HANTTAL FOR NONCOMMIS SIGNED OFSTOBRS. 219 



toon mpving to the front at a trot for 400 yards would be 

 outguard No. 2; the next platoon in rear, moving to the right 

 at a trot for about 600 to 800 yards would be outguard No. 

 1; the next platoon, moving to the left In the same manner 

 would be outguard No. 3; and the 4th platoon would be the 

 support of the march outpost. The reserve (8 troops) would 

 be the reserve of the march outpost. On signal being given 

 to resume the march, the various units would close in at a 

 trot or gallop, and as soon as the support had assembled the 

 march would be resumed. 



Section 8. Rifle trenohes. 



Soldiers should remember that only by acting vigorously on 

 the offensive can an army hope to gain the victory. The de- 

 fensive may delay or stop the enemy, but it can never destroy 

 him. " Troops dig because they are forced to halt ; they do 

 not halt to dig." 



Trenches will frequently be constructed, without being used, 

 and soldiers must expect this as a feature of campaigning and 

 accept cheerfully what at times may appear as unnecessary 

 labor. 



When intrenching under fire cover is first secured in the 

 lying position, each man scooping out a depression for his body 

 and throwing the earth to the front. In this position no ex- 

 cavation can be conveniently made for the legs, but if time 

 permits the original excavation is enlarged and deepened until 

 it is possible to assume a sitting position, with the legs crossed 

 and the shoulder to the parapet. In such a position a inan 

 presents a smaller target to shrapnel bullets than in the lying 

 trench and can fire more comfortably and with less exposure 

 than in the kneeling trench. From the sitting position the 

 excavation may be continued until a standing trench is secured. 



The accompanying plate shows some of the more common 

 forms of trenches in profile. Figure 1 is the simplest form of 

 standing trench. Figure 2 shows the same trench deepened in 

 rear, so as to allow men to walk along in the rear (deeper) 

 portion of the trench without exposing their heads above the 

 parapet. Figure 3 shows a cover and firing trench, with a 

 chamber in which men can find shelter when unde? heavy 



