The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-08-29

its rame implies, shelter" from
wind and rain. 1t Is used only In
temporary camps.
Your chief fighting tools will be a
rifle, bayonet in a scabbard, a
cartridge belt and an intrenching
tool. Other weapons or detenses
needed in modern trench warfare will
be referred TO later. Do not under
any circumstances lose track of these
articles while on field duty. So long
as you possess them, you are an
armed soldier capable of defending
yourself and Of performing effective
service. Without them you are for
all practical purposes helpless. OF
course, this statement does not APP
ply strictly to those men who are
armed in some other way, such as
those who are serving artillery or
machine guns.
The rife is the soldiers closest
friend. His first thought should be
to guard it and care for it above all
his other possessions. He expects ii
to take care of him in emergencies.
In ordinary times he must take care
of 1t.
In caring for a rife it is especially
important to keep the bore clean.
In so doing be sure to avoid injuring
the delicate rifiing which causes the
bullet to spin as It is forced out and
thus greatly increases the accura cy
of firing. Never put away a rifle
that has been fired or exposed to bad
weather without first cleaning it.
Never lay rife fiat on the ground.
Rest it securely against something.
In lowering the rifle to the ground.
whether during drilling or at any
al "a 49,
ground gently.
Don't play with your rife. A rife
or revolver, whether loaded or UNI
loaded, should never be pointed at a
person unless you fully intend to
shoot that person, IL necessary, in
the performance of your duty. When
a firearm is put into your hands you
are Entrusted with a great respon-
sibility for It's proper use.
Anybody in normal physical, con-
dition can learn to be a good shot,
Two of the most important points
to remember are to take a deep
breath just before completing your
aim so that you NAV hold the rifle
with perfect steadiness, and to
squeeze the trigger so that the gun
will not be jerked from it's aim at
the moment of firing. When you be-
come an expert marksman (provided
you have also the courage which per-
mits you to remain cool and collected
on the battlefield) you will have
added immensely to your value as a
citizen soldier. The simple fact that
you qualify as marksman will give
you more self-confdence and self
control.
The amount of ammunition which
an American infantryrnan carries in
to battle is usually 22o rounds. In
an advanced firing position, where it.
is difficult to bring up reserves of
ammunition. 1t is necessary to be
economical. Bear this iFtsmind dur
ing your target practice and learn
to make every shot count.
In modern warfare the intrench-
ing tool is an essential part Of your
fighting equipment. The eight men
in each squad carry these 8 tools:
4 shovels, pick mattocks. / polo or
nand-axe, and wire-cutter. In
ordinary soil you can quickly throw
up a shallow trench which will pro-
teeta you TO great extent from the
eneTny's fire. After a trench has once
been started, it can be deepened and
extended, even in the face Of the
enemv without the soldier exposing
himself to direct fire.
Don't look on practice in digging
trenches as If 1t were drudgery. Skill
in seeking and making cover from
the enemy's fire is far from being a
sign Of weakness on the soldiers
part. Rather 1t is sign Of the
determination and courage that
mark a really efficient fighting force.
The day has gone nv when either Of
ficers or men are expected to stand
out in the open. They should use ev-
cry effective method OF self-protec-
ticn so long 81 It helps TO gain
ground and defeat the enemy.