge of preparing the kitchen-car for the journey. As has been stated, it is wise to take a ten days' supply of rations. Wood for a few meals only can be carried in the kitchen-car. However, wood should be loaded aboard the flat-cars, on which escort wagons are loaded to last for the entire journey. Nothing is more vexatious than to run out of wood and have to wait ten or twelve hours to reach a station where it can be procured. II JOURNEY BY RAIL The system of loading property aboard the train should be organized as follows: Trucks are obtained from a Quartermaster to haul the property from the camp to the train. After a certain number of trucks x?3i? 8 have been assigned to an organiza- tion, a non-commissioned officer must be detailed to remain permanently with each truck, both in going to and returning from the train. Otherwise, an organization com- mander will soon find his trucks busily engaged in hauling for other outfits. A loading detail should load the trucks at camp, and another detail at the train unload them and place them aboard the designated cars. It is wise to separate at the camp the property that is to go on the kitchen-car, in the baggage- 13 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS car, the mass of property to be shipped in box- cars, and, if there is any, the property to be loaded aboard flat-cars. The non-commissioned officer in charge of a truck can then be told on which car his truck-load of property is to be placed. One of the lieutenants, assisted by the supply sergeant, must be given supervision of loading the trucks at camp; another at the train has supervision of loading the cars. Escort wagons are to be "knocked down," so as to economize space. If the organization has a light wagon for use of the mess it should be shipped with the escort wagons. In this con- nection, remember that it is impossible to pro- cure a light wagon in France. The amount of transportation there is limited, and the con- venience of a light wagon to an organization is far greater even than in the United States, An inspection of the train is necessary to as- certain if the passenger-cars are provided with water, and whether or not there are toilet con- veniences and supplies and gas for the lights, if the cars are not electrically lighted. Passenger- cars must be inspected for cleanliness. A guard should be placed on the train at night, to provide for the security of property on 14 JOURNEY BY RAIL board, if the loading cannot be completed in one day. The officer in command of a troop-train must obtain from the Quartermaster transporta- tion for the number of men to go on his train. If this is obtained in the form of a transportation request, it should be signed and indorsed for the actual number of men on the train. In most cases, this will be less than the number first esti- mated for and marked on the face of the trans- portation request. When all organization prop- erty has been loaded on the train, the men will then get their personal equipment, the organiza- tion will fall in and march as a unit to the train. The first sergeant will be in charge of assign- ing the sections to their cars. The senior non- commissioned officer in each car will be in charge of the car during the journey by rail. If tourist cars are provided, men will be assigned to berths at the rate of two men for each lower berth and one for each upper berth. Officers get one Pullman berth each. A careful check of the number of men aboard train ought to be made before leaving, as both train conductor and Pullman conductor will check their account against the organization commander's account. Berths occupied in the 15 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS sleeping-car in excess of the number allotted by the above ratio will be entered on the Pullman conductor's train-sheet, and eventually, after a lapse of several months' time, the organization commander will receive from the War Depart- ment a letter requesting him to explain why a charge for the same should not be deducted from his pay. This means that the commanding officer is required to pay out of his personal funds for berths occupied in excess of allowance and reported by the Pullman conductor on his train-sheet. It is usual to notify the Quartermaster, who furnishes the transportation of the actual num- ber of men aboard train on its departure. A field return is submitted to the department commander upon leaving. An important point is that the train be so made up that the kitchen-car is near the center of the passenger-cars. This reduces by J Raii! ey the distance food has to be carried when serving meals. The cooks can then be assigned berths near the kitchen- car. Arrangements should be made to have one cook sleep in the kitchen-car at night, as a guard. The usual detail of kitchen police must 16 JOURNEY BY RAIL be made, and a detail of waiters to carry the food in the large boilers, when serving meals in the cars. A wise arrangement is to have all meals served at regular hours. Make ample arrangements for boilers of hot water, for use in cleaning mess-kits. Waste food should be emptied in the garbage-cans, never thrown out of the windows. When thrown out of the windows of a moving train it quickly renders the car filthy for its entire length. It is wise to see that there is no let-down in the discipline aboard train. Reveille and break- fast need not be at an early hour. Sufficient time should elapse between reveille and break- fast for the men to wash up and for all berths to be made up for the day. Meals ought never to be served in the car until the berths have been made up. After breakfast, mess-kits are re- turned to the packs and the packs stored under the seats, the car having previously been swept out for morning inspection. The commanding officer should make an in- spection of the train at least once a day, to see that the cars are properly policed and that sanitary conditions are maintained, that order and discipline are enforced aboard the train. 17 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS Berths made down and lights out by 9 p.m. is a good rule, and a regular hour should be prescribed for sick call. It will be found necessary to carry out the following special regulations aboard train: First. Men will be officially notified, through the first sergeant, of the stations at which halts will be made and of the duration Regulations of a halt. At such halts, it will be wise to have at least part of the time devoted to exercises in company or battery formation. The organization can be marched to some street near the railroad yards, where it will be practicable to have a few minutes of exercise at double time. This feature of exercises is very necessary, -because of the sudden change from ac- tive life at camp to the inactive one aboard train. Second. The order that no man is to leave the train without permission must be strictly enforced. If discipline in the organization is such as to render it necessary, guards can be stationed at each entrance of the cars, to be on duty at every halt, to see that no man leaves the train without permission. Third. No intoxicants allowed aboard the tra'n. 18 JOURNEY BY RAIL Fourth. No gambling allowed. Fifth. Smoking not to be permitted in bed. The following instructions should be given in regard to conversations with persons not mem- bers of the organization: At each place where the train stops there will always be a greater or less number of civilians who are interested in seeing a soldier, and who will ask many questions, such as, "Where are you from?" "Where are you go- ing?" "How many of you are there?" and "What outfit is this?" Men should be in- structed to return a courteous answer and to inform the civilians that all such questions relate to military information, which they are for- bidden by orders to divulge. It will usually be necessary to do a certain amount of work in the organization office aboard . . train. It is wise, therefore, to have Organization . office Aboard the typewriter and field-desk where they can be used. The following lists have to be prepared, to be furnished to the commanding officer at the port of embarkation : (a) List of all officers of the command, with their rank. This is usually furnished to the commanding officer of the port of embarkation 19 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS by telegraph at least twenty-four hours before arrival of the troop-train, so that the assignment of state-rooms aboard the transports may be made. (b) List of the total aggregate enlisted strength of each organization, so that organiza- tions may be allotted the proper number of bunks for sleeping-space. (c) Typewritten list of both officers and men of the organization, with the name and address of the person to be notified in case of emergency. This list must be submitted before the transport sails. At the end of the railroad journey, mess prop- erty must be packed for transfer aboard ship. The property pertaining to the office r 7, plus kit-bags, barrack-bags, barber-shop, and offi- cers' personal baggage must be taken aboard ship separately from the property to be stored in the hold. A good deal of confusion is caused in mixing the property of different organizations that is to be stored in the hold. This is due to the fact that the property of a number of organizations is taken from a train to the ship at the same time. If it can be arranged by the regimental 20 JOURNEY BY RAIL supply officer to keep organization property to- gether by lots, much of this confusion can be eliminated. The commanding officer of the port of em- barkation has arranged, in numerous in- stances, to have troops arrive at a railroad terminal at a time when there is little com- mercial traffic. This results in going aboard ship at night. An officer meets incoming troops, to act as guide and give them the necessary information about transferring men and property from the train to a ship. Find out from him what details of working parties are necessary in order to handle property, and what the local arrange- ments are for handling it. The following regulation is very strictly en- forced : No officer or man, having gone aboard the transport, is allowed to leave the immediate vicinity of the dock on which the property is stored. In fact, he is not permitted to leave a ship unless on duty in a working party handling property. It may be taken for granted that, once having set foot aboard ship, one does not leave it until arrival in France. 3 21 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS Letters to be mailed at the port of embarka- tion are required to be turned in to the Quarter- master. They are probably held Arrangements „ .. ' f .. ,„ v , . in Regard for some little time betoie bemg mailed, so as to reduce the possi- bility of information concerning a troop move- ment becoming generally known. It is well for organization commanders to inform their men of the rules of censorship which govern the American Expeditionary Force. These rules prescribe that no mention shall be made in any letter of places, transports, troop movements, or details of military information. All mail is personally censored by an officer of the organization, and if passed by him he signs his name on the face of the envelope to indicate that it contains no matters of military informa- tion forbidden by the rules of the censorship. Ill THE SEA VOYAGE When the organization is marched aboard ship it proceeds at once to its sleeping-quarters, where the men are assigned to shi P Board bunks. The bunks are usually ar- ranged in tiers of three, with aisles between just wide enough to permit the pas- sage of a man. The bunks are numbered, and each man keeps his personal property in his bunk. It will usually be found that life-preservers have been distributed, one to each bunk, before the arrival of the troops. It is necessary for the first sergeant to make arrangements to reserve bunks for any men absent on working parties on the piers. The usual orders regarding police of quarters and arrangement of bunks continue aboard ship. 23 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS Space on the mess-deck is set aside for serving meals. Meals are prepared in the ship's galley, usually by the ship's cooks, as- Arrangement • . -i i • . • i • p for Meais sisted by organization cooks it Aboard Ship. ^ ° necessary. On army transports, an officer is detailed to have supervision of the mess. He will have charge of all arrangements pertaining to the preparation of meals, regulations in regard to meal formations, and the hours at which each organization is to eat. Some plan must be worked out for times and places of meal forma- tions, so that organizations may follow one an- other in rotation without confusion. It is not possible to feed all the men aboard ship at one time. The good order maintained in an organization during meal formation is an indication of the discipline of the command. A sergeant should be detailed in charge of each organization at meal formation. It is customary to have the mess sergeants on duty as assistants to the mess officers, for the supervision of kitchen police, for supervision of the mess-deck during meal formation, and for notification of the next organization as to when 24 THE SEA VOYAGE to form for meals. With nothing to do aboard ship, men would fall in line for meal formation a long time in advance, if the matter were left to their own inclination. Crowding and jamming during meal formation are signs either of poor discipline or of failure of ship's mess to provide sufficient food. There will be a great deal of confusion aboard ship at the first few meal for- mations if they are not carefully arranged and supervised. It is necessary to get out at once an order stating the times of meal formation for the various organizations and the order of rotation in which they will be served. This matter is settled by arrangement between the Adjutant and the mess officer. There is a daily inspection of ship by the police officer, accompanied by one of the ship's police of officers. This is usually held at ?n U sp r ec e t?on n of 10 a.m. By that time, the room or- Ship * derlies of each organization should have their part of the ship cleaned and ready for inspection. All bunks should be carefully arranged by the men occupying them. Receptacles for waste are usually placed on both the sleeping and the promenade deck. 25 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS Those on the sleeping-deck must be in the form of half-tubs or half-barrels, which can be used by seasick men, and cleaned readily. Waste must be taken to the furnace-room and burned. It is not permitted to throw waste overboard, due to the fact that it tends, in many ways, to disclose the course of the convoy. Arrangements must be made to keep latrines and lavatories in a sanitary condition. Sea water is used in these, as well as in ments Aboard the baths for enlisted men. On Ship. , some ships heating arrangements have been made, so that hot water can be ob- tained in the baths. The supply of fresh water is limited to drinking purposes only. Owing to the number of troops aboard ship, care is neces- sary in saving it, that it may last for the length of the voyage. A special soap is necessary for use with sea water. Men must be cautioned not to attempt to use the ordinary kinds of soap, as these form a coating very hard to wash off. There are usually no laundry arrangements aboard ship. It is sometimes possible for the men individually to wash a limited supply of underwear in the sea water, but this is not per- 26 THE SEA VOYAGE mitted on some ships, because of difficulties in drying laundry, due to lack of space. It is necessary for organization commanders, by careful personal inspection, to assure them- selves of the personal cleanliness of their men during the voyage. This is especially so if the voyage is made during winter weather. A certain number of men are due to be seasick during rough weather. Some men are relieved by walking in the fresh air on deck, seasickness. others are better able to withstand seasickness by lying down. Provision must be made, on the decks devoted to sleeping purposes, for keeping quarters clean and as well ventilated as possible. Foul, ill- ventilated quarters will increase the number of seasick men. A large number of men will be crowded in close quarters aboard ship. There will be noth- ing like the amount of space that Planning the ... Arrangements was available tor organizations m Aboard Ship. _ D i barracks or tents at camp. It there is to be any semblance of order aboard ship, or arrangement by which one organization does not interfere with another, the officers in charge of the troop movement must take immediate 27 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS steps to familiarize themselves with arrange- ments aboard ship. On both army and navy transports there will be one officer of the Quartermaster Corps, United States Army, permanently detailed aboard ship in charge of matters pertaining to troops. He will assign bunks and deck space to organizations for sleeping purposes. If he has made at least one trip with troops aboard the transport, he will be able to inform the com- manding officer of the best arrangements to make in regard to the following particulars: (1) The ship's mess, and hours and places for meal formation of different organizations. (2) Deck space allotted to troops for exercise. (3) Deck space allotted to troops for "fire drill " or "abandon ship." (4) Deck space reserved for officers. (5) Location of second-Hass passengers' mess for first sergeants, sergeant-majors, etc., and the location of toilets and lavatories for troops. Each organization commander makes his own reconnoissance of the ship in order to familiarize himself with the conditions under which his men will have to live during the voyage. He will then be able to carry out regimental orders 28 THE SEA VOYAGE intelligently and plan the best arrangements within his own organization. It is probable that regimental orders will prescribe a scheme of guard duty aboard ship. It should be impressed upon the members of all organizations that the purpose of these regu- lations is to make it possible for large numbers of men to live within restricted limits aboard ship without seriously interfering with one an- other. Sentinels on guard will be posted at various points aboard ship to see that certain special regulations concerning the use of that portion of a ship are carried out. He has no personal discretion in the matter; he receives an order which he is required to enforce. He will be punished if he does not enforce it. He is required to report those who do not obey him. If a disobedience is open and flagrant, he is re- quired to arrest the offender and turn him over to the commander of the guard. Trained and experienced soldiers have learned from their military experience the necessity of respect for a sentinel and of obedience to his orders. Inex- perienced men are apt to make the mistake of disobeying an order for which they may not be able to see the immediate necessity, or, when 29 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS posted as sentinels, they may lack the necessary force and determination to carry out their orders and instructions in a manner which will insure obedience. The state of discipline in a command is indi- cated both by the manner in which sentinels carry out their orders and the manner in which members of the organization comply with orders received from a sentinel. It goes without saying that if certain neces- sary orders and regulations are not heeded or carried out during the course of the ordinary day's work aboard ship, there will be no hope of having orders carried out which are necessary to insure the safety of the command in case of accident or disaster aboard ship. It is, therefore, a wise idea to use every means to build up such a state of discipline in the command that, if the occasion demands it, there will be a certainty of orders being properly carried out on such occasions as fire at sea or the necessity of abandoning ship. Deck space aboard ship is crowded in all transports. The amount of room for exercises is not nearly adequate for all commands. This will be remedied somewhat by arranging a 30 THE SEA VOYAGE schedule of exercises for the different organ- izations. Exercise is a necessity aboard ship. Men who have been accustomed Aboard to leading an active outdoor life at camp cannot suddenly change to the inactive life aboard train and ship without being seriously inconvenienced thereby. The only opportunity the men will get for real exercise aboard ship will be in the half -hour or hour during which deck space is assigned to them by the regimental schedule. The officers usually plan to take full advantage of this lim- ited time, so as to give their men a period of vigorous physical exercise daily. Cold, inclement weather and icy decks will render exercise al- most an impossibility during many winter days. Devices such as tug-of-war teams, using cleated boards for footholds, enable a vigorous form of exercise to be held in a limited space. The discipline in a command is indicated even by such things as the forms of amusement . and the manner in which the men Aboard conduct themselves off duty. Pro- fanity and boisterous loud talking are a sure mark of lack of discipline in an organi- zation. They point out the organization that 31 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS will first go to pieces and quit on the job when confronted by hardships, or that will give way to panic when confronted by danger. In a well- disciplined organization men are too proud to render either themselves or their organization conspicuous and make it a mark for unfavorable comment by their lack in the essentials of sol- dierly appearance. In a well-disciplined organi- zation neither officers nor non-commissioned officers have to secure obedience by force of lung power. It is, of course, the desire of every organ- ization commander to avoid any appear- ance even of panic in his organization in case of danger at sea. The manner in which every duty is performed aboard ship can be made a matter of training to accomplish this end. As has been remarked, this is particularly so in regard to the performance of guard duty aboard ship, and the respect and obedience paid to sentinels. By training non-commissioned officers of an organization to be careful in the performance of the supervision of such work as falls under their charge, these men can be trained to be the organization commander's as- 32 THE SEA VOYAGE sistants in obtaining and maintaining a proper state of discipline in the command. There is a psychological principle involved in a frequent repetition of this class of drills. . In a time of stress and accident, the and Battle human mind automatically works in the channels to which it has been trained by force of habit. A fire drill repeated morning and afternoon, daily, will greatly decrease the amount of con- fusion that will take place in case of an actual fire at sea. At fire drill, those men of each organization specially detailed in charge of fire-extinguishers and of fire-hose go at once to the posts assigned them. The remainder of the organizations take their life-preservers and proceed to take sta- tions assigned their organizations. The question of where life-preservers shall be stored is an important one in connection with these drills. If it is winter weather and the men are mostly below-deck, it is more or less a case of delay and confusion for the men crowding up companionways encumbered by bulky life- preservers. Some organizations have adopted the plan of having life-preservers stored at TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS the place where the organization falls in for drill. It is recommended to make an actual trial, during the drills held the first few days at sea, to determine the best and most efficient method of handling life-preservers. When determined, this method can be adopted and the men ac- customed to its use before they reach the so- called war zone. Weather conditions and the season of the year enter into the consideration of the problem. If the season of the year is such that some organizations can sleep on deck, at their place of formation for drill, life-preservers can conveniently be used for pillows. The bunks below-decks are not supplied with pillows, and the life-preserver will, of course, make a con- venient pillow in such cases, if a drill can be so arranged that delay and confusion do not result therefrom. No property should be stored on the hatches below-decks, or so as to block the free access to the companionways. Abandon-ship drill is practised to familiarize the men with what they will have to do in case of accident, rendering it necessary to abandon ship. The place of formation, the best method 34 THE SEA VOYAGE of proceeding to the place of formation so as to avoid confusion between organizations, the best arrangements in regard ship to the place for keeping life-pre- servers, should be tested during the first few drills, and an efficient and smooth- working system devised. The following instructions ought to be given until familiar to all men: The necessity of order and quiet in case of any accident or alarm. Panic during excitement is an easy thing to start and it spreads more rapidly than fire. Orders and direction will go unheeded and unheard if men are permitted to talk during excitement of an accident. It must be impressed upon them that the only persons permitted to talk will be {hose concerned in giving orders or supervising their execution. The rest of the organization are to remain strictly at attention. If this system is carried out, there will be some chance that orders will be heard and obeyed. Men will leave the ship only by command of a commissioned officer. Officers and non-com- missioned officers will see that in case of actual necessity this movement is executed in as or- 35 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS derly a manner as possible. Signs of panic may spread so as quickly to place an organization out of control. Confusion, haste, or wild rush in attempting to enter a life-boat, will result in disaster to all. The men must be informed of the use of the life-rafts at sea, and of the purpose of the life-lines hung over the side of the ship. If it is necessary actually to abandon ship, a special detail with the life-rafts will shove them overboard. Men should adjust their life-pre- servers when ordered to abandon ship; go down the life-lines in turn, as directed by their non- commissioned officers; swim to a raft and hold on by the ropes provided for that purpose. Enough rafts are provided to sustain all men holding on by the hand-holds. A noix-commis- sioned officer will leave a ship after all his men have left. The commissioned officers of an or- ganization will supervise the formation until all their men have left. They themselves will be the last to abandon ship. An officer or non-commissioned officer at any raft will take charge of the raft. He will en- deavor to have any exhausted man transferred to a life-boat. The principal danger in aban- doning ship during the winter is from exhaus- 36 THE SEA VOYAGE tion due to cold and exposure. Heavy woolen underclothing should be worn. In the war zone it is customary to have the men sleep with their clothing on. A submarine's only chance to destroy a trans- port is to approach unseen to within a distance ^ ' . at which a torpedo can be fired Submarine . , , . , .,. P ■* . m watch at with the probability ot a hit. lo fire at a moving object requires that its rate of speed and direction of motion be known, its range, and also the tune that it takes a torpedo to travel this distance. A submarine must be maneuvered into such a position that it can fire ahead of a position of a ship, so that the torpedo will encounter the ship as calculated. If there is a mistake in calculation or in maneuvering the submarine, or if the ship itself changes course, a shot may be wasted. The greater the speed of a ship, the less time it takes to pass a given point, and accordingly the smaller are the chances for a torpedo, even though correctly aimed, of actually reaching its target. If either a submarine or a torpedo can be sighted in time, the ship's course can be altered 4 37 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS sufficiently to escape attack. A careful watch is accordingly kept at sea. The men for this watch are especially detailed for intelligence, good eyesight, and ability to withstand rough weather at sea. They are kept on a permanent detail, receive instructions daily in regard to duties connected with the watch, what a sub- marine looks like, how it operates, what a tor- pedo looks like, how to make reports, what to report, how to use field-glasses, what to watch for and how to watch. During the first part of the voyage their work is largely practice and training for their duties on watch when they reach the war zone. The wake of a torpedo is indicated by its trail of boiling white foam, due to the escape of compressed air used in propelling it. This is followed by a streak or slack in the water. The watch sighting a wake of a torpedo should re- port it at once to the officer on the bridge, through a speaking-tube, by calling "Torpedo," and indicating its direction — to port or star- board, and whether on the bow, beam, or stern. The submarine, if sighted, will usually be submerged, with only periscope showing. It may be sighted in the operation of "porpoising" THE SEA VOYAGE — that is, coming up to take a sight and sub- merging almost immediately thereafter. The periscopes show only as little vertical lines, extremely difficult to distinguish as the distance increases. If a submarine is in motion, a white feather of foam may be seen in its wake. Because of difficulty in distinguishing them and picking them up, the watch is divided so that each man on duty watches only a limited sector, usually of forty -five degrees. He is re- quired to pay no attention to events outside of his sector. This is partly for the reason that submarines operate in groups, and if all men on watch were to direct their attention upon the first one sighted, the probability of picking up others of the group would thereby be greatly lessened. The members of the watch are equipped with field-glasses; they stand a regular two-hour tour of duty on watch, have special quarters assigned to them for sleeping purposes, where each relief is kept together. They are in- structed, in using field-glasses, not to strain their eyesight by keeping a glass continually at their eyes, but, after each interval . of careful searching with the glasses, to alternate a period 39 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS of careful searching with the unaided eye, so as to restore their acuity of vision. A ship's speed is increased to the maximum in the war zone in order to lessen the chances for direct hit. The ship is darkened Precautions . - . x p . in the at night, so that no ray ot light is visible from the exterior. No light- ing of matches nor smoking is allowed after dusk. All flash-lights aboard ship are collected and cannot be used during the voyage. All hatchways are kept clear for the exit of troops in case of necessity. No articles of waste or garbage are permitted to be thrown overboard. IV ARRIVAL IN FRANCE Upon arrival in France, the first thing to be done is to arrange for transportation of men and property from a ship to the base ofDebarka- cantonment. The Quartermaster's Department will provide auto- trucks for hauling property. The ship's crew and stevedores will attend to unloading of prop- erty from a ship to the dock. It is always well, however, to have a supply sergeant and a detail of men present to select their organization prop- erty as it comes off a ship, and load it on the trucks assigned to their organization. Kitchen property and rations are the first thing necessary to secure upon landing. If the kitchen property has been stored where it can be readily gotten at in the hold, it can be taken off and sent to camp by the first truck. Requisi- 41 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS tions for rations should be made out by a regi- mental supply officer so that they can be drawn from a Quartermaster at the base and issued to organizations immediately upon their arrival in camp. The base camp is usually separated from the docks by some considerable distance at each port. It is well, therefore, to make arrange- ments with the ship's mess to provide meals for the working parties left at the dock. For artillery organizations it will not be neces- sary to move all the property to the canton- ment. Such heavy property in bulk as must be immediately reshipped to the training-camp should be stored in Quartermaster warehouses, in order to save labor of hauling it to camp and back again. It is natural, of course, for each person to desire to notify his relatives of his safe arri- cabiegrams val. The War Department has, AnnouncS 8 however, disapproved of the send- Arnvai. j n g Q £ caD l e grams announcing one's safe arrival in France. It is, therefore, necessary to send such news in the form of a letter, which must pass the censor. In order to relieve the suspense of relatives in the States, it is well to 42 ARRIVAL IN FRANCE have them advised of the fact that no news is good news, and that they will be notified by the War Department in case of death or any accident. As long as they receive no such noti- fication they can be reasonably certain that their relatives in the service continue safe and well. Each regiment is supplied with an official censorship stamp. It is customary to have cen- sorship duty performed in each organization by one of the lieutenants. An officer's signature and "O. K." on the face of an envelope certify that the letter contains no matter forbidden by the rules of censorship. All letters so certified are stamped with the regimental censorship stamp without further inspection. Officers are required to censor their own letters and certify them the same as in the case of enlisted men's letters. Troops are held in the base cantonment until arrangements can be made to send them by Duration of train to their training-camp. This !a a seca£ e is done as quickly as possible. tonment. ^ile ftt the bage cantonmeil t, the men are quartered in sets of portable wooden barracks. They will need their cot beds, bed- 43 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS sacks, blankets, and the clothing carried in their barrack-bags and surplus kit-bags. Here they will have their first real opportunity for washing clothes since they left their station in the States. In regard to the policing of camp, inasmuch as one desires to find it clean upon his own arrival, it is incumbent to keep it clean and leave it in good shape upon departure. Aside from exercise and infantry drill, there is little military duty to be performed at the base cantonment while awaiting SmSS™ railroad transportation. The men have been a long time aboard train and ship, and it is but natural that they should be interested in seeing what, for many of them, is their first sight of a foreign town. In so far as they do not abuse the privilege granted them, they may be given permission to visit town at hours when off duty. At each port of debarkation there is a provost guard, composed of marines, who will take the necessary steps to arrest and confine such men as do not conduct themselves properly. It is well to caution one's men not to overdo themselves on the consumption of wine. In 44 ARRIVAL IN FRANCE France there is a distinction made by the mili- tary authorities between wines and alcoholic liquors. Caf£s are permitted to sell wines, but are not permitted to sell liquor — whisky or brandy — to persons in the military service. Certain hours are prescribed by military order during which cafes may be open to persons in the military service. These are generally be- tween 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. In the summer-time bathing privileges for soldiers can be arranged on suitable beaches in the vicinity of camp. Before granting passes it is well to advise all men as to their con- duct on pass, and to make them feel that in the eyes of the natives they stand as the representatives of our country. Any man who goes on pass with this feeling at heart can be relied upon to conduct himself with credit to his organization. All men must be cautioned that seaport towns the world over are the resort of a class of persons who will attempt to separate a soldier or sailor from his money by every device conceivable. They should, therefore, be careful as to the class of places they frequent. It is a safe rule not to 45 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS patronize the cheap drinking-places in the vicin- ity of the water-front. Venereal conditions are proverbially bad in all seaport towns, and those at the ports of debarkation will be no exception to the rule. Men who are going to have to look out for themselves on the fighting front will have to begin to exercise some intelligence and judg- ment in looking out for themselves when granted passes and privileges. BY RAIL TO THE TRAINING-CAMP Until the organization and construction of an American system of transportation, our troops will be sent by rail over French railways to their respective training-camps. French military trains are composed uniformly of a fixed number of cars. In this number are included flat-cars, box-cars, and one passenger-car for officers. The box-cars are provided with seats. They are marked on the outside, "Eight horses or twenty men." After their first journey the men seem to prefer to take down the seats and pile the lumber so that they can lie in the car, in- stead of sitting. When in place, the back of the seat runs lengthwise the middle of the car. Men using it face outward toward the sides of the car. The seats are part of the equipment of a military train, and must not be removed therefrom. 47 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS French cars are much smaller than American cars. There is no possibility of communication between the different box-cars while the train is in motion. Accordingly, the following arrange- ments are necessary in regard to rations: The length of time necessary for the journey must be ascertained. Rations for this length of time are issued to each section, therefore in each car there will be a supply of rations and a can of water. As no provision can be made for cooking and serving meals, the rations should be largely in the form of canned goods that may be served without cooking. Each chief of section should be placed in charge of the rations in his car. A further sup- ply, to be issued in case the journey is not com- pleted on time, may be carried with the mess property, under the supervision of a mess ser- geant. There are no toilet facilities aboard military trains. Accordingly, stops are made at stations provided with such facilities. Journeys aboard train in the winter-time are certain to prove cold and uncomfortable at night. Each man should carry his blanket roll with him aboard train. 48 VI AT THE TRAINING-CAMP Troops will be held at the training-camp long enough to complete the course of instruction and training provided for their arm of the service. Here, in the case of the artillery organizations of our first troops ordered to France, they draw an equipment of French artillery and their sup- ply of horses. It is also possible at the training- camp to obtain a supply of clothing, individual equipment, etc., to fully equip the organization for service at the front. Sooner or later the property shipped from the States arrives at the training-camp. In the case of artillery drawing new guns and new horses, part of the work consists of horse-training and of instruction of the gun squads in the service of their new material. The same is true of the French mortar batteries. 49 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS The course of training for each arm includes instruction on the subject of the tactics devel- oped in the course of three years ??Sn?ng. f of modern warfare. It affords op- portunity for the instruction and training of numerous specialists rendered neces- sary by present conditions of warfare. An organization commander also has opportunity to improve the discipline in his command and, by suitable work and exercises, to improve the physical condition of his men and to harden them for their work at the front. The journey from the home camp to the training-camp in France generally consumes about a month of time. This is a month's time during which the men have had but little op- portunity for exercise. Every commander will find his men much softer in physical condition than they were upon their departure from the States. Upon completion of the course at the training- camp the men should be ready as to physical condition, knowledge, and skill, and as to morale and discipline, for service at the front. VII MARCHING ACROSS FRANCE Part of the journey to the front will be per- formed by marching. This will be true even in the case where the journey starts out by rail, for the reason that troop movements cannot be made by rail all the way to the front. Supply-trains to the front are shelled when- ever possible. It is, therefore, customary to detrain troops far enough in the rear to be beyond observation or shell-fire. At least one day's journey to the front will be made by marching. A series of excellent road maps is pub- lished by sections covering different por- tions of France. These maps are called cartes taride, and are sold in all parts of France. They correspond to our automobile maps in the States, and it is extremely convenient to 51 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS have one giving the section of the country in which one is located. French roads and highways are kept in excel- lent condition. Their villages in the country differ from ours, in that it appears to be the custom, instead of having individual farm- houses on each separate farm, to group together in a little village the buildings for a number of surrounding farms. In most parts, there is suf- ficient water in numerous small springs to fur- nish water for the animals of an organization. Cattle will frequently be encountered on the roads. They will show no inclination or haste to make way for traffic. Railroad crossings are attended by a gate- keeper, who closes the gates on the ap^-oach of trains. Troop movements in the zone of the army are regulated by military orders. These prescribe Troop Move- troops taking part in the move- zo e neofthe e ment, time and place of departure, Army> the route to be followed, and the regulations as to time when such are necessary, in order to avoid confusion with other troop movements in the sector. Good march order and discipline are necessary to insure that a 52 MARCHING ACROSS FRANCE command keeps well closed up and clears speci- fied points promptly on time. In marching across France, when the journey takes several days, arrangements are made by the Quartermaster's Department for the supply of rations and forage at convenient railroad points. Lodgings for the command at night must be obtained by a system of billeting. 5 VIII BILLETS AND BILLETING A system of billeting troops is devised for the purpose of giving lodgings and shelter to troops not provided with tentage. This is possible in a thickly settled country, such as France. Regulations in regard to billeting troops are prescribed by the laws of France. The necessity for billeting troops is left to the orders of proper military authority. The duty of providing bil- lets is obligatory upon the inhabitants. The manner in which billeting shall be carried on is also prescribed by law. A military officer, called Major de Cantonnement, is designated to have charge of billeting in a certain town or area. His decision on the number of billets to be pro- vided by each house is made in accordance with the French law. 54 BILLETS AND BILLETING Certain classes of people, such as widows, are exempt from furnishing billets. While the law makes the furnishing of billets obligatory, it is well, as a matter of policy, to avoid any attitude that will tend to arouse the opposition or resentment of inhabitants. It must be remembered that after three years of warfare there have probably been numerous in- stances in which the inhabitants have not been particularly fortunate in regard to their experi- ences. Accordingly, if their attitude seems somewhat reluctant on the question of furnish- ing billets, it may be through no hostility or ill- will toward American troops arriving in the sector, but merely a reluctance to undergo a repetition of what may have proved a disagree- able experience in the past. The law provides that officers' billets shall be furnished with a bed for each officer. Billets for the men are usually in the form of bunks, although in the fall of the year it is customary for the men to sleep in hay -lofts. Houses in French country villages are built on a plan different from any to which we are accustomed in the States. The living quarters for the fam- ily, the stalls for cattle and horses, shelter for 55 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS wagons and machinery, hay-loft and grain- rooms, are all combined in one building. This idea of having a house and stable at close quarters seems natural enough to people who have been accustomed to nothing better, but it certainly does not appeal to our American ideas. However, as this is all that can be ob- tained, our troops of necessity are compelled to make the best of the situation. To provide accommodations for horses, it is usual to move the wagons out from under cover and to place as many horses under shelter as can be accom- modated. It is necessary to use the following system in arranging for billets on the march. The towns and villages that will be occupied for the night are designated in the march orders. One officer to have general supervision and one officer from each organization, with one or more non-com- missioned assistants, are sent forward in advance of the troops to confer with the mayor of the town or with the Major de Cantonnement. They have a list showing the strength of the organiza- tion in officers, men, and horses. A town or certain section of the town sufficient to lodge the required number of men is assigned to each 56 BILLETS AND BILLETING organization. The billet officer sent forward by the organization receives from the mayor indi- cation of how many officers, men, and horses can be billeted in each house. It is well to carry some pieces of chalk, if these numbers are not already painted on the sides of the houses, to chalk them up for refer- ence in assigning sections to billets. By making a reference list of the houses by number, the number of men and horses assigned to each, a billet officer can check his figures so as to be certain that he has sufficient billets for all the men in his organization. His non-commissioned assistants accompany him on this work. He makes the assignments for the sections at the same time he ascertains the number of men quartered in each house. This assignment can be chalked on the house. Non-commissioned assistants also keep a list, so as to be able to act as guides in directing the sections to the quarters assigned them. If no suitable place can be found, carriages of artillery organizations can be parked for the night along the side of the street, close to the curb, so as to leave the street open for traffic. There are no lights in French towns at night, so 57 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS it is necessary to have all work of getting settled complete before dark if possible. The details of looking out for the men and animals must be largely turned over to the chiefs of sections. The organization is forced to work as a number of small units, due to the way in which it is broken up in assigning billets. The billet officer is a busy person. Before the arrival of his organization it is necessary for him to have completed the arrange- Bmetofficer. ments of the following particulars so that he can return to meet his organization upon its arrival in the town and give it directions concerning the things it needs to know immediately upon its arrival. The first thing is to direct the organization to the billet park, and to show the mess sergeant the location of the kitchen and of the water- supply. His non-commissioned assistants can direct the organization to the place for watering horses and then show each section its assignment of billets for men and horses. If wood has been arranged for by the supply officer, information as to when it will be delivered or where it can be procured must be given to the mess sergeant. The same is true of rations and forage. If the 58 BILLETS AND BILLETING organization desires to make purchases of vege- tables, etc., for the mess, information as to stores where these can be procured should be given to the mess sergeant. A list of assignments of officers' billets is made so that each officer can send his hand-baggage and toilet articles to his lodgings. The following little devices will be found useful in arranging for billets. It is, of course, a con- siderable task and puts the inhab- courte°sy= itants to a certain amount of in- convenience to be required to furnish lodgings for troops. As a general rule, the closer one gets to the firing-line the less reluctance or objection is encountered. A little courtesy, however, smooths out a great many difficulties for the billet officer. If he is fortu- nate enough to be able to speak French he can really get along quite well. The first person with whom he consults is the town mayor, in French, maire. This official has the list of houses in his village, with number of officers, men, and horses assigned to each for billeting. He accompanies the billet officer in making his rounds and acts as intermediary between him and the proprietors. The billet officer, by an 59 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS attitude of courtesy, sympathy, and good-will, can do a great deal toward establishing relations that will result to the advantage of his organi- zation upon its arrival. One little device that never fails of its purpose is to thank the people for their kindness and to tell them how much you appreciate their offering shelter and hos- pitality to your men. As a matter of fact, they are not offering it, but are required by law to furnish it. However, the polite little fiction serves its purpose, as the proprietor, out of courtesy, will invariably respond that it is a very great pleasure to be of service to the Army of America, their allies in the war, and, what is better, he will live up to this attitude in furnish- ing hospitality to the men upon their arrival. It will be noted that the same thing holds true concerning the attitude of the enlisted men. Those who can speak French and are courteous in their attitude toward the inhabitants are shown a great many kindnesses almost from the moment of their arrival. The whole matter is an illustration of the old saying that "to have friends, you must first show yourself friendly.' ' Wood is practically the only fuel supplied in many parts of France. The people exercise BILLETS AND BILLETING great care and saving in its use. They have but little fire for heating-purposes. Our troops will always have difficulty over their wood. fuel -supply. Arrangements must be made with the Quartermaster to supply wood the same as he supplies rations and forage. Men must be cautioned to respect prop- erty rights and not to make way with some in- habitant's little supply of wood on a cold night. Each organization, upon its departure from the village where it has been billeted, obtains from the mayor a statement called bien vivre, showing that there are no claims for damages; that everything has been satisfactory in regard to the conduct of troops in the billet. If there are any claims for damages, an officer must be left behind to investigate them, make arrange- ments for settling them, and rejoin his organi- zation on the march. As many of the men will sleep in hay-lofts or in bunks filled with hay, there is great danger from fire, either from smoking or £ a Bfiiet of Fire from open lights, such as candles at night. For their own protec- tion, men must exercise extreme vigilance in guarding against such danger. 61 IX ARRIVAL AT THE FRONT As the organization approaches its sector at the front, it will encounter an increasing num- ber of signs of military activity. The sound of the heavy guns will increase in distinctness and intensity. Increasing amount of military traffic will be encountered — organizations, ammuni- tion-trains, motor-truck companies. From fif- teen to twenty miles back of the line, the organi- zation will enter the area where steel helmets are worn and gas-masks are carried. At a point designated on their orders they will be met by guides to conduct them to their places in the sector. They will find that the front has con- siderable depth. Not all organizations, nor even all men in one organization, are habitually in the first-line firing-trenches. In case of field-artillery organization the or- 62 ARRIVAL AT THE FRONT ganization will be conducted to the location of the echelon. This is the place where the horses and caissons will be located. It may be as much as three miles behind the position the firing battery will occupy. From this place the battery commander goes forward to reconnoiter the sector or position he will occupy. The ques- tion of constructing his battery position and of putting his firing battery into action are ques- tions of tactics at the front. When an organization arrives at the location of its echelon its journey is completed. From then on it is faced with the actual work of operations at the front. CONCLUSION Arrival at the front marks the completion of one stage in an officer's military career and the history of the organization he commands. It marks the end of the work of preparation, of training, and the time of waiting, and marks the beginning of active service in the face of the enemy. It marks the time when the discipline of an organization is going to be put to the real test, when it will be shown whether each man is imbued with an iron determination and a reso- lute spirit to win, that will enable his organiza- tion to succeed in spite of all difficulties and hardships. It is hoped that the notes contained in this little book may prove of service to organizations bound for the front, on the principle that "fore- warned is forearmed." 64 CONCLUSION It is natural at the front for men to place their reliance upon the officer who knows and whom they feel is competent to direct them well and wisely. During the long stages of the journey from the States to the front they will be forming their impressions of what an officer can do by the way in which he meets the various problems of the journey. If he has been able to meet these problems with wisdom and forethought, his men will rely upon his ability to handle the problems at the front. It is the author's hope that this little book may be of use to each officer in giving him this kind of a hold upon the confidence of his men, and that when he takes them into action they may make a record all will be proud to have handed down in the history of their organiza- tion. APPENDIX NOTES ON OFFICERS' EQUIPMENT Travel light. Take only necessary articles. Do not burden yourself with useless equipment. A steamer trunk, bedding roll, and suit-case or traveling-bag should be sufficient to contain all of your equipment. The necessary articles of officers' equipment are specified in uniform regulations. Service in France has developed some conditions not foreseen, and a number of changes have already been made in the Amer- ican Expeditionary Force to meet the new re- quirements. No one sees a saber worn in the American Expeditionary Force. Many officers carry them to France by order, but they are saber. worse than useless for field service, as they are an actual encumbrance. Instead of wearing a saber, officers in the Ex- peditionary Force are required to wear a Sam 66 APPENDIX Browne belt at all times except when on duty in the trenches. This belt is a russet-leather belt with shoulder-strap that crosses diagonally over the body and right shoulder. This strap has a buckle about breast-high in front, and can be unfastened for the purpose of removing the belt. The belt is worn with the strap run- ning underneath the shoulder-strap on the right shoulder. These belts are now an insignia of a commissioned officer in all the allied armies. They were adopted for use in the American Expeditionary Force because of the fact that our officers' uniform has none of the usual distinctive marks recognized as officers' in- signia in foreign armies. Our officers' insignia are worn on the shoulders. Those in the French Army are worn on the sleeve, just above the cuff, and upon the cap. However, since the Sam Browne belt is now a part of the officers' equipment in the French Army and in all parts of the British Army, its adoption for the Amer- ican Expeditionary Force enables foreigners to distinguish an American officer from an enlisted man. This seems to be its sole purpose as a part of our uniform. In the trenches the Sam Browne belt is not worn, but an officer carries a 67 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS trench cane. It is a heavy cane with a sharp steel point extending about two inches beyond the wood. This cane is certainly a handy article during wet weather in the trenches. The campaign hat is prescribed for wear in France, but usually within the limits of some- where between twelve to twenty miles from the front steel helmets are required to be worn by order. The model used by our first troops resulted in all the men taking cold in the head. The men quickly adopted the device of wearing underneath the helmet, to avoid taking cold, a woolen skull-cap. A cloth cap made on a French model has also been issued to our troops. It can be readily rolled up and carried in the pocket. When worn it has a peak or ridge that extends from the front to the rear and ear-flaps that can be pulled down in cold weather. During the wet weather of winter many offi- cers wear a combined rain-coat and overcoat. This is really a rain-coat lined with overcoat material. Long overcoats are not suitable for use in the trenches. A pair of fur-lined gloves will be very com- fortable during winter weather. Most officers quickly adopt the expedient of 68 APPENDIX keeping their good uniform in reserve and of wearing issue clothing in the trenches. Due to the fact that no one will have the comforts and heating arrangements on service at the front to which he has been accustomed in the States, heavier winter clothing will be required than what one ordinarily uses. An officer will need at least three suits of heavy woolen underclothes. The care of the feet during the cold weather of winter is a problem that one does not en- counter during service in the States. A supply of vaseline must be kept on hand to be rubbed into the feet. This sounds rather peculiar, but experience will quickly show what a wise pro- vision it is as protection against cold and chil- blains. This should be applied every morning on dressing and every evening on going to bed. Excess supply can be wiped off as a matter of maintaining a cleanliness of one's bed. One gets extra-large shoes and wears two pairs of socks. Tight shoes result in extreme discomfort from cold. An excellent device is to wear a pair of lisle or silk socks over which a thick pair of woolen socks can be drawn. Issue shoes are the best for field service. A pair of leather leggings and also woolen 6 69 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS spiral puttees are necessary for an officer. It is a mistake to take any kind of leather boots that cannot be unlaced down the front. The reason for this is that an officer will find it impossible to remove the ordinary forms of boots after a cold, wet day. As to rubber boots, half -hip rubber boots are the only kind to be taken. Short-length rubber boots are unsuitable, as they permit the knees to be exposed to the wet. Special measures have to be taken for the care of leather goods, especially during the win- ter, when most of the time is wet and cold. Neat's-foot oil will soften the leather, but it is not a sufficient protection against wet. Some heavy oil, such as vaseline or lard, should be melted, and a good coating of it rubbed into the leather at least once a week. This coat of oil fills the pores of the leather and keeps out the water. All troops at the front wear two identification tags. One around the neck and one on the wrist. For sanitary reasons, an officer will find it desirable, instead of using identification tag with cloth tape, to get a little gold or silver chain at some jewelry-store. Most officers wear a little 70 APPENDIX silver name-plate on the wrist, attached by a small silver chain. A wrist watch with a lumi- nous dial is a necessity. A screw case for same is a protection against moisture. One's com- pass should also have a luminous dial. The following supply of medicine occupies al- most no space and will be found very convenient as a part of one's personal equipment. A little bottle of Park, Davis & Co.'s pills No. 27 — aloin, strychnine, and belladonna, con- taining one hundred in a small bottle for use as a laxative. Same company's nasal tablets No. M.20, to be dissolved in water and used as a preventa- tive against colds, sore throat, etc. A bottle of Bell-ans tablets for indigestion. A small vial of tincture of iodine or a bottle of synol soap, to be used as a disinfectant for cuts and injuries. It is desirable during the cold wet weather to have a garment which is not only warm enough to serve as a protection against Ra£coaS. and cold, but which at the same time is able to shed rain. An overcoat is unsuitable during a cold rain because it will get wet through. It is often necessary to wear 71 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS a raincoat or slicker over it. A design of com- bined overcoat and raincoat is quite satisfac- tory. It consists of a good quality raincoat with a warm lining. The lining is detachable, so that when the temperature moderates, the lin- ing may be removed and the raincoat alone be used. It is understood that firms in the States are now manufacturing this kind of a coat. There are also a number of firms in Paris which make a specialty of them. Burberry's, No. 8, Boulevard Malesherbes, is one of those well known. A long overcoat is unsuited for use in the trenches. The popular form is a short length. Raincoats, slickers, bedding-rolls, sleeping- bags, and shelter-tents can be rendered water- proof by painting with boiled linseed-oil. The boiled oil dries more quickly than the raw oil. When it dries, it forms an integral part of the fabric, filling the pores, and rendering the material water-proof. After the coating of oil has thoroughly dried it will not soil the clothing. Apply the oil in thin coats and allow it to dry before using the garment. Officers in France will miss the convenient arrangements for handling their personal funds 72 APPENDIX and organization funds, to which they have grown accustomed in the States. In the first place, the system of check accounts Arrangements, at a bank, and the practice of pay- ing bills by check is not practised in anything like the extent that it is in all business in the States. Consequently one is put to many inconveniences in attempting to pay bills by check. This is so even when the checks are on local French banks. It is impossible, except at a few branches of American banking institutions, to get American checks cashed, or even accepted for deposit. Government checks on the United States treasurer are the one exception. On them the rate of exchange is better than on gold. Several large American banks and express companies have branches in Paris and in the zone of the American forces. Officers will find it more convenient to deal with these than to carry the entire amount of their personal and organization funds in cash. By drawing a sup- ply of cash at intervals, and using it to pay bills as they are incurred, one can avoid the difficul- ties encountered in attempting to pay bills by check. It is not meant to imply that American checks are regarded with especial suspicion. 73 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS Business conditions, especially in the provinces, are such that the people are unaccustomed to the use of checks. What seems to us the most natural custom, because of its convenience, is too much of an innovation to prove a conven- ience in the usual French town. In the end it proves to be quicker to draw one's money from the bank in person and to use cash in payment of bills. With the enlargement of American forces, it is probable that the branches of the American banking institutions in the field will be increased in number. The personal expenses of an officer depend upon where he is stationed and what duty he is performing. While serving with Expenses. troops at the front, one's mess bill is about the only expense one has an opportunity to incur. If on staff duty at headquarters in some of the larger towns or cities, an officer can spend as much of his pay as he desires, for he has the opportunity to do so. At most places on this kind of duty, his expenses will not average much less than one hundred dollars a month. They do not need to exceed this unless the officer so chooses. At training-camp, or instruction-camp, necessary 74 APPENDIX expenses will not run over fifty dollars a month. At the front, or at a training-camp, an officer has no expense for quarters, as they are fur- nished by the Government. On duty at head- quarters, some officers hired lodgings at first. It is thought that it will probably be necessary to arrange for the same system of billeting as is in force near the front, when large numbers of officers are on duty in a town with but limited accommodations. If this is the case, the Gov- ernment pays one franc per day for each fur- nished room with bed, and they are assigned officers as quarters without expense to the officers. Nothing definite can be estimated in regard to one's expenses on leave. Railroad fare can be obtained at the military rate of one fourth the regular fare, by showing one's leave order at the ticket-window. In the larger stations, as in Paris, a special window is reserved for the use of persons in the military service, and mili- tary tickets are not sold at the window for the general public. Knowledge of this may save some confusion and inconvenience in case one's time is limited and likewise one's knowledge of French. 75 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS Hotel rooms in Paris vary from one to four dollars. The latter price should secure an ex- cellent room with bath. By military order, the Paris hotels have gone back to the good old custom of the Saturday -night bath. Cold water only is supplied at all other times. Meals vary so much according to the restau- rant and the food ordered that in general nothing more definite can be said than that most prices are slightly less than those of res- taurants of the corresponding class in New York. Theater tickets are somewhat lower in price than in American theaters. While on leave in Paris the extent of pur- chases, clothing, equipment, etc., is one of the principal items of an expense account. The best way of sending money to the States, and by far the safest way, is to take advantage of recent legislation, and send the ?o en thl n st^t°es. ey money by allotment through the Depot Quartermaster, Washington, D. C. Most officers will find that they can transfer a considerable portion of their pay to the States. Before permission to make allot- ments of officers' pay was received, one conven- ient method of transferring money to the States 76 APPENDIX was to draw one month's pay in France, and send the following month's voucher to the Depot Quartermaster, Washington, D. C, for deposit as credit on one's banking account. If the voucher was lost no actual money was lost, and this arrangement was as safe as could be devised. Lists of Clothing and Equipment The best advice that can be given is to take only necessary articles. Every officer is tempted to take more than he will really need, and to load himself down with many articles for which he will have small use. Useless articles are only a bother. Take care to be provided with necessaries, and take as much care not to be tempted to buy things that cannot be put to frequent use. It is better to do without some article that can be used only once in a great while than it is to have to bother with it all the rest of the time. ORDNANCE EQUIPMENT Canteen, cup, and canteen cover. Knife, fork, and spoon. Meat-can. 77 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS Haversack. (Old model is very convenient for an officer's use.) Pistol, belt, and holster. (Furnished by organi- zation.) First-aid pouch. Magazine pocket, and two extra magazines. (Fur- nished by organization.) Bacon and condiment cans. (Prescribed, but sel- dom used.) QUARTERMASTER SUPPLIES Trunk locker. Cot. Bedding roll. (Water-proofed by painting with boiled linseed oil.) Clothing roll. Blankets (3). Shelter tent, poles, and pins. (Furnished by organi- zation.) CLOTHING LIST 3 O. D. woolen shirts. 2 Pair shoes. 12 Pair socks (light wool and lisle). 4 Pair socks (heavy woolen). 1 Pair leather leggings. 1 Pair spiral woolen puttees. 4 Pair shoe-laces. 78 APPENDIX 2 O. D. woolen uniforms. 2 0. D. cotton uniforms. (One extra pair of breeches advised.) 1 Waist belt. 1 Pair leather gloves. 1 Pair woolen gloves. 1 Combined overcoat and raincoat. 1 Hat. 1 Pair rubber boots, hip or half hip. 6 Undershirts (3 wool, 3 cotton). 6 Drawers (3 wool, 3 cotton). 12 Handkerchiefs, khaki colored. 6 Towels, face and bath. 2 Pajamas, flannel. 2 Sets collar ornaments and insignia. 1 Set insignia for next higher grade. Buttons and ring-fasteners for O. D. cotton uni- forms. 1 Woolen skull cap to wear with steel helmet in winter. 1 Red Cross sweater. 1 Pair wristlets. FIELD-GLASSES The Signal Corps Type EE field-glass is as good as can be obtained at the present time. It is a bet- ter glass than most of those for sale by private firms, and much more reasonable in price. 79 TRAVELING UNDER ORDERS TOILET ARTICLES Hair-brush and comb. Carbolic soap and metal soap-box. (Bottle of Synol soap is excellent.) Tooth-brush and case. Tooth-powder. Razors, shaving-soap, and shaving-brush. Shaving-strop. Medicines. Laxative, disinfectant, etc. Mirror. Talcum powder. i MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES Wrist watch. Luminous dial and screw case, moist- ure-proof. Compass, luminous dial. Whistle. Hunting-knife or strong jack-knife. Fountain-pen, note-book, and pencils. Writing-paper and envelopes. Electric flash. (Get one in France, where new bat- teries of same shape can be obtained for refilling.) Toilet paper. Woven names for marking clothing. Matches. Canvas bucket and basin. Suit-case or hand-bag. (A great convenience.)