,,confidential6 ,,for ,,use ,,of ,,officers ,,only ,,notes ,,on ,,training ,,for ,,rifle ,,fire ,,in ,,trench ,,warfare ,,compiled ,,from ,,foreign ,,reports ,,army ,,war ,,college ,,april1 #aiag ,illustration ,,washington ,,government ,,printing ,,office #aiag ,,war ,,department1 ,document ,no4 #egc4 ,office of ,the ,adjutant ,general4 ,,war ,,department1 ,,washington1 ,april #bd1 #aiag4 ,the following ,notes on ,training for ,rifle ,fire in ,trench ,warfare are published for the information and guidance of all concerned4 #behbicc1 ,a4 ,g4 ,o4 ,,by ,,order ,,of ,,the ,,secretary ,,of ,,war3 ,h4 ,l4 ,,scott1 ,major ,general1 ,chief of ,staff4 ,,official3 ,h4 ,p4 ,mc,c,a,i,n1 ,the ,adjutant ,general4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,training ,,in ,,the ,,use ,,of ,,the ,,rifle ,,for ,,trench ,,warfare4 #a4 ,training in the use of the rifle includes that of the bayonet4 ,fire action is alone treated in this paper1 instruction in the use of the bayonet having already been discussed elsewhere4 #b4 ,the rifleman in the trenches1 no less than in the open1 requires as preliminary preparation the courses of individual and combat instruction prescribed in the ,small ,arms ,firing ,manual4 ,the object of this paper is not to supersede any portion of this manual1 but to supplement it by stressing those features of trench rifle fire that the experience of actual war has shown to be possessed of an importance that was not fully appreciated when the manual was prepared4 ,so far as rifle fire exclusively from trenches is concerned1 the importance of individual aimed fire up to the range of #djj yards is the principal feature that has been so developed by the peculiar conditions prevailing on the 8western front0 during the present ,european war1 and the training that needs to be stressed naturally comes under the head of 8individual instruction40 ,there is also a second feature1 essential to efficient collective firing either from trenches or in the open1 that has never received the attention in our authorized manuals that its importance merits1 though that importance has long been recognized and has been ably treated at the ,school of ,musketry4 ,it is that of the necessity for satisfactory working methods of describing targets4 ,the growth of this necessity has been coincident with the development of fire discipline1 direction1 and control4 #c4 ,the special importance of individual aimed fire in trench warfare has been developed in ,europe during the present war in connection with what is there termed 8sniping10 which has become a specially important and highly technical service1 though it is merely a development of what has long been known and practiced in the ,united ,states under the name of 8sharpshooting40 ,a consideration of some of the conditions under which 8sniping0 is conducted will assist in emphasizing its importance and in indicating the special qualifications and instruction essential to efficiency4 #d4 ,in modern trench warfare1 as it exists in ,europe to-day1 each belligerent occupies a system of trenches1 of which the foremost1 or fire trenches1 are frequently separated by only a few yards1 and rarely by more than four or five hundred yards4 ,in rear of the fire trenches there is a labyrinth of cover1 approach1 support1 reserve1 and other trenches4 ,each system is strengthened by obstacles1 the most formidable and also the most common of these are the barbed-wire entanglements4 ,these trenches and obstacles are being continually damaged by the opposing artillery fire1 and every opportunity is seized for raiding enemy trenches through the openings so made4 ,one of the important functions of the sniper is that of protecting his own trenches from enemy raids and his comrades from fire of snipers and the prevention of repair of enemy trenches and obstacles in order to keep the road open to raids from his own side4 ,to these ends he endeavors to meet with a bullet every exposure of even a few square inches of the head or limb of an enemy and at the same time to conserve his own life4 ,to attain the first object1 that of hitting the enemy1 requires the best possible facilities for observation and fire1 coupled with special qualities and technical skill on the part of the sniper4 ,the attainment of the second object1 that of conserving one's own life1 will depend largely upon the judgment and skill displayed in selecting and concealing the position of the firer4 ,each of these requirements calls for special training and for special qualities inherent in the sniper4 ,to the training and skill of the expert game shot must be added the craftiness of the poacher4 #e4 ,from the preceding paragraphs it is evident that the service of sniping can not be conducted in a haphazard way1 but1 on the contrary1 requires for its efficient conduct a carefully selected1 organized1 equipped1 and trained personnel4 7a7 ,organization4--,based upon the best available information from ,europe1 there should be organized in each battalion of ,infantry a 8sniping0 group composed of #a noncommissioned officer and #bd privates4 7b7 ,qualifications governing selections4--,each member of the sniping group should be a well-trained1 intelligent1 disciplined soldier2 a dead shot at short and mid ranges2 brave1 yet cautious2 cool1 observant1 patient1 resourceful1 and prompt4 ,in addition to the above1 the noncommissioned officer in command of the group should be a competent instructor in all that is included in the training of the sniper and should possess good judgment in the selection and preparation of snipers' posts4 7c7 ,training4--,in addition to the preliminary training contemplated in 7b71 the following features should be specially developed3 ,rifle practice4--,the sniper must become expert in a broader sense than is implied by the word as employed in ordinary marksmanship classification4 ,ordinarily his target will be a small and fleeting one1 and his training should be such as to enable him to quickly and accurately deliver a single shot at objects varying from a #d-;inch loophole at #ajj yards to those the size of a man's body at #hjj yards4 ,the small object at short range will be the most frequent target and indicates the most important rifle training4 ,the character of the target emphasizes the importance of extreme accuracy of fire1 and accuracy of fire implies1 in addition to correctness of aim1 correct knowledge of range1 a correct knowledge of external influences1 such as light1 heat1 moisture1 wind1 and the personal equation of the firer and the rifle4 ,the sniper must continually practice both with the military sights and with the adjuncts supplied him and under conditions closely resembling those that will obtain in actual trench work4 ,the importance of concealment will usually result in fire being delivered from rest1 and the handling of the rifle must not be accompanied by exposure of his position4 ,the soldier who has been thoroughly trained in the courses prescribed in the ,small ,arms ,firing ,manual will have no difficulty in improvising firing exercises with small bobbing or disappearing targets that will develop skill along the lines indicated above4 ,in every exercise the judgment of the firer should be expressed as to the influence of a cold piece1 a hot piece2 clouds1 heat1 moisture1 wind2 a worn rifle2 fouling2 recent cleaning and oiling1 or whatever existing condition may exert an influence on the path of the bullet4 ,the estimation of ranges and their determination by use of range finders should form an important part of the training of a sniper4 ,reconnaissance and scouting4--,under this head is included all manner of observation with a view to obtaining information4 ,the sniper's field of action will be limited1 but within its sphere it will be governed by the same principles that are prescribed for reconnaissance parties and scouts1 and will include the intelligible rendering of reports4 ,to this end the sniper must be trained in the reading of maps1 the making of sketches1 the use of the prismatic compass1 the simpler and more common conventional signs1 and the rendering of both verbal and written reports4 ,that the subject may not seem too large and formidable to him1 his instruction should be progressive and as simple as possible1 with due care to impress him with the necessity for everything he is required to do4 ,the ,american soldier will rarely fail to respond if he can see the reasonableness of the demand made upon him4 ,let him see that his own life and that of his comrades may depend upon the accuracy of his knowledge of the following3 #a4 ,the location of our own front line and that of the enemy1 so far as they are within his visual range4 #b4 ,the location of any known or suspected enemy sniper's posts1 machine-gun emplacements1 observation posts1 listening posts1 command stations1 or probable routes of advance4 #c4 ,the location and importance of dominating points in either line4 #d4 ,the importance of being able to pick out on the ground any points of special importance or danger indicated on sketches or maps turned over to him1 and to determine from maps drawn to scale the ranges to such points4 #e4 ,how to find his way by the aid of a map or sketch from his post to any specified point in our own trenches1 and back again4 #f4 ,the importance of being able to intelligibly record and graphically represent matters of importance to his commanding officer or to the sniper who is to relieve him4 ,in this connection the special importance of exact truth in statements of fact1 and of the careful separation of matters of fact from those of mere report or conjecture1 should be duly stressed4 ,hearsay and conjecture are often of great importance1 but should be transmitted as such1 and in the case of conjecture the reasons therefor should be stated4 ,the above are simply a few instances to suggest to the instructor how to go about the matter of instruction4 ,many men will be already familiar with the subject1 and the method may be abridged1 but in the case of an entirely uninstructed man a step-by-step method of instruction must be followed4 ,the training should be such that it will be an entirely natural matter for the sniper to observe and report as to3 #a4 ,the attitude of the enemy 7whether aggressive1 alert1 active1 etc474 #b4 ,description of enemy seen1 uniform1 arms1 etc4 #c4 ,any new work evident2 such as trenches and obstacles strengthened1 new emplacements1 etc4 #d4 ,position of machine guns1 observation posts1 sniper posts1 etc41 discovered4 #e4 ,points in our own lines found to be specially dangerous1 and points of enemy line that menace them4 #f4 ,routes known to be used by the enemy4 #g4 ,routes of patrols4 #h4 ,points where ammunition or supplies are believed to be dumped4 #i4 ,ranges to prominent or important points4 ,this information will be less likely to mislead if the following rules are observed3 ,carefully indicate the point from which each range is taken4 ,use prominent1 easily identified landmarks as reference points4 ,indicate by whom and how ranges were determined4 #aj4 ,report any repairs needed in trenches or obstacles4 #aa4 ,position of suspected mines4 #f4 ,equipment4--,telescopes1 rather low power1 are preferable to field glasses for observation and reconnaissance4 ,care must be taken to render them as inconspicuous as possible and prevent their location by the enemy through reflection of light from the object glass4 ,telescopic periscope4 ,rifle rest4--,various sorts have been devised1 usually not merely to serve the purpose of a rest1 but to expedite resumption of aim and change in direction or elevation4 ,telescopic sights4 ,sniperscope4--7,a device for aiming with the head below the line of sight4 ,reports indicate that with this device the tendency is to shoot high1 and that they are only reasonably accurate up to ranges of #bjj yards4 ,they are usually used over parapets1 between sandbags4 ,proper adjustment is essential and great care necessary to prevent derangement47 ,steel helmet and mask4 ,maps1 sketches1 note-book1 message blanks1 pencils1 pocket knife4 ,each post should have a range chart for use of all reliefs4 ,the above is additional to the normal equipment of the soldier4 #g4 ,duties of commander of sniping group3 7a7 ,training of snipers and maintenance of efficiency4 7b7 ,to supervise the work of his unit4 7c7 ,responsibility for care of equipment4 7d7 ,to receive and transmit to the proper authority all information turned over by the posts he relieves and by his own posts4 7e7 ,to select the positions for sniper's posts and supervise the construction of loopholes and other special arrangements when not already provided4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,sniperscope4 #h4 ,location of sniper's posts4--,though engaged in trench warfare snipers are not invariably located in trenches4 ,when not so located the sniper will avail himself of such cover as best suits his purpose4 ,if practicable he will so dress himself as to blend with his surroundings1 giving particular attention to his face and hands4 ,masks of inconspicuous color are sometimes worn4 ,he must study the maps and the ground and endeavor to determine in advance good localities for observation and good lines of approach4 ,his line of retreat must also be decided on as early as possible4 ,the arts of the deerstalker and poacher1 or those practiced in our early ,indian troubles will be of great use under these circumstances1 as his success will depend largely upon his patience and cunning4 ,houses and other buildings should be viewed with distrust1 as they may be closely observed by the enemy4 ,trees will also receive this scrutiny4 ,the best cover will be that which is least likely to be suspected of affording concealment for a man4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,sniper ,,with ,,telescopic ,,sight4 ,,his ,,observer ,,with ,,periscope4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,prepared ,,sniper ,,position4 ,a ,,sniper ,,using ,a ,,sniperscope4 ,sniper's positions in trenches may1 according to circumstances1 be located in 7a7 the front line1 7b7 parados1 7c7 approach trenches1 7d7 connecting trench1 7e7 dummy trench1 7f7 support trenches1 or any others affording the desired facilities4 ,the commander must study the terrain1 the enemy's trenches1 the advantages and disadvantages of each position considered1 both with reference to facilities for observation1 fire1 and concealment1 and with reference to danger from the enemy1 and select that which will best serve the purpose4 ,he must then decide as to measures for promoting observation and concealment1 and supervise their execution and the construction of the necessary loopholes4 ,loopholes may be arranged of sandbags1 iron pipes1 boxes1 etc4 ,it is better to have them run obliquely rather than perpendicularly with respect to the trench line1 and a curtain should be provided to prevent their being discovered by light showing through the hole4 ,loopholes near the ground are not as readily seen as those higher up1 and those located among dbris and loose earth1 leaves1 branches1 tumbled sods1 etc41 are less easily detected than those located in a smooth slope4 ,when constructing loopholes care should be taken to disturb previously existing conditions as little as possible lest the enemy observe the change and profit by the hint4 ,several loopholes should be provided for each post as the discovery of one by the enemy renders it worthless for future use1 and continued use of one loophole will sooner or later result in detection4 ,the best positions are usually in rear of the first line1 so placed as to command a view of the enemy's trenches up to at least #djj yards4 ,this is not always possible and the best possible must be selected4 ,in any case alternative positions must be arranged4 ,support trenches may afford better locations than the fire trenches1 but they have the objection of increasing the range4 ,if the post is detached an important consideration is whether or not it can be entered or left unobserved during daylight4 #i4 ,conduct of the sniper4--,snipers should work in pairs1 exchanging duties of observer every #ae or #bj minutes4 ,they should be relieved every two hours or oftener4 ,it may be advantageous to relieve one every hour4 ,they will never fire merely to annoy1 as this will lead to disclosure of the position1 with no adequate result4 ,they will closely examine their shelter and see that the fire opening is so constructed as not to be affected by the blast of the rifle4 ,if shooting through a small aperture in brickwork1 the opening should be kept wet to prevent dust being blown out by the discharge4 ,newly constructed loopholes should be left unused for a time1 so as to see if the enemy has detected it4 ,the curtain will always be kept in such position as to prevent light showing through4 ,snipers must not be led by ruses to fire fruitlessly and disclose their positions4 ,fire to kill4 ,if a large target is discovered1 do not fire if it is possible to inform the machine guns or the artillery4 ,search constantly for machine guns and snipers2 smash his periscopes4 ,attacks will afford great opportunities for the sniper1 as the enemy will then not be so alert for them1 being busy with other matters4 ,less caution will therefore be necessary4 ,from a position on a flank or anywhere that he can fire without interference with our own men1 he selects the most useful targets1 such as machine-gun men1 officers and noncommissioned officers1 snipers1 artillery observers1 etc4 ,he closely observes the flanks1 which are favorite places from which to break up an attack1 and endeavors to forestall the enemy's fire4 ,if the attack succeeds1 he covers the working parties during the organization of the captured trench and watches for evidences of an intended counterattack4 ,if this is made1 he fires on the enemy as he shows himself in the approach trenches1 picking off leaders when possible4 ,much night work for snipers will rarely be advantageous4 ,the targets are then practically limited to patrols and sentries1 and there is great danger of firing into our own men or being fired on by them4 ,the flash of the rifle will disclose the position if care is not taken to conceal it4 ,avoid the enemy's listening posts4 ,learn the hours at which the enemy repairs the gaps in his obstacles or parapets and watch for him4 #aj4 ,description of targets4--,in paragraph #b reference was made to the necessity for a satisfactory working system for designating or describing targets4 ,one of our present embarrassments lies in the multiplicity of methods and the incident confusion in the mind of the soldier4 ,another source of error lies in the tendency of men to fancy that the ears of listening soldiers take in and digest a description as rapidly as the eye can travel from point to point4 ,the ear1 as compared with the eye1 is very slow4 ,the immediate deduction from this is that descriptions must be shorn of all unnecessary words1 and that they must be as simple and clear as possible4 ,it also emphasizes the advantage of following so far as practicable fixed methods of expression4 ,recruits should be taught the general plan followed in describing targets in order that they may waste no time from lack of comprehension of the relation of the different elements of the description or the terms employed4 ,the use of a single form will not suffice1 since in some cases the target is so evident that no mistake can be made1 and the simple designation such as 8,that troop of white-horse cavalry1 range #a1jjj yards10 will identify it beyond all question2 while in other cases the particular target may be so obscure and liable to confusion with other targets that a reference point and some system of coordinates must be employed4 ,in general1 targets with reference to their designation will fall under the following heads3 7a7 ,those that stand out so plainly that there can be no possibility of doubt as the target meant4 7b7 ,those that are plainly visible1 but are liable to be confused with other targets of a similar nature and range4 7c7 ,those less distinctly visible and more difficult to pick up on account of peculiar background1 confusion with other objects1 etc4 7d7 ,targets visible only through field glasses1 and that may or may not present the additional difficulties of danger of confusion with other objects4 ,case 7a7 has already been referred to4 ,the system consists in the simple announcement of3 #a4 ,the objective4 #b4 ,the range4 ,ingenious people sometimes combine horizontal and vertical clock systems in designating a target whenever possible to do so1 but this is a violation of the rule of simplicity and should never be done unless evidently necessary4 ,the mere fact that it is necessary or desirable to use a reference point does not in all cases require use of both systems1 as the reference point may be so evident that no clock coordination is necessary4 ,when such designation is necessary1 the horizontal clock face is used in coordinating the reference point and the vertical clock face for locating the subsequent points4 #aa4 ,instruction in target description is simple but must be thoroughly understood4 ,an illustration by means of case 7d7 will cover the entire subject so far as necessary4 7a7 ,explain to the recruits the use of the horizontal clock system as a means of indicating directions4 ,inform them that they are1 in this system1 always at the center of the dial4 ,call out various hours and require each recruit to extend his arm in the direction he understands is indicated4 ,explain and correct errors4 ,explain the use of the vertical clock system1 impressing the recruits with the fact that in this system the reference point is always at the center of dial4 ,call out an hour and require the recruit to name some object that is located on the hand of the clock at the designated hour4 ,a diagram on paper may be of assistance4 ,explain and correct errors4 ,explain to the recruit that the angle subtended by the width of one finger at arm's length from the eye and that subtended by the leaf of the rear sight to his rifle at #ad inches from the eye has a chord #ej yards long at #a1jjj yards distance4 ,the finger width and the sight leaf thus become known as units1 and either may be used in indicating distances laterally4 ,having selected a reference point1 name some object near it and require the recruit to tell you how many units 7fingers or sight leafs7 apart they are4 ,illustration3 ,,sketch ,,showing ,,german ,,fixed ,,rifle ,,rest ,,for ,,firing ,,through ,,loop ,,holes4 7,captured at the ,bluff47 ,,note4--,both lateral and horizontal movement is given and the rifle can be very firmly clamped when the required aim is found4 ,,case 7,b74 ,illustration3 ,,horizontal ,,clock ,,face ,,system 7,,used ,,when ,,targets ,,are ,,visible74 ,,system4 ,,example4 ,,example4 #a4 ,announce direction,target #b o'clock ,target #aa o'clock4 #b4 ,announce objective,a hostile patrol ,a hostile patrol4 #c4 ,announce range ,range #a1jjj ,range #ijj4 ,,procedure4 #a4 ,all look along the line pointing toward the indicated o'clock of a horizontal clock face whose center is at the firing point and whose #ab o'clock mark is directly perpendicular to the firing line4 #b4 ,look for the objective at-- #c4 ,a point on this line at a distance equal to the designated range4 ,,note4--,the clock here represented must be considered as horizontal1 not vertical as shown4 ,for the purpose of illustration perspective was not considered4 ,the observer occupies the center of clock4 ,,case 7,c74 ,illustration3 ,,vertical ,,clock ,,face ,,system 7,,used ,,when ,,targets ,,are ,,small ,,or ,,indistinct74 ,,system4 ,,example ,a4 ,,example ,b4 ,,example ,c4 #a4 ,announce the ,reference point ,reference point ,reference point general at #ab o'clock to our right to our right direction of the front front4 reference point #b4 ,announce the ,single house ,high peak ,high peak4 reference point with #b 7the most chimneys prominent object in the zone indicated7 #c4 ,announce ,target at #h ,target at #e ,target at #d position of o'clock o'clock o'clock4 target with respect to reference point #d4 ,announce the ,machine-gun ,a hostile patrol,a hostile objective patrol4 #e4 ,announce range ,range #a1jjj ,range #ijj ,range #hjj4 ,,procedure4 #a4 ,all men look in direction indicated by #a4 #b4 ,reference point is found in the indicated direction4 #c4 ,a clock face 7vertical7 is imagined centered on reference point and look along the line through the indicated o'clock1 and #d4 ,find the objective at -- #e4 444444 yards from the firing line4 ,,case 7,d74 ,illustration3 ,,sight ,,leaf1 ,,finger1 ,,or ,,unit ,,system4 7,when targets are indistinct or invisible1 and to define sectors47 ,,system ,,example ,a4 ,,example ,b4 ,,example ,c4 #a4 ,announce ,reference point ,reference point ,reference point direction of at #ab o'clock at #a o'clock at #a o'clock4 reference point using horizontal clock system if necessary #b4 ,announce ,house1 with ,distant hill ,distant hill4 reference point fence around it1 on hill #c4 ,announce ,target1 #h ,target1 #h ,target1 #e4cj position of o'clock #b o'clock #d o'clock4 target with units units respect to the reference point #d4 ,announce the ,line of ,skirmish line1 #b,skirmish line1 #b objective intrenchments1 units units4 #c units #e4 ,announce the ,range #ijj ,range #hjj ,range #a1jjj4 range ,,note4--8,units0 mean #ej mils finger sight leaf4 ,it is usual to indicate in this system the point of the target nearest the reference point4 ,when he is fairly familiar with the use of the horizontal and the vertical clock system for indicating directions1 and with the use of fingers and sight leaf for measuring lateral distances from a reference point1 work him up from simple to difficult examples of target designation4 ,with case 7d7 as an illustration1 call the direction of the reference point4 ,see that all look in the right direction4 ,name the reference point4 ,require it to be indicated on paper1 at the center of a clock dial4 ,call1 8,target #h o'clock40 ,have a line drawn from the center of the dial in the proper direction4 ,announce1 8,four units40 ,have these estimated by fingers and with the sight leaf in the proper direction and endeavor to then locate some object that should serve as a check on the work4 ,continue similarly with the actual announcement of the character of the target3 8,skirmish line1 etc40 ,it may sometimes be advantageous to indicate the range and have the sights set before describing the target1 as men frequently lose the target while their eyes are off it in sight-setting4 ,the training necessary to make a 8war shot0 does not stop with making the recruits skillful in shooting4 ,other qualities must receive attention and be developed4 ,this is accomplished in his other drills4 ,his development into a war shot must be systematic and progressive4 ,in the diagram this idea is carried out4 ---------------- ,care of arms1 pages #be --- and #hc-hd4 ---------------- ,sighting drills1 --- pages #be to #ce4 ---------------- --,gallery ,practice4 ,position and aiming drills1 --- pages #ce to #dg4 ---------------- ,deflection and elevation --- drills1 pages #dg to #ej4 ---------------- --,known distance ,effect of wind practice4 and advice to riflemen1 pages ------ #ej to #ea2 #gh to #hb4 ---------------- ,self-control4 ------ ---------------- ,use of ground and cover1 -----------,combat practice4 -- ,,war ,,shot4 ,infantry ,drill ,regulations4 ---------------- ,estimating distance1 --------- pages #ec to #eg4 ---------------- ,target --------- description4 ---------------- ,fire discipline1 ,infantry ,drill --------- ,regulations1 page #fe4 ---------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,transcriber',s ,,notes #a4 ,silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling4 #b4 ,anachronistic1 non-standard1 and uncertain spellings retained as printed4 #c4 ,enclosed italics font in underscores4