64 
FIELD FORTIFICATION. 
moderate soil one pick to two men will be found sufficient. It may 
sometimes be desirable, when tools are scarce, to have selected men at 
intervals placed along the line with picks, one to several shovellers, 
opened rather wider apart than usual. Where men are plentiful and 
tools scarce it may be desirable, when time is of importance, to double¬ 
man each tool; for the infantry soldier, when unaccustomed to digging, 
cannot work continuously, but takes frequent spells of rest during 
which his tools are useless. A good arrangement would be to have 
one man with a pick and another with a shovel to each task. 
Where long lines of excavation are necessary and intrenching tools 
are Scarce, much will be gained if one or two ordinary ploughs are 
taken continually up and down the line; men can even with their hands 
throw out much of the soil turned over by the plough, and all picking 
at least is saved. I have seen the excavations for drain pipes got out 
in this way in America to a depth of at least 2 feet in narrow trenches. 
The width of the trench would determine the depth to which the 
plough's could work. Some ploughs could generally be got. 
In field intrenchments it is not usually necessary to move excavated 
earth further than men can throw it; but this must sometimes be done 
(as in field redoubts). Wheel-barrows are most desirable for this, 
where there are no very steep slopes to surmount, but they are seldom 
available in large numbers. When tools are scarce or shovelling diffi¬ 
cult, on account of the soil being wet and sticky, it may sometimes be 
advisable to adopt the practice of many savage tribes and throw the 
earth on to some kind of sheet (a hide is a good thing) and draw it 
along the ground to the required spot and there reverse the sheet. 
All tools available in the neighbourhood should be collected and 
utilised, but, unfortunately, picks and shovels are not “ agricultural ” 
tools, and are, therefore, seldom procurable in large quantities. 
Details of Cover. 
As regards the detail of the cover to be provided, I have already 
stated that existing cover is first to be utilised to the fullest extent. The 
defence of walls, hedges, &c., does not involve much difficulty, and, 
bearing in mind the few dimensions given above, can be readily dealt 
with; but it is important to realise what does and what does not give 
sufficient cover. Where bullet proof cover is not available, a mere 
screen is often most valuable; an enemy does not know when to fire, 
and has no satisfaction of seeing the effect of his fire; the defenders 
have also a moral advantage in a sense of security, as is shown by 
men seeking cover behind mere screens in advancing to attack. 
Where cover is not already available, then some form of earthwork 
is usually constructed : cover is most rapidly and effectually obtained 
by excavating a trench, as depth below ground and height above, 
progress simultaneously, to give the necessary shelter; shooting tren¬ 
ches are, therefore, the most usual form of cover for the front line. 
The conditions they should fulfil are, I think, as follows :— 
They should provide for the men occupying them in comfort, both 
when firing and when not firing; when firing the man should be able to 
use his weapon to the best advantage, and I think he does this when 
standing leaning his weight on a slope, and having a rest for his 
elbows and his rifle. When not firing he should be able to sit and yet 
