15. Tracing Approaches.—The approaches are traced in the same manner as the parallels, but at each turning point of the zigzags a picket is driven, around which the tape is carried. After tracing the branch in front, the tape is cut at five yards in rear of the picket, and the end carried out to the rear in prolongation of the branch in front to indicate “the return,” which is then prolonged to the proper length (from 10 to 20 yards) by a short piece of tracing-tape.
POSTING THE WORKING PARTIES.
16. The working parties are commanded by their own officers, under the guidance of the engineers. They carry their arms and ammunition. Each battalion (or other unit) is marched in column to the depots, where the tools are laid out in lines, so that each man can take up his pick and shovel when drawn up in front of them. But when time does not allow of this arrangement, they are piled, the picks in one pile, the shovels in another, and the men pass the piles in single file to the right of the picks and the left of the shovels, each man receiving a pick and shovel as he passes the pile. If gabions are to be carried, they are distributed in a similar way. When two are carried, the shovel is secured inside one and the pick inside the other, and the gabions are then carried by the picket inserted for that purpose. When one only is carried, the pick is usually secured inside it, the gabion carried on the shoulder, and the shovel in the hand.
The working party, in column, provided with its tools, etc., is then led by the engineer officer to the parallel, and forms on right (or left) into line along it in single rank at five-foot intervals, beginning at the initial point of each section.
The N. C. officer of engineers assists in this formation, and each sapper points out to the men of the working party the five-foot intervals marked upon the tracing-tape of his 50 yards, verifies their positions along it, and subsequently superintends their work. Each man when properly placed drives his pick into the ground at the left of his task, places his shovel beside it, and lies down until the command “Commence work” is given.
When gabions are used the working party is posted in a manner entirely similar, except that the column is of necessity formed in single rank when marching to the initial point. The men form on right (or left) into line and place their gabions in front of the tape and touching each other; each man then takes out his tools, places them behind the gabions, lies down, and awaits the command to commence work. The sapper sees that the gabions of his 50 yards are properly aligned and touch each other throughout.
Both the sappers and working parties are divided into reliefs, usually of eight hours. The sappers of the tracing parties superintend the work of the first relief of the working party, but are relieved long enough before them (½ hour to 1 hour) for the second relief to become acquainted with the details of its sections before the second relief of the working party arrives. A similar arrangement is made for the third relief.
EXECUTION OF PARALLELS AND APPROACHES.
17. Simple Trench.—A trench made by excavating the earth and forming a parapet without revetment of any kind is known as a “simple trench,” or as “simple trench-work.”
Flying sap or flying trench-work.—When, in order to obtain cover more quickly, gabions are used to hold the earth first excavated, and subsequently to serve as a revetment to the interior slope of the parapet, the trench is known as a “flying sap” or “flying trench-work.”