RIFLES
Rifles should be inspected every morning in the trenches by the platoon commander, and at other times during the day by the sergeant or section commander, and it should be impressed on the men that ammunition must be kept clean or the rifles are apt to jam.
The principal defects of a rifle in the trenches are:
(a) Mud in the bolt, owing to rifle being rested on wet parapet or dropped on wet ground. To remedy this a bolt cover is used, or when not obtainable, an old sock pulled over the bolt action gives the desired result.
(b) Muddy ammunition, resulting in mud in chamber. Remedy: Prohibit placing of ammunition on ground and provide proper boxes for it.
(c) Mud in muzzle resulting from rifles being pushed into the sides of the trench. Remedy: Careful and frequent inspection. Rifle barrels must be freed from mud before firing, or they will be injured.
(d) Sticking of cartridges owing to dirt in chamber and magazine. Remedy: The keeping clean of both.
(e) Rust in the lock and insufficient oiling. Remedy: Bolt and magazine tested daily. Cartridges never to be kept in the chamber.
It is a standard rule that never from the time men enter the trenches until they go out, regardless of what they are doing, does their equipment come off, not even to lie down to sleep. During working periods which take the men to the trenches, their equipment and rifles must always be carried with them.