Field service pocket book, 1914 / General Staff, War Office.

Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Field service pocket book, 1914 / General Staff, War Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    66/372 (page 34)
    10. Transport.—All vehicles should march on the left of the road, and when a halt is ordered each vehicle should be drawn up at once on that side of the road. Cross roads should be left clear. The regulation distance between vehicles should be strictly preserved, and no one, other tlian the driver, should be allowed to ride on any vehicle without a written order. 11. t'olloicers.—Camp followers, sutlirs, civilians, Ac., who accompany troops or tlieir transport on a line of march, must be marshalled and be made to observe the regulations laid down for infantry. 12. Starting point.—point, termed the starting point, which the head of the main body is to pass at a certain time, is fixed in operation orders. If troops arc not all quartered together, it may be necessary for the com- mander to fix more than one starting point, so as to enable subordinate commands to take their idaocs in the column of march punctually without unnecessary fatigue to the troops, and without cro.ssing the lino of march of other commands. In the absence of such orders, subordinate commands must arrange their own movements to the starting point. l;t. Halts.—X short halt should be ordered soon after the column has started in the case of both mounted and dismounted troops, subsequent halts being arranged at regular intervals. The notification of these arrange- ments should usually be arranged for in staiifiing orders. 14. Fords.—The following depths are fordable :— For infantry, 3 feet. For cavalry, 4 feet. Wagons containing ammuiution, 2 feet 4 inches. Gravelly bottoms are best, sandy bottoms are bad, as the sand gets stirred up and the depth of water thus increas' s. The depth of a river is generally most uniform in straight parts ; at bends the depth will generally be greater at the concave bank and less at tlie convex. For this reason a river which is not anywhere fordable straight across may be found passable in a .slanting dirt'ction between two bends. The simplest plan for measuring the velocity of a stream is describc-d in .Section 11 (2). All fords should be clearly marked by strong pickets driven into the river bed above and beiow the ford, their heads being connected by a strong rope which is securely anchored to' holdfasts at each shore end. .Marks should be made on those piekets which stand in the deepest water, at a height of 3 feet and 4 feet above the bottom, in order that any rise of water above the fordable depth may be at once evident. M.michino in Frost .^nd Snow. l!y. Cold.—The most ellicarious measure again.st cold is an increased issue of rations; during halts the men should not b allowed to sit down, or to fall asleep. It is best not to make long halts. In the ca\alrv, men shoulel e’.ismount from time to time. 16. Frostbite-.—To pre serve the feet and limbs :— (fl) Keep the feet clean, as dirty feet are more liable to per^ieire and are consequently more sensible to cold. (6) M’ash the feet with soap and then smear them over with .seune greasy substance such as unsaltcel grease, kerosine. Ac. (c) M'ear stout roomy boots and woollen foot cloths -or .stockings, or the feet may be' wrapped in a double set of line*n foot cloths,’the under pair be'ing greased. 'I'o protect the- hands and face : smear the'in with one of the greasy sub- stances referred to above, wear mits or woollen gloves anel ear-flaps. .Men shoidd be instructed, ns soon as they feel frostbite' anywhere, to rub the iiart v.ith snow at once until the eole.ur re'turns. but on no account to warm it r.e'ar a firt'. 17. Snow blindness.—To prevent sneew blindness we'ar eedoureel glasses' failing these', a mask with ve-ry small heib'S for the eyes, or the enel of a lejigri eevi'r them gives fjiir iiredeelieen. ’ TIee; cheeks anel sides of the nose greased and covered with powdere'd charcejal also relieves f ie eyes. 18. Face blister.—Toe. pre-veutivc for this is a mask of some sort nagri cnet. or a