Manual of Military Training is a public-domain classic of history by James A. (James Alfred) Moss.
The complete text is on this page and the chapter pages below — all 61 chapters, about 267,626 words (~22 hours of reading), free to read online with no signup. Chapters include “Chapter I. =infantry Drill Regulations=--Definitions-- 24-710”, “Chapter Ii. =manual of the Bayonet=--Nomenclature and 711-824”, “Chapter Iii. =manual of Physical Training=--Methods-- 825-860”, and more.
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General Remarks--General Rules for Drills and Formations-- Orders, Commands, and Signals--School of the Soldier-- School of the Squad--School of the Company--School of the Battalion--Combat--Leadership--Combat Reconnaissance--Fire Superiority--Fire Direction and Control--Deployment-- Attack--Defense--Meeting Engagements--Machine Guns-- Ammunition Supply--Mounted Scouts--Night Operations-- Infantry Against Cavalry--Infantry Against Artillery-- Artillery Supports--Minor Warfare--Ceremonies--Inspections-- Muster--The Color--Manual of the Saber--Manual of Tent Pitching--Appendices A and B.
Description of the Bayonet--Instruction without the Rifle--Instruction with the Rifle--Instruction without the Bayonet--Combined Movements--Fencing Exercises--Fencing at Will--Lessons of the European War--The "Short point"-- The "Jab."
Commands--Setting-Up Exercises--Rifle Exercises.
CHAPTER IV. =SIGNALING=--General Service Code--Wigwag-- 861-866 The Two-Arm Semaphore Code--Signaling with Heliograph, Flash Lanterns, and Searchlight--Sound Signals--Morse Code.
COMPANY COMMAND
CHAPTER I. =GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF A 867-909 COMPANY=--Duties and Responsibilities of the Captain and the Lieutenants--Devolution of Work and Responsibility--Duties and Responsibilities of the First Sergeant and other Noncommissioned Officers--Contentment and Harmony--Efficacious Forms of Company Punishment--Property Responsibility--Books and Records.
Attaining Good Discipline--Importance--Sound Discipline-- Punishment--General Principles.
PART III
MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS PERTAINING TO COMPANY TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION
CHAPTER I. =GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF COMPANY TRAINING AND 917-941 INSTRUCTION=--Object of Training and Instruction--Method and Progression--Individual Initiative--The Human Element-- Art of Instruction on the Ground--Ocular Demonstration.
MINOR TACTICS=--Art of War Defined--Responsibilities of Officers and Noncommissioned Officers in War--General Rules and Principles of Map Problems, Terrain Exercises, the War Game, and Maneuvers--Estimating the Situation-- Mission.
FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES--INSTRUCTION IN DELIVERING MESSAGES.=
CHAPTER IV. =THE SERVICE OF INFORMATION=--General 959-1019 Principles of Patrolling--Sizes of Patrols--Patrol Leaders--Patrol Formations--Messages and Reports-- Suggestions for Gaining Information about the Enemy-- Suggestions for the Reconnaissance of Various Positions and Localities--Demolitions--Problems in Patrolling.
principles--Advance Guard--Advance Guard Problems-- Flank Guards--Rear Guard--Outposts--Formation of Outposts--Outguards--Flags of Truce--Detached Posts-- Examining Posts--Establishing the Outpost--Outpost Order--Intercommunication--Outpost Problems.
the Outpost.
CHAPTER VII. =THE COMPANY IN SCOUTING AND PATROLLING= 1081-1090 --Requisites of a Good Scout--Eyesight and hearing-- Finding Way in Strange Country--What to do when Lost-- Landmarks--Concealment and Dodging--Tracking--The Mouse and Cat Contest--Flag Stealing Contest.
of the Company--Individual Training--Collective Training--Outposts.
CHAPTER IX. =FIELD ENGINEERING=--Bridges--Corduroying-- 1109-1139 Tascines--Hurdles--Brush Revetment--Gabions--Other Revetments--Knots--Lashings.
CHAPTER X. =FIELD FORTIFICATIONS=--Object-- 1140-1172 Classification--Hasty Intrenchments--Lying Trench-- Kneeling Trench--Standing Trench--Deliberate Intrenchments--Fire Trenches--Traverses--Trench recesses; sortie steps--Parados--Head Cover--Notches and Loopholes--Cover Trenches--Dugouts--Communicating Trenches--Lookouts--Supporting Points--Example of Trench System--Location of Trenches--Concealment of Trenches-- Dummy Trenches--Length of Trench--Preparation of Foreground--Revetments--Drainage--Water Supply-- Latrines--Illumination of the foreground--Telephones-- Siege Works.
Obstacles--Location--Abatis--Palisades--Fraises-- Cheveaux de Frise--Obstacles against Cavalry--Wire Entanglements--Time and Materials--Wire Fence--Military Pits or Trous de Loup--Miscellaneous Barricades-- Inundations--Obstacles in Front of Outguards--Lessons from the European War--Wire Cheveaux de Frise--Guarding Obstacles--Listening Posts--Automatic Alarms--Search Lights.
Gases--Protection against Gases--Liquid Fire-- Grenades--Bombs--Aerial Mines--Winged Torpedoes--Bombs from Air-Craft--Protection against Hand Grenades-- Tanks--Helmets--Masks--Periscopes--Sniperscopes--Aids to Firing--Mining--Countermining.
of Troops in Campaign-Physical Training Hardening New Troops--Long Marches Not to Be Made with Untrained Troops--A Successful March--Preparation--Starting-- Conduct of March--Rate--Marching Capacity--Halts-- Crossing Bridges and Fords--Straggling and Elongation of Column--Forced Marches--Night Marches--No Compliments Paid on March--Protection on March--Fitting of Shoes and Care of Feet.
Desirable Camp Sites--Undesirable Camp Sites--Form and Dimensions of Camps--Making Camp--Retreat in Camp-- Parade Ground--Windstorms--Making Tent Poles and Pegs Fast in Loose Soil--Trees.
Expedients--Latrines--Urinal Tubs--Kitchens--Kitchen Pits--Incinerators--Drainage--Avoiding Old Camp Sites-- Changing Camp Sites--Bunks--Wood--Water--Rules of Sanitation--Your Camp, Your Home.
Recipes--Meats--Vegetables--Drinks--Hot Breads-- Emergency Ration.
CHAPTER XVII. =CARE AND PRESERVATION OF CLOTHING AND 1276-1320 EQUIPMENT=--Clothing--Pressing--Removing Stains-- Shoes--Cloth Equipment--Washing--Shelter Tent--Mess Outfit--Leather Equipment--Points to Be Remembered.
--Importance--Care of Bore--How to Remove Fouling--Care of Mechanism and Various Parts--How to Apply Oil--Army Regulation Paragraphs About Rifle--Nomenclature of Rifle.
RIFLE TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION
Object and Explanation of Our System of Instruction-- 1344-1450 Individual Instruction--Theory of Sighting--Kinds of Sights--Preliminary Drills--Position and Aiming Drills-- Deflection and Elevation Correction Drills--Gallery Practice--Range Practice--Use of Sling--Designation of Winds--Zero of Rifle--Estimating Distances--Wind-- Temperature--Light--Mirage--Combat Practice--Fire Discipline--Technical Principles of Firing--Ballistic Qualities of the Rifle--Cone of Fire--Shot Group--Center of Impact--Beaten Zone--Zone of Effective Fire-- Effectiveness of Fire--Influence of Ground--Grazing Fire--Ricochet Shots--Occupation of Ground--Adjustment of Fire--Determination of Range--Combined Sights-- Auxiliary Aiming Points--Firing at Moving Targets-- Night Firing--Fire Direction and Control--Distribution of Fire--Individual Instruction in Fire Distribution-- Designation of Targets--Exercises in Ranging, Target Designation Communication, etc.
CARE OF HEALTH AND KINDRED SUBJECTS
CHAPTER I. =CARE OF THE HEALTH=--Importance of Good 1451-1469 Health--Germs--The Five Ways of Catching Disease-- Diseases Caught by Breathing in Germs--Diseases Caught by Swallowing Germs--Disease Caught by Touching Germs-- Diseases Caught from Biting Insects.
Keep the Body Properly Protected against the Weather-- Keep the Body Properly Fed--Keep the Body Supplied with Fresh Air--Keep the Body well Exercised--Keep the Body Rested by Sufficient Sleep--Keep the Body Free of Wastes.
--Objectof Teaching First Aid--Asphyxiation by Gas-- Bite of Dog--Bite of Snake--Bleeding--Broken Bones (Fractures)--Burns--Bruises--Cuts--Dislocations-- Drowning--Electric Shock--Fainting--Foreign Body in Eye, in Ear--Freezing--Frost Bite--Headache--Heat Exhaustion-- Poison--Sprains--Sunburn--Sunstroke--Wounds--Improvised Litters.
MILITARY COURTESY AND KINDRED SUBJECTS
CHAPTER I. =MILITARY DEPORTMENT AND APPEARANCE-- 1523-1531 PERSONAL CLEANLINESS--FORMS OF SPEECH--DELIVERY OF MESSAGES.=
CHAPTER II. =MILITARY COURTESY=--Its Importance--Nature 1532-1575 of Salutes and Their Origin--Whom to Salute--When and How to Salute--Usual Mistakes in Saluting--Respect to Be Paid the National Anthem, the Colors and Standards.
GUARD DUTY
Importance--Respect for Sentinels--Classification of 1576-1857 Guards--General Rules--The Commanding Officer--The Officer of the Day--The Commander of the Guard--Sergeant of the Guard--Corporal of the Guard--Musicians of the Guard--Orderlies and Color Sentinels--Privates of the Guard--Countersigns and Paroles--Guard Patrols-- Compliments from Guards--General Rules Concerning Guard Duty--Stable Guards--Troop Stable Guards--Reveille and Retreat Gun--Formal Guard Mounting--Informal Guard Mounting.
MILITARY ORGANIZATION
Composition of Infantry, Cavalry and Field Artillery 1858 Units up to and Including the Regiment.
PART IX
MAP READING AND SKETCHING
CHAPTER I. =MAP READING=--Definition of Map--Ability to 1859-1877 Read a Map--Scales--Methods of Representing Scales-- Construction of Scales--Scale Problems--Scaling Distances from a Map--Contours--Map Distances--Slopes-- Meridians--Determination of Positions of Points on Map-- Orientation--Conventional Signs--Visibility.
of Sketching--Location of Points by Intersection-- Location of points by Resection--Location of Points by Traversing--Contours--Form Lines--Scales--Position Sketching--Outpost Sketching--Road Sketching--Combined Sketching--Points for Beginners to Remember.
PRELUDE
THE OBJECT AND ADVANTAGES OF MILITARY TRAINING
=1. Prelude.= We will first consider the object and advantages of military training, as they are the natural and logical prelude to the subject of military training and instruction.
Object
=2. The object of all military training is to win battles.=
Everything that you do in military training is done with some immediate object in view, which, in turn, has in view the final object of winning battles. For example:
=3. Setting-up exercises.= The object of the setting-up exercises, as the name indicates, is to give the new men the set-up,--the bearing and carriage,--of the military man.
In addition these exercises serve to loosen up his muscles and prepare them for his later experiences and development.
=4. Calisthenics.= Calisthenics may be called the big brother, the grown-up form, of the setting-up exercise.
The object of calisthenics is to develop and strengthen all parts and muscles of the human body,--the back, the legs, the arms, the lungs, the heart and all other parts of the body.
First and foremost a fighting man's work depends upon his physical fitness.
To begin with, a soldier's mind must always be on the alert and equal to any strain, and no man's mind can be at its best when he is handicapped by a weak or ailing body.
The work of the fighting man makes harsh demands on his body. It must be strong enough to undergo the strain of marching when every muscle cries out for rest; strong enough to hold a rifle steady under fatigue and excitement; strong enough to withstand all sorts of weather, and the terrible nervous and physical strain of modern battle; and more, it must be strong enough to resist those diseases of campaign which kill more men than do the bullets of the enemy.
Hence the necessity of developing and strengthening every part and muscle of the body.
=5. Facings and Marchings.= The object of the facings and marchings is to give the soldier complete control of his body in drills, so that he can get around with ease and promptness at every command.
The marchings,--the military walk and run,--also teach the soldier how to get from one place to another in campaign with the least amount of physical exertion.
Every man knows how to walk and run, but few of them how to do so without making extra work of it. One of the first principles in training the body of the soldier is to make each set of muscles do its own work and save the strength of the other muscles for their work. Thus the soldier marches in quick time,--walks,--with his legs, keeping the rest of his body as free from motion as possible. He marches in double time,--runs,--with an easy swinging stride which requires no effort on the part of the muscles of the body.
The marchings also teach the soldier to walk and run at a steady gait. For example, in marching in quick time, he takes 120 steps each minute; in double time, he takes 180 per minute.
Furthermore, the marchings teach the soldier to walk and run with others,--that is, in a body.
=6. Saluting.= The form of salutation and greeting for the civilian consists in raising the hat.
The form of salutation and greeting for the military man consists in rendering the military salute,--a form of salutation which marks you as a member of the Fraternity of Men-at-arms, men banded together for national defense, bound to each other by love of country and pledged to the loyal support of its symbol, the Flag. For the full significance of the military salute see paragraph 1534.
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