Manual of Military Training by James A. Moss (best value ebook reader .TXT) π
PART V
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.
* CHAPTER II. =PERSONAL HYGIENE=--Keep the Skin Clean-- 1470-1477 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.
* CHAPTER III. =FIRST AID TO THE SICK AND INJURED= 1478-1522 --Objectof Teaching First Aid--Asphyxiation by Gas-- Bite of Dog--Bite of Snake--Bleeding-
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If any one of the sides of the triangle is longer than one-half inch, the exercise is repeated, each sight being verified by the instructor, who will call the soldier's attention to his errors, if any.
The smaller the triangle, the better the sighting.
1360. Verifying the triangle. If the sides of the triangle are so small that they indicate regularity in sighting, mark the center of the triangle and then place the center of the bull's-eye on this mark. The instructor then examines the position of the bull's-eye with reference to the line of sight. If the bull's-eye is properly placed with reference to the line of sight, the soldier aims correctly and with uniformity.
If the bull's-eye is not properly placed with reference to the line of sight, the soldier aims in a regular manner but with a constant error.
1361. Causes of errors. If the bull's-eye is directly above its proper position, the soldier has aimed high,βthat is, he has taken too little front sight.
If the bull's-eye is directly below its proper position, the soldier has aimed low,βthat is, he has taken too much front sight.
If the bull's-eye is directly to the right or left of its proper position, the soldier has not sighted through the center of the rear notch and over the top of the front sight. If to the right, the soldier has either sighted along the left of the rear sight notch or the right side of the front sight, or has committed both of these errors.
If the bull's-eye is to the left of its proper place, the soldier has probably-sighted along the right of the rear sight notch, or to the left of the front sight, or has committed both of these errors.
If the bull's eye is diagonally above and to the right, the soldier has probably combined the errors which placed it too high and too far to the right.
Any other diagonal position would be produced by a similar combination of vertical and horizontal errors.
After the above instruction has been given to one man, the line of sight will be slightly changed by moving the sighting rest or by changing the elevation and windage, and the exercises similarly repeated with other men.
Repeat the exercise, using the peep sight.
Third Sighting Exercise1362. This exercise shows the effect of canting the piece.
It is most important that in aiming the sights be kept vertical and the piece not be canted,βthat is, that the barrel be not tilted over to the right or left.
If the piece is canted to the right, the sights are lowered to the right and consequently the bullet will strike to the right and below the point aimed at, even though the rifle be otherwise correctly aimed and the sights correctly set.
Similarly if the piece is canted to the left the sights are lowered to the left, and consequently the bullet will strike to the left and low.
This effect of canting the piece may be shown as follows: Use the sighting rest with the rifle firmly held in the notches, the bolt removed.
Paste a black paster near the center of the bottom line of the target. Sight the rifle on this mark, using about 2000 yards' elevation. Then, being careful not to move the rifle, look through the bore and direct the marker to move the disk until the bull's-eye is in the center of the field of view and command, "Mark."
Next, turn the rest (with the rifle) over 90Β° to the right, on its side, and with the same elevation, sight on the same paster as above. Then, being careful not to move the rifle, look through the bore and again direct the marker to move the disk until the bull's-eye is in the center of the field of view and command, "Mark."
Not considering the fall of the bullet, the first mark represents the point struck with the sight vertical, the second mark represents the point struck, low and to the right, using the same elevation and the same point of aim, when the piece is canted 90Β° to the right.
Different degrees of canting the piece can be represented by drawing an arc of a circle through the two marks with the paster as a center. The second mark will be at a point on this arc corresponding to the degree of canting the piece.
It is important to know that this effect of canting increases with the distance from the target.
Fourth Sighting Exercise1363. This exercise is to show the advantage of blackened sights.
In strong sunlight, make a triangle of sighting, using a rifle having sights worn bright. Then, being careful not to move the rifle, blacken the sights and make another triangle.
Use dotted lines for the triangle with bright sights and full lines for the triangle made with blackened sights.
The position and size of the two triangles will plainly show the advantage of using blackened sights.
Fifth Sighting Exercise1364. This exercise is to illustrate the importance of knowing the effects of varying degrees of light.
In strong sunlight make a triangle of sighting. Then, being careful not to move the piece, make another triangle, the target and the man sighting having first been shaded.
The relative positions of the triangles will show the importance of knowing the effects of varying degrees of light.
Position and Aiming Drills1365. Object. The object of the position and aiming drills are:
1. To so educate the muscles of the arm and body that the piece, during the act of aiming, shall be held without restraint, and during the operation of firing shall not be deflected from the target by any convulsive or improper movement of the trigger finger or of the body, arms, or hands.
2. They also establish between the hand and eye such prompt and intimate connection as will insure that the finger shall act upon the trigger, giving the final pressure at the exact moment when the top of the front sight is seen to be directed upon the mark.
3. If at the moment the piece is discharged, it is properly supported and correctly aimed, the mark will surely be hit.
Since any fairly intelligent man can be taught to aim correctly and to hold the sights aligned upon the mark with a fair amount of steadiness, it follows that bad shooting must necessarily arise from causes other than bad aiming. The chief of these causes is known to be the deflection given to the rifle when it is discharged, due to the fact that the soldier, at the moment of firing, instead of SQUEEZING the trigger, jerks it. This convulsive action is largely due to lack of familiarity with the methods of firing and to a constrained position of the muscles of the body, arm, and hands, which constrained position it is the object of the position and aiming drills to correct.
1366. General. In order to correct any tendency to cant the piece, the rear sight is raised in all the exercises.
Place a black paster at which to aim on the wall opposite each man.
The squad being formed in single rank, with an interval of one yard between files, the instructor directs the men to take the position of "Ready," except that the position of the feet is such as to insure the greatest firmness and steadiness of the body.
The instructor then cautions, "Position and aiming drill."
The exercise which is being taught should be repeated frequently and made continuous. The instructor prefaces the preparatory command by, "Continue the motion," or "At will," and gives the command "Halt" at the conclusion of the exercise, when the soldier returns to the position of "Ready." Or the soldier may be made to repeat the first and second motions by the command "One," "Two," the exercise concluding with the command "Halt."
Care must be taken by the instructor not to make the position and aiming drills tedious. Thirty minutes daily should be spent in this practice during the period of preliminary instruction. After gallery practice is taken up, however, five or ten minutes daily should be sufficient for these exercises.
In order that the instructor may readily detect and correct errors the squads for these drills should not consist of more than eight men.
The instructor should avoid holding the squad in tiresome positions while making explanations or corrections.
Position Exercise1367. The instructor commands: 1. Position, 2. EXERCISE. At the command, "Exercise" without moving the body or eyes, raise the rifle smartly to the front of the right shoulder to the full extent of the left arm, elbow inclined downward, the barrel nearly horizontal, muzzle slightly depressed, heel of the butt on a line with the top of the shoulder. (Fig. 28.)
(Two.) Bring the piece smartly against the hollow of the shoulder, without permitting the shoulder to give way, and press the rifle against it, mainly with the right hand, only slightly with the left, the forefinger of the right hand resting lightly against the trigger, the rifle inclined neither to the right nor left.
(Three.) Resume the position of ready. (Fig. 30.)
Remarks. The instructor should especially notice the position of each soldier in this exercise, endeavoring to give to each man an easy and natural position. He should see that the men avoid drawing in the stomach, raising the breast, or bending the small of the back. The butt of the piece must be pressed firmly, but not too tightly, into the hollow of the shoulder and not against the muscles of the upper arm. If held too tightly, the pulsations of the body will be communicated to the piece; if too loosely, the recoil will bruise the shoulder. If only the heel or toe touches the hollow of the shoulder, the recoil may throw the muzzle down or up, affecting the position of the hit. While both arms are used to press the piece to the shoulder, the left arm should be used to direct the piece and the right forefinger must be left free to squeeze the trigger.
Aiming Exercise1368. The instructor will first direct the sights to be adjusted for the lowest elevation and subsequently for the different longer ranges.
The instructor commands: 1. Aiming. 2. EXERCISE. At the last command execute the first and second motion of the position exercise.
(Two.) Bend the head a little to the right, the cheek resting against the stock, the left eye closed, the right eye looking through the notch of the rear sight at a point slightly below the mark. (Fig. 31.)
(Three.) Draw a moderately long breath, let a portion of it escape, then, with the lungs in a state of rest, slowly raise the rifle with the left hand, being careful not to incline the sight to either side, until the line of sight is directly on the mark; hold the rifle steadily directed on the mark for a moment; then, without command and just before the power to hold the rifle steadily is lost, drop the rifle to the position of "Ready" and resume the breathing.
1369. Remarks. Some riflemen prefer to extend the left arm. Such a position gives greater control over the rifle when firing in a strong wind or at moving objects. It also possesses advantages when a rapid as well as accurate delivery of fire is desired. Whatever the position, whether standing, kneeling, sitting, or prone, the piece should rest on the palm of the left hand, never on the tips of the fingers, and should be firmly grasped by all the fingers and the thumb.
The eye may be brought to the line of sight either by lowering the head or by raising the shoulder; it is best to combine somewhat these methods; the shoulder
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