13. Alertness. Anything seen or heard in connection with the enemy, such as movements of individuals, transport wagons, troops, working parties, etc., is to be reported to the nearest officer. 14. Rum. (a) Rum will always be kept under the personal charge of the Company Commander. (b) The best time for a rum issue is in the early morning. (c) No issue of rum will be made, except in the presence of an officer; any rum left over will be handed back to the charge of the Company Commander. (d) Men undergoing punishment for drunkenness will receive no issue of rum for 14 days after the offense, unless it is necessary for medical reasons. 15. Arrangements in Case of Attack. (a) Company commanders will ensure that all ranks know what to do in case of bombardment, gas or attack by the enemy. They will occasionally test their arrangements by practising an alarm. (b) All officers' servants, grenadiers, orderlies, etc., will have duties allotted to them in case of attack. 16. Working Parties. (a) All work on a fire trench will be carried out by the garrison of the trench, assisted if necessary by the garrison of the support and reserve trenches. (b) All work in rear of fire trenches will be carried out by the garrison of the support and reserve trenches. (c) If possible, working parties will consist of complete units, i. e., section, platoon or company. Each unit will be commanded by its own commander. (d) Even when working under engineer supervision, infantry officers in charge of working parties will be responsible that the work done satisfies tactical requirements. 17. Working Parties Outside the Front Trench.. (a) A covering party will always be provided for digging and wiring parties outside the front trenches. 18. Precaution When One of Our Mines is Exploded. In the event of one of our own mines being exploded, a clear h. Tuy who deartily phed at easily accessible points in the trenines, and pripected term shell fire, They met he kept one third full of water. Six gallons of the following solution to be used in them must be kept in corked cum pres close to each sprager It must not be kept in the sprayers wete the the turtlegge tinture Water 1 pallom Come large bucket) ; Statium thiulphate (hypo) 6 lbs. (two piled mess tins); tum curdumunte (washing soda) 2 lbs. (one mess tin). (d) Each company will have a squad of men in charge of an N. C. O. trained in the care and use of sprayers. (e) On taking over trenches, the N. C. O. in charge of sprayers will take over from the outgoing N. C. O. and will see that each is in order and provided with solution. (f) A man will be told off to each sprayer; he will be responsible for testing it every day and in case of a gas attack he will stand by to use it when ordered. RELIEFS. 22. General. (a) Prior to taking over a new line of trenches, the Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Machine Gun Officer, Signalling Officer, and Company Commanders will reconnoiter the trenches. (b) Machine guns will not be relieved at the same time as the infantry. 23. Points to be Noted by Company Commanders. (a) Number of men holding line to be taken over and distribution. (b) Shelter accommodation. (c) Work being done and proposed. To ensure a continuity of work an officer of the incoming battalion should go over line in daylight. (d) Condition of the wire and defences generally. (e) Information as to the enemy, his habits, snipers, the work he is doing, etc. (f) Water supply. (g) Artillery support. (h) Communications. (i) Dangerous points. (j) Lines of advance to be used in a counter-attack. (k) Position of "shell trenches" or "feathers," or other cover from enemy artillery fire. 24. Guides. (a) Arrangements will be made between the C. O. of relieving and about to be relieved battalions as to places where guides will be provided by the latter to conduct the incoming troops to the trenches. (b) One guide per platoon, one for each Company Headquarters and one for Battalion Headquarters will be provided. These guides must know the exact spot where they will meet the relieving troops and the best and safest way to the trenches. 25. Smoking and Talking. After leaving the rendezvous, there is to be no smoking or talking till arrival in the trenches. 26. Rate of March to Trenches. The rate of marching to the trenches from billets will not exceed 2 miles an hour. 27. Procedure on Arrival in Trenches. (a) The troops being relieved will not leave the trenches until all trench stores have been handed over and receipts received, all the relieving troops are in position and new sentries have been posted and orders to move have been received from the Company Commander. (b) Platoon commanders will at once personally examine all firing positions and satisfy themselves that each man can fire on the foot of the nearest part of the wire entanglement. (c) They will examine the ammunition and bomb magazines, vermorel and other sprayers and anti-gas solution vessels. (d) When the relief is completed O. C. Companies will report to that effect to Battalion Headquarters. (e) Men will not be dismissed till the O. C. Company has received reports from all his platoon commanders that everything is in order. 28. Engineers. (a) To ensure continuity of work a few sappers should live permanently in the trenches. (b) Daily requisitions for engineering material required will be forwarded by Company Commanders to Battalion Headquarters. (c) The Battalion Commander will apply to the Field Company for the material required through the Brigade Headquarters and will arrange for carrying parties to take it in. 29. Prevention of Chilled Feet and Frostbite. (a) Before marching to trenches, feet and legs will be washed and rubbed with anti-frostbite grease or whale oil, under platoon supervision. Boots should be large enough for two pairs of socks, and puttees must be put on loosely. (b) The march to the trenches will be in ankle boots, every man will carry two pairs of spare socks, spare grease and towel. (c) On arrival at the trenches, take off ankle boots and wet socks, dry and grease feet, put on dry socks, gum boots (trench stores) or paper stockings and ankle boots. (d) During the tour in the trenches, circulation must be kept up by movement, the restriction of the circulation of the lower limbs is the principal cause of chilled feet. (e) Boots and puttees will be removed at least once in every 24 hours, feet and legs will be dried, rubbed and greased, and dry socks put on. (f) Gum boots will be taken off before troops march out on relief and will be handed over as trench stores to the relieving unit. (g) On arrival in billets, feet will be washed and rubbed; dry socks, hot drinks and food will be provided under battalion arrange ments. (h) Warming braziers made from 3 and 5-gallon oil drums will be provided, and a daily allowance of 2 pounds coke and 1⁄2 pound charcoal per man in the trenches. An extra peasoup, tea and sugar ration will also be issued. (i) C. O's are responsible that all trench pumps on charge are kept in good repair and made use of to the fullest extent. The drier the trenches are, the fewer will be the cases of chilled feet. C. H. HARINGTON, 21st October, 1915. B. G. G. S., Canadian Corps. |