Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917 Part 36

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate V.]

CHAPTER VII.

MARCHING AND CAMPING.

SECTION 1. BREAKING CAMP AND PREPARATION FOR A MARCH.

THE EVENING BEFORE THE MARCH.

When a command learns that it is to make a march on the following day, presumably starting early in the morning, certain details should be attended to the evening before.

All men should fill their canteens as there will probably be no time for this in the morning.

The mess sergeant should find out whether lunch or the reserve ration will be carried on the march and should attend to these details in the evening in order that the issue can be made promptly in the morning.

The commander of the guard should be given a memorandum as to what time to awaken the cooks and where their tent is. The member of the guard who does this should awaken them without noise so as not to disturb the rest of the remainder of the command.

The cooks should be instructed as to what time breakfast is to be served and what time to awaken the first sergeant.

The cooks or cook's police must cut and split all firewood for the morning before 9 p. m. There must be no chopping, talking, or rattling of pans before reveille which will disturb the rest of the command. This applies to every morning in camp.

THE MORNING OF THE MARCH.

Cooks arise when called by the guard and start the preparation of breakfast without noise. The first sergeant is usually awakened by one of the cooks about half an hour before reveille in order that he may complete his toilet and breakfast early and be able to devote all his time to supervising the details of the morning's work. If the officers desire to be awakened before reveille they will notify the first sergeant accordingly.

At first call the men turn out, perform their toilets, strike their shelter tents (unless it has been directed to await the sounding of the general for this), and make up their packs.

At the sounding of a.s.sembly immediately after reveille each man must be in his proper place in ranks. This a.s.sembly is under arms. The first sergeant starts to call the roll or commands "Report" at the last note of a.s.sembly. Arms are stacked before the company is dismissed.

Breakfast is served to the company immediately after roll call.

Immediately after breakfast each man will wash his mess kit in the hot water provided for that purpose at the kitchen and will at once pack the mess kit in his haversack.

The cooks will provide hot water for was.h.i.+ng mess kits at the same time that breakfast is served.

Immediately after breakfast the company proceeds to the work of breaking camp and packing in accordance with a prearranged system similar to the following:

One squad a.s.sists the cooks in packing the kitchen.

One squad strikes and folds the officers' tents and brings them to the kitchen.

One squad fills in the sink. The sink should not be filled in earlier than is absolutely necessary.

One squad polices the camp within the company police limits.

One squad is available for possible details from regimental headquarters.

Officers and first sergeant supervise the work.

A permanent a.s.signment of squads to these duties lightens the labor and decreases the time necessary for breaking camp. After the breaking of camp the entire company is used to police camp.

Men should not start from camp thirsty, but should drink all the water they want immediately after breakfast. All canteens should be filled before marching, one man in each squad being detailed to fill the canteens for his squad.

At a.s.sembly for the march the men fall in in rear or the stacks fully equipped for marching.

SECTION 2. MARCHING.

The princ.i.p.al work of troops in the field consists of marching.

Battles take place only at indefinite intervals, but marches are of daily occurrence. It is only by good marching that troops can arrive at a given point at a given time and in good condition for battle.

The rate of march depends greatly upon the condition of the roads and the weather, but the average rate for infantry is about 2-1/2 miles per hour. This allows for a rest of 10 minutes each hour.

The total distance marched in a day depends not only on the rate of march, but upon the size of the command, large commands often covering only about 10 miles a day, while small commands easily cover double that distance.

In order to make the march with the greatest comfort and the least danger, it is necessary that each unit be kept well in hand. Each man is permitted and encouraged to make himself as comfortable as possible at all times, excepting only that he must not interfere with the comfort of others or with the march of the column.

Infantry generally marches in column of squads, but on narrow roads or trails column of twos or files is used. The route step is habitually used when silence is not required. In large commands, in order that the column be kept in hand, it is very necessary that each man keep his place in ranks and follow his file leader at the prescribed distance. This is one of the best tests for determining the discipline and efficiency of troops. The equipment should be carefully adjusted before starting out, and any part that is not comfortable should be rearranged at the first opportunity.

The rifle is carried at will, except that the muzzle must be pointed up so as not to interfere with the other men.

Under no circ.u.mstances will any man leave the ranks without permission from his company or higher commander. If the absence is to be for more than a short while, he must be given a pa.s.s showing his name, rank, and organization, and the reason he is permitted to be absent. If sick, it is better to wait by the roadside at some comfortable place for the arrival of the surgeon or the ambulance. In any case, the soldier keeps his rifle and equipment with him, if possible. Soldiers absent from their organization without a pa.s.s will be arrested and returned to their command for punishment.

Marches in hot weather are particularly trying. Green leaves or a damp cloth carried in the hat lessens the chance of sunstroke.

The hat should have ventilators, and when not exposed to the direct rays of the sun it should be removed from the head. It is well to keep the clothing about the neck and throat open, and sometimes to turn up the s.h.i.+rt sleeves so as to leave the wrists free.

The canteen should always be filled before starting out. Use the water very sparingly. None at all should be drunk during the first three or four hours of the march. After that take only a few mouthfuls at a time and wash out the mouth and throat.

Except possibly in very hot weather, one canteen of water should last for the entire day's march. Excessive water drinking on the march will play a man out very quickly. Old soldiers never drink when marching. A small pebble carried in the mouth keeps it moist and therefore reduces thirst. Or a small piece of chocolate may occasionally be eaten. Smoking is very depressing during a march.

Canteens will not be refilled on the march without authority from an officer, as the clearest water, whether from a well, spring, or running stream, may be very impure and the source of many camp diseases. If canteens are to be refilled, it should be done by order, and a detail is generally made for this purpose.

Entering upon private property without permission, or stealing fruit, etc., from gardens and orchards, is a serious military offense, as well as a violation of the civil laws.

When a cooked meal is carried, it should not be eaten until the proper time.

A command ordinarily marches for 50 minutes and halts for 10 minutes. The first halt in a day's march is for about 15 minutes, is made after about 30 minutes' marching, and is for the express purpose of allowing the men to relieve themselves. Men who wish to do this should attend to it at once and not wait until the command is almost ready to march again.

At every halt get all the rest possible and don't spend the time wandering around or standing about. Only green recruits do this.

If the ground is dry, stretch out at full length, removing the pack or blanket roll and belt, and get in as comfortable position as possible. The next best way is to sit down with a good back rest against a tree or a fence or some other object. Never sit down or lie down, however, on wet or damp ground. Sit on your pack or blanket roll, or on anything else that is dry. At a halt it is very refres.h.i.+ng to adjust the underclothing.

SECTION 3. MAKING CAMP.

On reaching the camp site the men should be allowed to fall out and rest as soon as the arms have been stacked and the shelter tents pitched. If the blanket rolls have been carried on the wagons, then the location of the front poles of the shelter tents should be marked before they are allowed to fall out. The men will not be allowed to relieve themselves until sinks are dug.

Temporary sinks may be dug with intrenching tools, if carried.

A guard should be placed over the water supply at once.