Chapter XIII: Movements and Quarters

=249.= _Marches and march discipline._

(_See_ F.S. Regs., Part I, Chap. III.)

1. March discipline includes everything that affects the efficiency of man and horse during a march. On it depends not only the comfort of a column of troops as a whole, but also the time which is needed to perform a march or deploy for battle.

The principles which govern the order of march of a body of troops are laid down in F.S. Regs., Part I, Chap. III.

2. The following rules should be observed by artillery:--

i. The order of units should be changed daily.
ii. Brigade signallers and range-takers should ride three
abreast at the head of the brigade to which they
belong.
iii. Batteries should always march in column of route on
the left of the road. The regulation distance between
carriages should be strictly preserved, and care must
be taken that, when a halt is ordered, each carriage
is drawn up on the left side of the road. Cross roads
must be left clear.
iv. Dismounted detachments should keep on the inner flank
of the column, but if this is not possible they should
march in fours behind their respective guns and
wagons. They should never march on the off side of the
carriages.

Men may mount or dismount when the column is moving at a walk.

3. In column of route when two ammunition wagons per subsection are present they immediately follow their gun until the batteries prepare for action, when those which do not accompany the guns into action, will assume a preparatory formation under the command of the captain. (Sec. =191=.)

4. On a march the first halt usually takes place not long after the start, when a careful examination should be made of the horses and harness. Subsequent halts are made at regular intervals at the discretion of the commander of the column. The duration of these halts and the time when they are to take place, should be made known in advance.

5. It is of great importance to relieve horses as much as possible of the heavy weights they have to carry. They should be harnessed up as short a time as possible before turning out, and should not be hooked in until just before the time for marching off.

When they are standing in harness the drivers should be dismounted.

When marching at a slow pace with other troops men are inclined to lounge in their saddles and thus to cause sore backs. On this account mounted men should be instructed to walk and lead at intervals, and the drivers may be relieved occasionally by capable gunners. For the same reason slouching in the saddle, even when riding at ease, should be prevented and, when trotting, every man should rise in his stirrups.

6. Opportunities which may occur for watering and feeding horses should always be seized. Watering requires to be carried out on a regular system if it is to be done smoothly and expeditiously.

7. When artillery is moving independently of other troops, very early starts are undesirable, except for some special reason. The men should have time to get breakfast and the horses should be fed before the march commences.

The maintenance of an even and regular pace is essential, otherwise the constant opening out and closing up, which occurs in rear, becomes trying, both to men and horses.

In some circumstances, such as when the roads are hilly or dusty, the intervals between files and the distances between carriages may be increased.

The last couple of miles of a march should be at a walk, so as to bring the horses in cool, and during this period they should be watered, if there be a convenient place.

=250.= _Billets._

1. The principles to be observed in the allotment of billets, and instructions for administration and discipline in billets, are laid down in F.S. Regs., Part I, Chap. IV.

2. Billets are of three descriptions, viz.:--

i. Billets with subsistence.
ii. Billets with partial subsistence.
iii. Billets without subsistence.

When billets with subsistence are provided, officers and others must be satisfied with the usual fare of the householder on whom they are billeted.

All billets will include attendance and, when required, the use of ordinary cooking utensils, but bedding cannot be demanded as a right.

3. Billeting areas are allotted by the quartermaster-general’s branch of the staff. The commanders of these areas then distribute the accommodation among the units to be quartered in them and issue billeting demands to their representatives.

4. A billeting party should consist of one officer or senior non-commissioned officer per brigade, and one rank and file N.C.O. per battery or ammunition column. Before starting for his allotted area, the commander of the party should obtain a statement showing the number of officers, men, and horses for whom accommodation is required.

5. On arrival in the locality in which his formation is to be billeted, the commander of the billeting party will first proceed to the mayor, or other chief official, hand him the billeting demand, and notify him of the hour at which the troops may be expected. If time permits billeting orders should be obtained from the local authority for each inhabitant on whom men and horses are to be quartered.

6. On receipt of these orders the commander of the billeting party will issue them in proper proportion to the representative of each unit, who will be given instructions as to the posting of any special notices, arrangements for watering, &c., and the rendezvous, when the billets have been inspected. The men of the party then proceed to the houses and stables allotted to their units, inspect and mark them and hand the billeting orders to occupiers. In arranging for billets horses should be billeted near the men, and as close as possible to the guns and vehicles. Each unit should, if possible, be allotted both sides of a street.

7. In the meantime the commander of the party will select and mark the position of the headquarters of the brigade, guard-room, sick inspection room, and gun parks. (_See_ F.S. Regs., Part I, Sec. =49=.) He will also ascertain the most suitable lines for communicating with neighbouring units and the best lines into and out of the area.

8. In fixing the sites of gun parks and arranging accommodation for horses, precautions must usually be taken against discovery by hostile aircraft.

Although to avoid blocking roads and communications it may be necessary to place guns and other vehicles outside towns or villages, they should not be parked in a regular formation in the open. As many vehicles and horses as possible should be placed under cover, the remainder being concealed by placing them close to hedges, buildings, stacks, or any other object which will screen them against observation from the air.

Subject to the conditions above, guns and wagons should be parked, where possible, on dry ground, but near water, with easy approaches and plenty of room. Additional entrances may be needed to facilitate movement. Provided there is plenty of room for movement and it is possible to conceal the carriages from observation by aircraft a single gun park has advantages.

9. After completing the above, the commander of the billeting party should, if possible, prepare a rough plan of the area, showing the allotment of billets, main roads and communications, position of gun parks, together with a statement as to any special arrangements that may be necessary as regards watering horses, and other details.

10. On reassembling his men, he will notify them of the positions of headquarters, guard, gun parks, etc., and will despatch a proportion to convey this information to the units. (_See_ F.S. Regs., Part I, Sec. 48.)

11. When time is not available for the above procedure troops will be halted outside their billeting areas. Meanwhile brigade billeting parties will proceed to the town hall or similar place, where a representative of the commander of the area will allot certain streets or groups of houses to them, which they in turn will assign to units.

12. A list of the addresses of the officers should be given to the commander of the main guard.

=251.= _Bivouacs._

1. The general rules for the occupation of a bivouac are given in F.S. Regs., Part I, Sec. 56.

2. The commander of the billeting party, as soon as he has been shown the area allotted to him, selects the sites for the bivouacs for each battery, and has the positions of kitchens, slaughter-places, and latrines marked out.

He then goes to meet the artillery commander with information on the various details dealt with in F.S. Regs., Part I, Secs. 56 and 57.

Orders dealing with any of these points, which it is necessary for the troops to know, should be communicated to them before leaving the gun park.

3. It will generally be necessary to take precautions against observation by hostile aircraft, and when this is the case regular formations should be avoided and all possible arrangements made to conceal the guns and horses (_See_ Sec. =250= (8)). Bivouac shelters, if used, should not be put up till after dark. When artillery reach their bivouac in darkness and when it is not necessary to take precautions against discovery by hostile aircraft the method of arranging a bivouac for a battery in Fig. 37 may be used.

This method, which is quick and economical of space is given as a guide and should be followed only so far as the ground allows.

The guns are formed in line at half interval (10 yards) with the firing battery wagons on their left at 2 yards interval, three of the first line wagons in rear of and at right angles to the line of guns and 5 yards from them. The remaining three are then formed up parallel and about 60 yards from the above.

4. The picketing ropes are stretched between the upper spokes of the 1st line wagons. The rope can be stretched taut by lifting and heaving on the wagons furthest from the gun park, and, if necessary, sinking a small trench for the wheels to rest in. If the length of rope required is considerable it may be advisable to use other wagons to support it half-way.

The horse lines of each section should be as far as possible in rear of the guns of its own section.

The horses of each section are then fastened to one rope, using both sides of the rope. No horse should be fastened within 5 yards of a carriage in order to prevent the possibility of damage.

The harness is placed in rear of the heel pegs, blankets folded on the saddles and the whole bound up in the harness cover: forage 5 yards from the horse lines at the opposite end to the gun park.

The sections are arranged so that the personnel may be as near their own horses as possible. The right and left sections parallel to the horse lines, the centre section at right angles to them at 10 yards distance. The officers 20 yards in rear of the centre section.

TRANSPORT OF ARTILLERY.

=252.= _Transport by rail._

The transport of troops in peace by land and sea is dealt with in the “King’s Regulations.” Owing to the variations in size of carriages and trucks in the different countries where campaigns may take place, it is impossible to fix the number of vehicles or trains required for a battery.

Rolling stock, such as in common use in the United Kingdom, will take:--

8 men with their equipment in each compartment.

7 harnessed riding or light draught or 6 heavy draught
horses in a cattle truck.

2 or 3 pairs of wheels on the average wagon truck.

The number of vehicles in a train varies on different railways, according to the ruling (_i.e._, maximum) gradient, speed, and the types of locomotives and trucks.

In the United Kingdom each six gun battery of horse or field artillery at war strength would require 2 trains, while the brigade headquarters and ammunition column for a howitzer, 13-pr. and 18-pr. artillery brigade would occupy 2, 3 and 4 trains respectively.

It may be necessary to entrain and detrain horses and carriages without the use of raised platforms by means of ramps. Regular practice in doing this is required in order to avoid delay.

Fixed ramps can be made with earth revetted with sleepers, or sleepers alone may be used.

Plate XI shows ramps which can be quickly improvised if portable ramps are not available. The stores required are two rails, 21 ft. to 24 ft. long, and 40 or 50 sleepers for each ramp.

The following are the principal points to which attention should be paid when loading horses and guns and carriages.

i. _Horses._

1. The entrainment and detrainment of horses will be carried out in accordance with the instructions given in F.S. Regs., Part I., Sec. 38.

2. The floors of trucks used for the conveyance of horses should, if of wood, be at least 1½ inches thick. Cinders, sand or gravel should be sprinkled on them to prevent the horses slipping; on no account should straw or any inflammable material be used for this purpose.

3. A man leading a horse into a truck should walk freely in with a loose head rope, as though leading it into a stall. He should not stare in the animal’s face. Much time may be lost in dealing timorously with a jibbing horse; two men should be ready to clasp hands above its hocks and hustle it into the truck.

4. If possible, on long journeys, horses should be taken out of a train at least once every 24 hours, walked about, and allowed to roll on sand or grass.

TEMPORARY RAMP

_For Entraining Guns._

(_End Loading_)]

_For Entraining Horses._

(_Side Loading_)]

ii. _Guns and carriages._

The general points which should be attended to are:--

To distribute the load evenly over the floor, and if any of the flooring planks are rotten, to put a sleeper across them under the wheels. The minimum thickness of floor should be 2 inches.

To see that the points of poles or shafts do not stick up so that they would strike against bridges, &c., as would usually occur if they were more than 7 feet above the floor of the trucks.

To lash the wheels nearest to the ends of the trucks securely to the false buffers or to rings by a rope, which is also given a turn round the axle of each pair of wheels on the truck to prevent them shifting with the jerks of the train.

Generally the best way to stow the carriages is, poles, trails, and perches resting on the floor, poles to the front, perches and trails to the rear, the wheels of each vehicle interlocking with those of the carriage in front of it.

=253.= _Slinging horses._

(_Transports alongside._)

1. If horses are to be embarked by slinging, they should on arrival alongside the ship be unsaddled or unharnessed, the head rope should be fastened in the ordinary way round the neck; the ship’s halter will be put on under the head-collar; the bridoon reins should be left loose (as they may be required for keeping the head in the proper position while lowering down the hatchways), but they should be knotted to prevent them getting entangled in the horse’s legs. Slings should be minutely inspected before the embarkation begins. A double guy should be made fast to the horse’s head, one end being held on shore and the other on board, in order to keep the head steady; the surcingle must be moved round so that the buckle is on the seat.

2. In slinging horses, five men are required, one at the head, one at each side, one at the breast, and one behind. One end of the sling is passed under the horse’s belly, and both ends are brought up to meet over his back; one man passes his loop through the other loop, and it is received by the man on the other side, who hauls it through, hooking the tackle to it, both men holding up the ends of the sling until it is taut. The men at the breast and behind bring their ropes round and make them fast to the grummets, and the man who holds the horse’s head makes fast the guys to the ship’s head-collar. The breech band and breast girth must be securely fastened. Timid or restive horses should be blindfolded. When all is ready, the words “HOIST AWAY” will be given, and the horse is to be rapidly run up from the ground to the necessary height, and then carefully lowered down to the hatchway. Two or three men should be stationed at the hatchway and between decks to guide the horse in being lowered. A soft bed of straw or coir mats must be provided for the horse to alight upon, and the men stationed in the lower deck must be ready to receive him and take off the sling, as on first feeling his legs, unless firmly handled, he is apt to plunge and kick violently.

3. In disembarking, sand or straw must be laid on the wharf for the reception of the horses. Horses are apt to fall on their knees at once unless carefully held up.

(_Transports not alongside._)

4. The method of embarking horses in boats or flats will vary according to circumstances. If the boats can come alongside a wharf, or can approach close to an open beach, the horses can either be led on board by gangways (horse brows), or be slung in the manner described above, sheers or a derrick being erected. Horse brows may be at steep angles of ascent or descent if there is considerable rise and fall of tide. When the boats cannot come sufficiently near the shore to enable horses to be hoisted on to them, piers or platforms must be constructed. The piers should always be provided with stout side railings about three feet high, and the floor covered with shingle, straw, or something to prevent the horses slipping.

5. When embarking in boats, the detachment should be formed up opposite them, and the same rules, so far as practicable, followed as when embarking in vessels alongside a wharf. A man must be told off to each horse, and take with him in the boat the whole of his kit, equipment, saddlery, &c. The men should take off arms, belts, and spurs. The horses should, if possible, be placed athwart the boat alternately, the head to tail. Each man must hold his horse until the vessel is reached. Sand or straw should be put in the boats to prevent the horses slipping.

6. In the absence of boats and appliances, the following method of embarking horses by swimming may be employed:--

The horses having been halted a short distance from, and out of sight of, the point of embarkation, are stripped of all appointments except the bridoon and headstall, which latter should be close fitting.

A horse having been led to the landing place, two men prepare him for the water. No. 1 holds his head. No. 2 places the sling in position and secures the straps with yarn, so as to prevent the sling opening in the water; he then fastens the breast rope and breeching securely. A rope of about eight yards in length, with an eye at one end, is next passed round the neck and fastened rather tightly by an overhand knot, so as to prevent its becoming either looser or tighter. The bridoon is then taken off, and to support the horse in the water another rope is attached to the lower ring of the headstall under the chin, or else a short rope is passed round the girth in front of the sling and close behind the elbows, the ends being brought up and fastened over the withers. The horse is controlled altogether by the neck rope.

The horse is then led into the water as far as he will walk towards the boat, in the stern of which should be a man, who receives the neck rope in his right hand, and immediately reeves it through the stern ring of the boat to secure additional power in the event of the horse plunging; the headstall or girth rope he receives in his left hand.

When once the horse is swimming, the neck rope should be hauled close up while the headstall or girth rope gently supports him in the water.

A small rowing boat with two oars will be sufficient. It should not be pulled too fast, or the horse will make no attempt to swim.

On reaching the ship’s side the hook and tackle should be lowered, the hook passed through the sling’s eye, and the horse hoisted up on board.

Care should be taken to arrange the tackle so that the horse, in being hoisted in, is kept clear of the ship’s side.

7. Horses may, in cases of emergency only, be disembarked by swimming. When this method is adopted, the horse should be lowered in the sling over the side of the vessel without fastening the breast rope or breeching. When the tackle is unhooked the sling opens, and is at once slipped from under the horse. The neck rope should be hauled up and secured, and the horse supported, as explained above. If necessary, four horses may be made to swim ashore at a time, two on each side of the boat. It is important that horses should be kept at the point to which the others are to swim.

Horses should be cool before being put into the water.

=254.= _Slinging guns and vehicles._

1. For slinging guns, limbers and limbered wagons, the following method has been found to give good results:--

Two four-inch slings are used, one round each axletree, and a hook rope hooked into the trail eye. The bights of the slings are placed on the tackle hook, to which the end of the hook rope is also made fast.

Limbers are slung in the same way as guns, the hook rope in their case being made fast to about the centre of the pole, unless special instructions to remove the poles are issued.

Limbered wagons will, as a rule, be embarked loaded on their wheels, the poles should not be removed before slinging. If the wheels are removed, special care must be taken that the linch pins and washers are put away. Those carriages first required on disembarkation should be stowed away last.

2. G.S. wagons can be slung by four chain slings connected to a common link at the one end and provided with hooks at the other, these four hooks are then secured to all four wheels of the vehicle. The poles must be removed before slinging, and =made fast to the body of the wagons=.

If cordage only is available, two slings each, consisting of one rope 3 in. by 60 ft., knotted at a suitable length, and two lashings, 1½ in. by 30 ft. for guy ropes are required.

To adjust the front sling pass one end inside the wheels and under the futchels of the fore carriage in front of the axle. To adjust the back sling loop one end of the sling over the nave of the off hind wheel. Pass the sling over the load and loop the other end to the nave of the near hind wheel. Care must be taken to see that the drag washers are turned down to prevent the sling from slipping off.

The hook of the hoisting tackle is then passed through the end of the two ends of the front sling and under the centre of the back sling.

The pressure can be taken off the sides of the carriage by making use of loops made with polechains or ropes at the end of poles through which the slings are passed.