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Trench Warfare: A Manual for Officers and Men

Chapter 41: SNIPING
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About This Book

A practical manual offers step-by-step guidance for locating, excavating, and defending trench systems, treating dugouts, revetments, floors and drainage, communication and support trenches, and observation and listening posts. It covers field fortifications and obstacles such as wire entanglements, abatis, fougasses, and barricades, and details explosives, hand grenades, gas agents and respirators, plus bomb organization and training. Tactical and daily duties for small-unit leaders are described, including patrols, sniping, machine-gun emergency use, reliefs and working parties, while chapters address sanitation, dumps, latrines and prevention of trench ailments. Illustrative sketches and practical notes accompany procedural recommendations and materials guidance.

SNIPING

Each company generally has specially selected men told off as snipers. Strict discipline is necessary. They are generally on duty by day and excused from night work, and it is the rule that they are either told off to a definite post or given what is known as a roving commission. These men must be expert in building loopholes of all kinds by day or night, use of telescopic sights, periscopes, etc., the selection and judging of good sniping positions, either for use in front or behind fire trenches; expert in judging distances, in aiming and trigger pressing, in laying fixed rifles for night firing, and in the fixing and laying of rifle batteries.