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Preface THIS little work makes no pretension to being an exhaustive treatise. It consists rather of a series of notes strung together for purposes of instruction, originating in General Order 50 of last year, which introduced the training of men under their own officers. The object in view has been to make the contents of practical value chiefly to young officers; who are recommended, however, to seek further information on the various subjects in standard works. As it is somewhat difficult to determine where the knowledge required of the soldier shall end and that of his superiors commence, it has been deemed advisable to mark with an asterisk such portions of the text as more directly apply to the non-commissioned officers and men. MARTHILL BARRACKS, GLASGOW, January, 1884. CONTENTS. PREFACE LIST OF WORKS CONSULTED LIST OF PLATES INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I. ELEMENTARY TACTICS CHAPTER II. ENCAMPMENTS, FIELD COOKING, SHELTER TRENCHES CHAPTER III. THE THREE ARMS CHAPTER IV. INFANTRY IN ATTACK AND UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES CHAPTER V. ADVANCE GUARDS, FLANKING PARTIES, REAR GUARDS CHAPTER VI. OUTPOSTS CHAPTER VII. MARCHES CHAPTER VIII. MINOR OPERATIONS CHAPTER IX. OBSTACLES, AND OTHER ACCESSORIES TO DEFENCE CHAPTER X. WORKING PARTIES, ESCALADE, HASTY DEMOLITIONS CHAPTER XI. CROSSING RIVERS, AND BRIDGING CHAPTER XII. RECONNAISSANCE AND FIELD SKETCHING INDEX Introduction IN the present condition of warfare the army requires much careful training, high discipline, and steady practice, if we are to hold our own with the troops of other nations. In foreign armies short service obtains, necessitating more time and care in perfecting the material during the period of service with the colours. We now, having adopted a similar system, must follow in the same direction, bearing in mind the greater amount the, soldier has to learn in a shorter time than formerly in order to become valuable in the field, and that instruction limited to regimental routine within the walls of a barrack square is insufficient for this purpose. The recent general order on the subject of military instruction is a decided step in the right direction. Although broad principles are necessary as a basis, a company officer should be allowed every latitude in carrying out the details, by which he will have a greater incentive to study his profession, feeling that the responsibility rests upon himself of making his non-commissioned officers and men efficient. System of training In order that the training bring forth good results, it ought to be as varied and as interesting as circumstances will permit. The instructor should make himself thoroughly conversant beforehand with the subject selected for each day; and it has been found by experience that men of little or no education will evince an intelligent interest in the work, if it is first patiently explained to them in clear, simple language, with the assistance of a blackboard and a few diagrams, and afterwards executed practically on the ground. Drill and Discipline, In the education of the soldier there are three elements : drill, field-training, and discipline. Drill published by authority must not be deviated from. By it men are taught to move with precision and alacrity at word of command. Here discipline first comes into play, laying the foundation for higher training ; and there is danger in relaxing it for if men are unable to maintain distances, intervals, and direction on a level parade, they can scarcely be expected to do so over broken ground during manoeuvres. Success in tactics depends upon the proper application of drill; and until a battalion is pliable, and easily handled, it cannot be considered fit to take the field. Field training. The second element includes manoeuvres and minor operations, which should be as faithful representations as possible of what really would occur in war; and also all duties incident on active service, which subjects are treated in the following pages. Musketry. The time set apart for the annual course of musketry must be entirely devoted to this most important branch of training, and no pains should be spared in perfecting the men's shooting by careful supervision, encouraging emulation, and organising shooting matches. But the experiences of Majuba Hill, and the great expenditure of ammunition in Egypt without proportionate results, point to the necessity of attaining physical superiority as well as proficiency in using the rifle. The German infantry soldier in 1870-71 was armed with an infinitely inferior weapon to the Frenchman's. His supremacy lay rather in the individual man himself than in handling his rifle. For the preliminary instruction of the recruit, the following distribution of time has been found to answer well: In Summer. In Winter. Drill, 6.30 to 7.30A.M. 8.15 to 9.15A.M. Gymnasium, 9 ,, 10 ,, 9.45 10.45 Drill, 11 ,, 12 noon. 11.30,, 12.30 P.M. Drill, 2 3 P M. 2 3 School, 3.30 ,, 5 ,, 3.30,, 5 After two months he will have acquired sufficient knowledge of marching, drill, and rifle exercises to be prepared for a course of musketry instruction, which, in moderate weather, can be easily finished in three weeks, and at the end of the first two months he should also have been dismissed the recruits' course at the gymnasium. Musketry concluded, he should revert to drill, and be exercised in the more advanced stages, e.g., bayonet exercise in quick time, company drill, skirmishing, the elements of the attack, and duties on guard and sentry, which will occupy five weeks. Drill being substituted for gymnasium, he will then have four hours daily. Concurrently with the above, the recruit must be instructed in the interior economy of the barrackroom. The first thing to teach a lad on joining is how to dress, clean his arms and accoutrements, make up his cot, arrange his kit on the shelf, and lay it out for inspection, in strict conformity with standing orders. The duty of this instruction devolves on the senior N. C. officer of each room, who must distribute the recruits among the older soldiers; and the latter are required to show an example of cleanliness and regularity. No man is to mount guard or piquet, or leave the room for his daily employment, without arranging his cot and kit in proper order, and cleaning his arms. Without insisting on needless minutiae, this system should exist throughout the week, and not only for periodical inspections. Running drill is most essential, and should be practised both during the recruits' course and frequently at other times; otherwise young soldiers will be found unfitted for a day's march, as many of them take but little exercise outside the barrack square. Such, then, is an outline of the preliminary instruction, which will extend over sixteen weeks, or four months, and at the expiration of this time, under ordinary circumstances, the recruit will be able to take his place in the ranks as a duty soldier, ready to receive the further training, which now requires our attention.
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