TIPS FOR RECRUITS
The four best friends of the fighting man are: (1) His rifle; (2) the
entrenching tool; (3) the oil sheet; (4) small box respirator (gas
mask).
The best thing to do with your rifle is to get an old sock, cut about
eight inches from the top part and pull it over the rifle muzzle on
to the breech. That will prevent the wet clay from interfering with
the working of the bolt. Your entrenching tool is invaluable, for when
you have gained a position at night your first duty is to entrench. If
you have not got the tool, you would at dawn be caught by the Huns and
probably hit.
Your oil sheet is your bed on the damp earth and your umbrella on the
march. If your "funk hole" is dry, wrap the sheet tight round your
boots. It will help to keep the frost out of your feet. In these days
of Hun frightfulness the necessity of the gas mask is obvious.
When beginning the attack, take a rough survey of your direct front,
and you will have as you advance the different knolls, hedges, ditches,
etc., impressed on your mind. You may be two yards or so away from
cover when a shell comes screaming towards you. Then you will find you
have time to take cover before it bursts. If there is no cover near,
drop flat down, and trust to providence.
Never go back from the enemy shell fire, always go forward. The enemy
usually fire six shells and each shot goes further behind you. So by
meeting the first shell you can laugh at the other five.
Always try, if possible, to avoid woods, trees and farmhouses. The
Germans search them with shell fire. You can tell to fifty yards where
the German shells will drop. If you have the misfortune to be hit, make
for the nearest cover, and get your comrades to bind your wound. Don't
stop to go back to get it dressed, or you will possibly get another
wound. Just lie on your cover and wait until the fire slackens.
When you go into a trench for the first time, examine thoroughly the
height of the cover in front and don't walk upright if the trench does
not protect your head. Lower yourself along the passageway, and rise
where you will stand at your loophole.
Take with you a linen bag, about half the size of a pillow-slip, with a
loop at the end. It will keep your food clean and is much better than
putting it in a dirty haversack.
_Shoot to kill._ When you go to France, please remember you are not
going there to be killed. You are going there to kill your enemy, so
try and get some lead home. I am sure that will please you. Don't shoot
at nothing. Shoot to hit.
One shot well aimed is worth more than a million sent to the sky. The
Germans are simply "fed up," and are sick of the fighting. Their
officers drive them to the attack with revolvers. We are led by
our officers and many of us go with our own free will to fight the
murderers of peaceful people and to secure the future safety of the
world for democracy. So forward, boys!
One wonders, when one sees a German face to face, is this really one of
those devils who wrought such devastation? For devastation they surely
have wrought. You can hardly believe it, for he seems much the same as
other soldiers. I can assure you that there is none of that insensate
hatred that one hears about out here. We are out to kill. And kill we
do, at any and every opportunity. But, when all is done and the battle
is over the splendid, universal "soldier spirit" comes all over the
men, and we cannot help thinking that Kipling must have been in the
firing line when he wrote that "East is East and West is West."
Just to give you some idea of what I mean, the other night four German
snipers were shot on our wire. The next night our men went out and
brought one in who was near and get-at-able and buried him. They did
it with just the same reverence and sadness as they do to our own dear
fellows.
I went to look at the grave the next morning and one of the most
uncouth men in my company had placed a cross at the head of the grave
and had written on it:
"Here lies a German
We don't know his name,
He died bravely fighting,
For his Fatherland."
And under that "_Got-mitt-uns_" (sic)--that being the highest effort of
all the men at German. Not bad for a blood-thirsty Briton? Really that
shows the spirit.
When a soldier is in the trenches, he anxiously awaits news from home.
If the people at home do not hear from them at regular intervals, do
not let this stop them from writing bright and cheerful letters. There
may be reasons why his letters do not reach you regularly. Parcels
containing chocolates and cigarettes are always acceptable and as
American soldiers like chewing gum, this should also be sent. Light
silk or cotton underwear is preferable to the woollen, which harbours
the vermin.
Camphor balls placed in a small bag and worn on the chest and back are
a preventative to the vermin. They may not keep the vermin away, but
this prevents them from worrying you, as it seems to chloroform them.
When a man is killed, if it is at all possible, he is given a proper
military burial. A record and number of the grave is kept. Men are
specially detailed under the Senior Military Chaplain to place
little white crosses which show the number and name of the man, his
religion, and date he was killed. This record is kept by the Senior
Burial Officer of the corps. If anyone wishes to obtain a photograph
of the deceased soldier's grave, they can get same on application to
the Senior Burial Officer of whatever corps the soldier was in. The
graves are as a rule decorated with flowers by the Nursing Sisters, who
frequently go to visit these pretty little burial grounds.
Always carry a stout leather shoelace. In case of an artery's being
cut, your comrade or yourself can use it as a tourniquet.
Fifty per cent of our troops do not think of carrying a lace. They
trust to providence.
Don't make a noise. Quietness is essential. The enemy is continually
throwing up rockets, which enables him to see clearly for a distance
of half a mile. When that happens you must at once get down on your
stomach as flat as possible. Don't look for a clean spot, drop in water
if it is there. If you get a kick from your comrade or you have a nasty
fall, don't start to use choice language. If you do, you place your
life and that of your comrade in jeopardy.
This is what always happens. The Germans open a bombardment on your
front and support trenches. Then there is a lull for a moment. They
probably think that you are annihilated, but you are not. You are
still smiling. Then their trumpets sound a charge and they come on in
heaps with a poor half-hearted cheer.
You must now think of the women and children of Belgium. Think also
what would happen to your own if the drunken Germans had them in their
grasp. That is the time you come in. Just keep cool, calm, collected,
and let your rounds sing merrily about three feet from the ground. You
will find the crowds in front of you--or part of them--will go back
again all right, sadder, and maybe wiser men.
Remember you are dealing with a scientific, brave, alert and most
treacherous foe, who will try to destroy you by fair means or foul, so
it is up to you to beat him and get your lead home first. Always be on
the alert and when exhausted never despair. There is no need for it.
Keep on smiling.