Part 21 (2/2)
The best shot in the company is the man who practises the most.
CHAPTER X
PRACTICE MARCH OR ”HIKE”
The manuver practice march will be the most instructive, the most pleasant, and one of the hardest periods of your service. You will return from it proud of the hards.h.i.+ps you have undergone and capable of speaking with authority on many practical matters pertaining to soldiering. You will be able to amuse yourself and your friends with reminiscences of the many incidents which you will never forget. It is during the practice march that you will put into practical use the tactical principles and battle formations of which, up to that time, you will have heard at lectures, or which you will have executed in a mechanical manner at drill. You will return from each march with a knowledge of many practical points on camp sanitation, of the pleasures and hards.h.i.+ps incident to manuver warfare, and of the manner in which a soldier adapts himself to changing conditions, all of which cannot be learned from books or lectures.
The practice march demands a large expenditure of physical and mental energy; however, the hards.h.i.+ps are greatly exaggerated by the old soldiers. To make up a set of equipment, to a.s.sist in cleaning up camp and loading trucks, to march and fight for a distance of ten or twelve miles while carrying a heavy pack on the back and a nine-pound gun on the shoulder, and upon reaching camp to pitch your tent, make up your bed, do some fatigue work, and probably some guard duty in addition, all in one day, is a hard physical strain on the average man. By obeying implicitly the advice of your company commander, you will greatly lessen the hards.h.i.+ps incident to a practice march, and by disobeying it you may possibly undergo the mortification of having to drop out of ranks and be jeered at by the pa.s.sing column. The following suggestions, if followed implicitly, will lessen the hards.h.i.+p of the ”hike.”
MARCHING RULES
1. Adjust your equipment, if necessary, at the first halt.
2. Do not leave the column without the express permission of your company company commander.
3. Keep in your proper place in the column.
4. keep forty inches from the man in front of you.
HALTS
Halts are made for the purpose of resting. Take advantage of the opportunity by sitting down at once along the side of the road near the place where your squad will form when the march is resumed. Remain seated until the command to fall in is given.
Sit down in such a way that you do not support the weight of the pack on your shoulders while resting. Don't go wandering off into people's yards or orchards. Relax as completely as possible. Get into place immediately when the signal is given.
CAMPING
Two men tent together--the front rank man and his rear rank file. Alter pitching your tent, get inside and level off the ground. Cut a drain around the tent to carry the water off; this should be done even in pleasant weather. In case you do not trench your tent and a sudden rain comes, your blankets may get wet and you will probably lose some much-needed rest and sleep. If the tent pins will not stay in the ground, cut some small sticks to a length of about twelve inches and use them as tent pins.
PREPARING YOUR BED
After you have pitched your tent, get some hay, gra.s.s, straw, or leaves and cover the floor. Place one poncho on this, then one or two blankets on top of the poncho to sleep on, and use the remaining blankets as cover. Spread the other poncho over the tent. Many men are careless about making a comfortable bed. You will be rewarded with large dividends if you are zealous in making yourself comfortable. Arrange your equipment at the rear just under the small triangle. Get your meat can, knife, fork, spoon, and tin cup out where they will be handy.
MAKING UP YOUR PACK
Immediately after reveille, take down your tent and make up your pack.
Place your extra blankets on the pile with those of the other members of your squad. Make up your surplus kit bundle and put it in the surplus kit bag.
<script>