All rifles must be kept scrupulously clean at all times.
Ammunition is protected from bad weather by being placed in boxes located in the sides of the trenches.
Ten to twenty hand grenades are placed in a sandbag. These are usually kept at the depot and carried in these quantities for the supply of the fire trench in combat. One or two of such sandbags are kept at a bombing post.
Special care must be taken to keep rockets in good condition. Supplies are kept in the fire line (platoon leaders’ posts, observations) and at points in the rear (in the observatories or different command posts or in the observation posts of the information service).
Depots and Supply. (a) Depots:—There should be one general depot in each area located near the command post of the chief of area. However, in order to facilitate work in the first line the platoon leaders may establish near their post a small depot of tools and material being used for the time being. The importance of the depot depends upon the area it is to supply. For example, the depot of the garrison of a support point in the first line would contain:
20,000 cartridges 1,000 hand grenades 400 rifle grenades
The depot at the center of resistance contains the same articles but in greater number, also telephone wire, blankets, and three days’ rations of food.
The main depot of the position, however, is the one near the command post of the leader of the sector. It is divided into three parts:
1. Ammunition and rocket signals (Ordnance Service).
2. Material of every sort (Engineer Service).