SPECIMEN OF BATTALION TRENCH STANDING ORDERS.
1. Trenches are usually divided up into a certain number of bays; the number of men to defend these bays depends on the length of trench allotted to each company. Each section is detailed to guard a certain number of bays.
2. N. C. Os. and men must always wear their equipment by day and night; a man found not complying with this order commits a "crime."
3. Every company will stand to arms daily half an hour before dawn, and half an hour before dusk and will remain so till dismissed by O. C. company.
4. The enemy's trenches are so close that it is very important for the men to have their rifle sights always at "normal," so that there will be no necessity to alter the sights in case of alarm.
5. By night all bayonets are to be fixed, and 50 per cent of the men on duty in the trenches are to be sitting on the firing platform with their rifles by their sides.
6. In case of an attack, especially at night, it should be impressed on the men that they should fire low; for one bullet that goes too low, at least 90 go too high. A bullet that goes too high is wasted, whereas a bullet that goes too low is a ricochet and is often more dangerous than any other kind of bullet.
7. Section commanders are responsible that the men under their command have sufficient standing room for the purpose of firing over the parapet. It is very important to insure that the men have a clear field of fire, and are able not only to see the enemy's trenches but also the ground in the immediate vicinity of their own trench. It is of the greatest importance to arrange that the men can fire comfortably from the parapet and that they can get the butt comfortably into the hollow of the shoulder when the rifle is resting on the parapet.
8. When making new trenches it should be impressed on the men that the parapet must be at least 5 feet thick at the top in order to be bullet proof.