MANUAL rOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICEES. 8W 



It may be advantageous to place a sentinel in a tree. Senti- 

 nels furnished by cossack ijosts or sentry squads are kept 

 near their group. Those furnished by tbelr pickets may b« 

 kept as far as 100 yards away. 



Keliefs, visiting patrols, and inspecting officers approach 

 sentinels from the rear. 



A sentinel on the line of observation should always have the 

 following instructions: The names of villages, streams, and 

 prominent features in sight and where the roads lead. The 

 number (if any) of his post, and the number of his and of the 

 adjoining outguards; the position of the support; the line of 

 retreat to be followed if the outguard is compelled to fall 

 back; the position of advance detachments and whether 

 friendly patrols are operating in front ; to w^atch to the front 

 and flanks without intermission and devote special attention 

 to unusual or suspicious occurrences ; if he sees indications of 

 the enemy, to at once notify his immediate superior ; in case 

 of imminent danger, or when an attack is made, to give the 

 alarm by firing rapidly ; by day to pass in or out officers, non- 

 commissioned officers, and detachments recognized as part of 

 the outposts, and officers known to have authority to do so; 

 to detain all others and notify the outguard commander; at 

 night, when persons approach his post, to come to a ready, 

 halt them, and notify the outguard commander; the letter 

 challenges, ascertains their identity, and acts accordiiTj^ly. 

 When individuals fail to halt, or otherwise disobey, to lire 

 upon them after a second warning, or sooner if they attempt 

 to attack or escape; to require deserters to lay down their 

 arms, and remain until a patrol is sent out to bring them iii; 

 to order deserters pursued by the enemy to drop their arms 

 and to give an alarm ; if they fail to obey they art fired upon ; 

 to require bearers of flags of truce and their escorts to hall 

 and to face outward ; to permit them to hold no conver- 

 sation and to see that they are then blindfolded and disposed 

 of in accordance with instructions from the support com- 

 mander ; if they fail to obey to fire upon them ; at night, to 

 remain practically stationary, moving about for purposes of 

 observation only ; not to sit or lie down unless authorized to 

 do so ; in the daytime, to make use of natural or artificial 

 cover and assume such positions as to give him the best field 



