220 MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 



artillery fire. When the excavated earth is easily removed 

 figure 4 shows a good profile. The enemy's infantry, as well 

 as his artillery, will generally have great difiiculty in seeing 

 this type of trench. 



The mound or bank of earth thrown up for shelter in front 

 of a trench is called the parapet. It should be at least 30 

 inches thick on top, and the front should slope gradually, as 

 shown in the plate, so that shells v/ill tend to glance from it, 

 rather than penetrate and explode. The top should be cov- 

 ered with sod, grass, or leaves, so as to hide the newly turned 

 earth, which could be easily seen and aimed at by the enemy. 

 There should be no rocks, loose stones, or pebbles on top, 

 which might be struck by the bullets, splintering and flying, 

 thus adding greatly to the number of dangerous projectiles, 

 and often deflecting bullets downward into the trench. A 

 stone w^all is a very dangerous thing to be behind in a fight. 



The portion of the ground in rear of the parapet and be- 

 tween the parapet and the trench not covered by the parapet is 

 to rest the elbows on when firing, the rifle being rested on 

 top of the parapet. 



To obtain head cover in a trench fill a gunny sack or other 

 bag with sand or soil and place it on top of the parapet, aim- 

 ing around the right-hand side of it, or dig a small lateral 

 trench in the parapet large enough to hold the rifle. Roof it 

 over with boards, small logs, or brush, and heap dirt on top, 

 aiming through the small trench or resulting loophole. 



Figure 5 shows the plan of a section of a rifle trench.^ Be- 

 tween the portions occupied by each squad there is often placed 

 a mound of earth as high as the top of the parapet and pro- 

 jecting back into the trench. This is called a traverse and 

 protects the occupants of the trench from fire from a flank. 

 Bullets from this direction hit a traverse, instead of flying 

 down into the trench and wounding several men. 



Trenches are seldom continuous, but are made in sections 

 placed at the most advantageous points, as shown in figure 6. 

 A company or battalion may occupy a single section. The fir- 

 ing trenches have cover trenches in rear of them, where the 



» The traverse «houl<2 be at least G feet wide instead of 3 feet, as 

 shown in figure i». 



