Service in the Trenches

Preparing to enter upon a period of service in the trenches the company commander makes a complete inspection of the company which includes:

1. Inspection of rifles and ammunition.

2. Inspection of equipment, contents of packs, intrenching tools, field glasses, wire cutters, first-aid packets, emergency rations, gas helmets, identification tags, canteens, clothing, etc.

3. Canteens to be filled with water.

4. Test bayonets, fix and unfix.

5. Have company fill magazines.

The company commander precedes the company into the trenches and makes a tour and inspection of the section assigned, which includes:

1. Layout of the trenches: fire trench, supervision trench, communication trenches, machine-gun positions, snipers' positions, listening and observation trenches, dugouts, latrines, etc.

2. Locate telephones, reserve ammunition and munitions depots, water supply, gas alarms, tools and any trench accessories and utilities that may be included in the section.

3. Get any information of the enemy that may be of value from the outgoing company commander.

The company commander will then make his tactical dispositions. In occupying the trenches a certain section of the line is assigned to each company. This section contains so many bays of the trench. The following dispositions are suggested as meeting the requirements under our organization:

1. The company is organized into four platoons of four squads each.

2. The section of the line assigned to the company contains eight bays.

3. Support No. 1 consists of the first and second platoons.

4. Support No. 2 consists of the third and fourth platoons.

5. From Support No. 1: Two squads of the first platoon occupy bays 1 and 2; two squads of the second platoon occupy bays 3 and 4.

6. From Support No. 2: Two squads of the third platoon occupy bays 5 and 6; two squads of the fourth platoon occupy bays 7 and 8.

7. Each squad establishes a double sentinel post in the bay assigned to it and the remaining members go into the squad shelters just in rear of the bays. This gives three reliefs for a double sentinel post and allows one extra man to be utilized as "runner," etc.

8. The remainder of the company is established in the company dugouts.

9. Depending upon the length of the tours of duty of the company in the first line trenches, the squads are changed according to a system that will have to be varied to suit the occasion, the squads in support taking their place in the fire trench and those in the fire trench returning to the support.

Platoons enter by not more than two squads at one time, thus minimizing the danger from shell fire. The platoon commander will explain to his squad leaders the extent of trench to be taken over and the action to be taken in case they are caught under shell fire or rapid fire while going up to the trenches. A second in command in each squad will be designated, so that if casualties occur among the squad leaders the relief will proceed as previously arranged.

The operation will proceed in silence. Rifles must be carried so that they do not show over the parapet. On reaching the fire trench the men of the first relief are posted to relieve the old detail and each man finds out any points that may be useful from his predecessor on that post.

The platoon commander confers with the commander of the outgoing party and secures all the information possible about the position which includes:

1. Behavior of enemy during period preceding relief, and any point in their line requiring special information, e. g., enemy may have cut wire as though preparing to attack.

2. Machine-gun emplacement may be suspected at some particular point.

3. Anything ascertained by patrols about ground between firing lines, thus avoiding unnecessary reconnaissance.

4. Any standing arrangements for patrols at night, including point at which wire can best be passed, ground to be patrolled, or place where they can lie under cover.

5. Any parts of trench from which it is not safe to fire. Such positions are apt to occur in winding trenches, and are not always recognizable in the dark.

6. Special features of trench, recent improvements, work not completed, dangerous points (on which machine guns are trained at night), useful loopholes for observation.

7. Places from which food and water can be safely obtained.

8. Amount of ammunition, number of picks, shovels and empty sandbags in that section of the line.

Information on these points cannot always be given properly by word of mouth. Written notes and plans should therefore be handed over to a platoon commander taking over for the first time.

Every man is required to see that he has a good firing position for all directions. Section commanders must satisfy themselves that men have done this, and report. The whole line "Stands to Arms" during the hour before dawn.

After dark, unless the moon is bright, rifles should be left in firing position on the parapet. All men not on sentry should keep rifles, with bayonets fixed, in the trench.

1. Double sentinel posts are established in each bay. They are on post one hour at a time.

2. When the enemy's trench mortar detachments are active, special sentinels will be posted to give notice of coming bombs.

3. Every man in the platoon is to know:

(a) The location of the platoon reserve ammunition and munitions.

(b) The location of latrines.

(c) The topography of the trenches in the platoon section and the adjoining sections, including the approaches. The location of the accessory defenses, listening and observation posts, machine-gun positions, snipers' positions, trench mortar positions, etc.

(d) The tactical disposition in the sector and the general disposition of the company.

(e) The location of loopholes.

(f) The places of especial danger in order that he may stay away from them.

4. Rifles are inspected twice daily. Every precaution is taken to keep the rifle and ammunition free from mud.

5. There is a gas helmet parade daily.

6. Accurate sketches are made of the trench and any addition or alteration entered on them.

7. Loopholes are inspected at dusk.

8. Wire entanglements are inspected and repaired under cover of darkness.

9. A log of events hour by hour should be kept which shows every item of enemy activity and the measures taken during the tour in the trenches. This will be a valuable reference when turning the trench over and will make a record of the habits of the enemy that may be most valuable as a guide for making plans to circumvent him.

10. The police and sanitation of the trenches will be carefully looked after.

11. Platoon commanders may divide the tour of supervision of the platoon sector with the squad leaders.

12. The whole company stands to arms during the hour before dawn.

Observation of the enemy's line should be continuous. The observation and firing system will be arranged so that all parts of the enemy's line will be under observation and fire at all times.

Plate 42 shows the arrangement in general. The appliances for carrying it out are shown in Plates 43, 44 and 45.

The observation is conducted through a small loophole made by a stick through the parapet or an iron tube run through and directed toward the point to be observed. To conceal the exit a few tufts of earth and grass are placed there in an irregular manner. Steel loopholes may also be employed for observation and firing purposes. They may be arranged a yard or two apart, so that one man observing through one can direct his mate using the rifle at the other so that he may bring fire to bear upon any member of the enemy's force that exposes himself at the point under observation.

The loopholes, both observation and firing, are arranged slantwise in the parapet so that the observer does not look straight to his front nor does the firer fire in that direction.

An aiming rack constructed so as to resist the recoil of the rifle and not derange its aim on firing may be arranged near the observation loophole. When the enemy exposes himself all that is necessary is a press on the trigger and the bullet goes straight to its mark. Such an aiming rack may be easily constructed, as shown in Plate 44.

Observation of the enemy trenches may also be effected by use of the periscope or, in the absence of one of these, by a looking-glass in a slanted position fastened to a stick planted at the rear wall of the trench and protruding over the parapet, to reflect his trenches. (See Plate 45.)

The enemy's trench usually appears completely deserted, but on observing it through field glasses you are astonished by the details revealed. You will see, from time to time, the eye of the enemy observer who shows himself at the loophole, or any other activity that is capable of being observed from the outside. The observer watching through the field glasses will soon become so familiar with the appearance of the opposing trenches that he will be able to detect immediately any alteration in the obstacles, or changes that may be made, such as the establishment of new listening or observation posts, new sap heads, machine-gun emplacements, etc.

Observers are charged especially with detecting the location of machine-gun emplacements. The examination should be so complete and detailed as to prevent their existence without their location being accurately known.

Any observations of enemy activities, of any nature whatever, are reported immediately so that they may be passed on to the commander whose unit is manning the trenches directly opposite the same.

Loopholes should be screened at the rear by a sandbag split and hung over them. They should be carefully concealed to prevent their location being discovered by the enemy. There must be no alteration in the parapet where they are located.

The enemy's sojourn in the trenches should be made as disagreeable to him as possible. He must be kept continually on the alert. Our operations must be made a constant menace to him. It is in this way that casualties are effected and he is gradually worn out. One of the best methods of accomplishing all of the above is the employment of snipers, who are specially selected and trained in this branch of trench warfare.

The snipers are on duty all day, but they have their nights in bed. They conduct their operations in pairs and are given a definite post to occupy and in exceptional cases may be given a roving commission. The advantage of having the same men regularly on the same post is that they learn thoroughly the appearance of every square foot of the ground included in their area of observation and are able immediately to note any change that may take place. They soon learn where to look for the enemy and in fact learn the habits, etc., of the enemy occupying their sphere of observation.

The sniper must be an expert in:

1. The construction of loopholes by day and by night.

2. The use of telescopic sights, field glasses, periscopes and all optical contrivances designed for observation purposes.

3. The selection of good positions for sniping.

4. Judging distances and estimating or measuring ranges.

5. Rifle firing. He should be an expert rifleman in order that full advantage may be taken of the opportunities to inflict losses on the enemy.

6. In trench warfare each pair of snipers will be required to report each evening to the company commander the result of their day's operations.

When the enemy makes his attack you will generally fire at those who appear in the sector that has been allotted to you to cover. You may, however, abandon your target on your own initiative under the following circumstances and fire:

1. On officers and noncommissioned officers. These can be recognized by their gestures. They are generally in the center of groups and get up and start first. They should be disabled, as this is the surest way of breaking up the attack.

2. At a group on the move. Fire should be concentrated on an advancing group. The time when the group is preparing to start its rush may be indicated by rifles being raised and the movements that take place along the line. After a rush has started, look out for the late comers trying to rejoin their comrades. They make good targets.

3. When the enemy attempts to build up his line to the front by a process of infiltration. That is, by having single men crawl from one point to the other, each man should be fired on during his advance.

4. Fire will be immediately concentrated on any machine gun that comes into action. With the German gun prolonged firing heats the water in the jacket to the boiling point and puffs of steam are given off. Do not be deceived into thinking that this necessarily gives away the position of the gun, for this steam has been piped to a distant place and allowed to escape so as to draw fire that otherwise might be directed on the real position of the gun.

5. On signallers or runners. These are carrying information that will probably be of benefit to the enemy's commander. You will appreciate the necessity of preventing this.

6. On an enemy showing a flank. No opportunity must be lost to fire upon an enemy that exposes his flank. The fire of a single rifleman down the flank may cause a whole line to retreat.

Rifle grenades are capable of causing more losses to the enemy than bombardment. The rifle grenade arrives at its destination unexpectedly without any noise; it explodes before one has even time to get out of the way. As it does not arrive at fixed hours like the bombardment, the enemy cannot continually avoid it by taking refuge in his dugouts and shelters; when he is moving about a trench which is subject to rifle grenading he must be continually on the alert. This perpetual menace, hour in and hour out, day in and day out, renders his sojourn in the trenches extremely disagreeable.

Before rifle grenades are thrown careful observation of the opposing trench must have been made to determine the point where the grenade is likely to do the greatest damage.

Rifles are placed in the aiming racks and the grenades fired from time to time, day and night, at moments when it seems propitious. In this way a sentinel may be taken by surprise; a noncommissioned officer or officer may be caught unawares.

It should be remembered that we will probably be able to throw twenty grenades to the enemy's one. Advantage should always be taken of this munitions superiority. Every man of the enemy we can put out of action is one less to kill us in the advance which will eventually come. Sometimes the enemy will try to reply. Here is where our munitions superiority comes in again. We can fairly shower him with grenades and make him take to his shelters.

It may be advisable to execute a sudden burst of grenade fire. This is started by a volley and followed by fire at will.

When the artillery has destroyed parts of the enemy's trenches or makes breaches in his obstacles by day he will endeavor to repair them at night. He may be considerably annoyed and losses inflicted upon him by a well-directed shower of rifle grenades arriving at points where his working parties are located. To make this effective the rifle racks should be placed in position and secured during the day after trial shots have demonstrated conclusively the direction and angle for them.

You will be impressed by the shells, especially the big ones. The din and blast of the explosions are, to say the least, terrifying. But you will soon come to know that the shell often makes more noise than it does harm and that, after a terrific bombardment, by no means is everybody destroyed.

The big shell, which is so appalling, is only really dangerous if it falls on the place where a man is standing, because the splinters rise in the air. Fall down flat when the shell bursts. Even if you are quite close, there is comparatively little risk. Get up immediately after the explosion, especially if you are 200 to 300 yards away from the place where it burst. The splinters do not fall for some time after the explosion.

The steel helmets and the infantry pack will furnish considerable protection from shrapnel fragments and balls.

The safest place to avoid the enemy's shell fire when the attack has been launched is close up to the enemy's position, where the artillery fire has to cease for fear of placing shells indiscriminately in his own troops and ours. Some men, completely distracted, lie down with their face to the ground. They will be crushed where they lie. Artillery fire, when it is violent, tends to throw the ranks into confusion and disorder. You have only ears for the roar of the approaching shell. You slow down and attempt to seek cover where there is no cover. The unit breaks up, and runs wild or stops altogether. Disorder and confusion means massacre.

March strictly in place. To the front is your safest haven of refuge. Get hold of the frightened ones and keep them in place. You will need them to help you when you reach the goal.

Dugouts with strong overhead cover are provided for your protection when not actually required to man the trench. In some places it may be possible to dig shelter caves and shore up the roofs.

Scouting and patrolling to the front is of greatest importance. It is kept up both day and night. The units occupying the first line send out patrols whenever necessary. They are frequently able to obtain valuable information and at the same time serve to counteract the enemy's efforts in this direction.

The patrols generally consist of a junior officer or noncommissioned officer and from four to six selected men. Their operations are conducted in accordance with the situation and the mission they are sent on.

Hand grenades are frequently carried for both offensive and defensive operations. Grenade patrols always carry them. The operations of patrols may include:

1. Reconnaissance of sectors of the enemy's position with a view to determining his dispositions and arrangement of obstacles.

2. Making sketches of positions.

3. Capturing prisoners.

4. Opposing enemy patrols.

5. Harassing the enemy.

When the patrol goes out every man in the sector of the firing line must be informed of such fact and the possibility of its returning through his post. It is not sufficient to simply notify the men on post at the time the patrol goes out, as a man cannot always be trusted to pass the information on to his relief. Word should be quietly taken along the line by the noncommissioned officer in charge of the relief in person. When the patrol is out, special instructions have to be given with respect to firing. To cease firing altogether is very undesirable. It arouses the enemy's suspicions. A few trustworthy riflemen are directed to fire high at intervals. No lights are sent up while the patrol is out.

If the patrol is to remain stationary, similar to the outguard of an outpost, communication may be maintained by means of a string, spelling out the messages by Morse code, two jerks meaning a dash and one jerk meaning a dot.

Where night patrols have to remain out under trying conditions special dugouts should be reserved where they can rest upon their return.

The infantryman's rifle is his best friend. The personal care that he gives to it is indicative of his soldierness and discipline. Your rifle must be kept in prime condition, otherwise it may fail you at a critical moment. A canvas breech cover that will protect the bolt and magazine mechanism will be found a great advantage when the rifle is not in use. Care must be taken to exclude mud and dirt from the bolt mechanisms. Do not put mud-covered cartridges into the magazine. Wipe them off first. Arrange a proper receptacle near your post for the storage of your reserve ammunition. Be careful that you do not clog the muzzle of the rifle with mud and dirt. If fired in this condition it will ruin the rifle. Be careful not to clog up the sight cover with mud. Oil the rifle frequently with good sperm oil. Half of the oilers in the squad should be filled with oil and the other half with Hoppe's No. 9 Powder Solvent.

Rifles must be carefully inspected daily by platoon commanders and the men required to work on them during the periods off post.

Repairs will have to be made daily. The widening of trenches in the making of repairs should be strictly forbidden. Under no circumstances must they be altered in any manner except on the order of the company commander.

Platoon commanders will go over every part of the trench several times daily with the squad leaders of the various sections and decide upon the repairs and improvements to be made. A complete and thorough police will be made prior to being relieved. All refuse will be removed. Fired cartridges will be disposed of, as they might get imbedded in the trench floor and hinder subsequent digging.

Each squad leader will be held strictly responsible for the state of police of the section of trench occupied by his squad.

Latrines are located at convenient points in the trenches. For the men on duty in the first line they are generally dug to the flank of a connecting trench and connected therewith by a passageway. Their location is plainly marked.

The rules of sanitation are even more strictly observed in trenches than they are in soldier camps. The trenches and passageways must not under any circumstances be defiled. Latrines should be kept clean and sanitary. They will be carefully protected from flies. The free use of chloride of lime daily is an absolute necessity.

A complete detailed plan of our own trenches and as much as is known of those of the enemy opposite should be made, and be available for study and to refer to in making reports. Every bay of the trench should be numbered, every traverse lettered. All junction points of fire and communicating trenches, all dugouts, all posts, mortar positions, machine-gun positions, observation posts, and any points that it may be necessary to refer to in reports should be designated by numbers.

The causes are:

1. Prolonged standing in cold water or liquid mud.

2. Tight boots and leggings, that interfere with the blood circulation.

1. Before going into the trenches wash the feet and legs and dry them thoroughly. The British Army has an issue of an anti-freeze mixture which will probably be issued to our troops also. The feet and legs should be rubbed with it. Put on perfectly dry socks. An extra pair of dry socks should be carried.

2. During the period of service in the trenches the feet should be treated in this manner from time to time.

3. When the feet are cold, hot water will not be used for washing nor will they be held close to a fire.

4. Rubber boots must be worn only in the trenches. On no account must they be worn while on reserve.

Trench Soldiers' Creed

To be of the greatest effectiveness in the trench every soldier, personally and collectively, must be able to adopt the following creed and live up to it:

1. We are here for two purposes, to do as much damage as possible to the enemy and to hold our section of the line against all attacks. We are doing everything in our power to accomplish these missions. We realize that every man of the enemy confronting us that is now placed hors de combat will be there ready to shoot us down when the assault takes place. We realize also that if the enemy makes a lodgment on our section of the line that it endangers others and a costly counter attack may be necessary. We will hold on.

2. With the means at hand and those we are able to devise we will make the enemy's stay in his trenches as uncomfortable and disagreeable as possible. All of our utilities are being utilized to the fullest extent and our various detachments are organized and their tactical operations are conducted with this object in view.

3. We have done everything possible to strengthen our line.

4. If, despite all the precautions we can take and the hardest fight we are able to make, the enemy succeeds in effecting a lodgment on our section of the line, we will meet him with the bayonet and fight to the last drop of our blood.

5. We are all familiar with the tactical dispositions in our section of the line. Those of us on the flanks connect up with the platoons to our right and left. We know the route to company and battalion headquarters and know where the nearest support is located. We know the position of our machine guns and the sector they cover. We are in constant communication with the observing posts that cover our front, and our observing posts covering the other platoons are in constant communication with them.

6. We know the firing position assigned to us and are familiar with the use to be made of the accessories furnished us. We can fire over the parapet at the foot of our wire entanglements to repel night attack.

7. We will at all times be careful about needlessly exposing ourselves. We appreciate the fact that it is absolutely stupid to get killed or wounded in the trench through negligence. By so doing one has served no purpose and a soldier cannot be replaced. Our leaders have warned us of the especially dangerous places. We know where they are and avoid them except when our presence there is necessary as a matter of duty.

8. The sections of the enemy's line that we are to cover with our fire have all been pointed out and each of us is familiar with same. We have located the enemy's loopholes and are doing our best to keep them under fire.

9. We know our way and move noiselessly about the trenches. When we enter and leave it is with absolute silence.

10. We are doing our utmost to collect information about the enemy, his defenses, his activity, his movements, and especially his night operations. All of this information we transmit immediately to the platoon leader.

11. We know the best way to get over our parapet to reach the enemy.

12. Our appliances for protection from gas attacks are complete and ready for instant use. We have our helmets on our persons ready to put on. We are familiar with their use and have confidence in their effectiveness. We will wait for the signal to don our gas helmets (signal is usually made by beating a gong, and care must be taken to follow exactly the directions for putting on the gas helmets; carelessness may mean your disablement).

13. Our trenches are drained and every precaution is being taken to keep the drains and sump holes in condition to perform their functions.

14. We have rendered the parapets and shelters throughout our sector bullet-proof, and effective measures are being taken to prevent them from caving in.

15. We are keeping our trenches sanitary and clean; our reserve munitions are carefully stored in their proper places ready for instant use. Refuse is always placed in receptacles when it can be carried away. We do not under any circumstances litter up our trench floor. Our empty shells are collected and sent to the rear.

16. Our rifles are our best friends. We keep them clean, well oiled, and in readiness for instant use. Our bayonets we have with us at all times ready to be placed on the rifle. We protect our rifle ammunition from the mud, as we realize that muddy cartridges will clog the breech mechanism and cause mal-function.

17. We are taking every precaution to prevent "trench feet;" when practicable we take off our shoes and rub our feet for 15 minutes each day. We do not wear tight shoes and leggings that tend to interfere with blood circulation. We each have a pair of dry socks to put on. We do not wear rubber boots except when it is absolutely necessary.

18. We observe the orders regarding the wearing of equipment.

19. We do not drink any water except that from authorized sources. We replenish our canteens whenever practicable.

In addition to the above the platoon commander must be able to adopt the following and· live up to them:

1. My sentries are posted in the proper places. They are posted by noncommissioned officers. They have the proper orders. No man is ever on duty more than one hour at a time. I visit them at frequent intervals.

2. I have a runner ready to carry a message to company headquarters. I realize that any information of the enemy that I may secure may be of great importance at regimental and other headquarters. I will therefore send it back with the utmost dispatch.

3. I am familiar with the methods of communicating with the artillery, of giving them information and of asking them for support.

4. My patrols operating to the front at night have been properly instructed and are doing their duty effectively. All sentries in the trench have been notified when they are out and cautioned to look out for their return.

5. I have given complete and detailed instruction covering what to do in case of gas attacks and the sending out of the S. O. S. signal. I have gas and attack messages already prepared and ready to send after inserting the time and place in them.

6. I know the name of every man in my platoon and they all know me.

7. I am here to inflict as much damage as possible on the enemy and to hold my part of the line. I will do it!