CAMPS
=1230. Principles governing selection of camp sites.= The following
basic principles govern in the selection of camp sites:
(a) The water supply should be sufficient, pure, and accessible.
(b) The ground should accommodate the command with as little crowding
as possible, be easily drained, and have no stagnant water within 300
yards.
(c) There should be good roads to the camp and good interior
communication.
(d) Camp sites should be so selected that troops of one unit need not
pass through the camp grounds of another to reach their own camp.
(e) Wood, grass, forage, and supplies must be at hand or obtainable.
(f) In campaign, tactical considerations come first in the selection
of camp sites, capability of defense being especially considered, and,
as a result, troops may have to camp many nights on objectionable
ground.
(g) However, sanitary considerations must always be given all the
weight possible consistent with the tactical requirements. Through no
fault of their own, troops occupying an unsanitary site may suffer
greater losses than in the battles of a long campaign.
=1231. Desirable camp sites.= The following conditions are desirable
for camp sites:
(a) Porous soil, covered with stout turf and underlaid by a sandy or
gravelly subsoil.
(b) High banks of rivers, provided no marshes are near.
(c) In cold weather, a southern exposure, with woods to the north to
break the cold winds.
(d) In warm weather, an exposure toward the prevailing winds, with
site moderately shaded by trees.
=1232. Undesirable camp sites.= The following conditions are
undesirable for camp sites:
(a) Clay soil, or where the ground water approaches the surface, such
sites being damp and unhealthful.
(b) Alluvial, marshy ground, and ground near the base of hills, or
near thick woods or dense vegetation are also damp.
(c) Ravines and depressions are likely to be unduly warm and to have
insufficient or undesirable currents.
(d) Proximity to marshes or stagnant water is usually damp, and has
mosquitoes, which transmit malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever.
(e) Old camp sites are dangerous, as they are often permeated by
elements of disease which persist for considerable periods.
(f) Dry beds of streams are subject to sudden freshets.
(g) In the tropics troops should not camp nearer than 500 yards to
native huts or villages because of danger from malarial infection.
=1233. Form and dimensions of camps.= The form and dimensions of camps
depend upon the tactical situation and the amount and nature of ground
available. However, in general, the form and dimensions of a
regimental or battalion camp should conform as nearly as practicable
to the diagram on the opposite page, and camps of all sizes should, as
far as possible, conform to the principles, regarding arrangement,
underlying the diagram given on the opposite page, which gives the
general form, dimensions, and interior arrangements of a camp for a
regiment of Infantry at war strength. In certain cases, particularly
in one-night halts in the presence of the enemy, camps must of
necessity be contracted, while in other cases, where a more extended
halt is contemplated and where tactical reasons will permit, better
camp sanitation may be secured, and a more comfortable arrangement
made by the expansion of camp areas.
=1234. Making camp.= The command should be preceded by the commanding
officer or a staff officer, who selects the camp site, and designates,
by planting stakes, the lines of tents, the positions of the sinks,
guard tent, kitchens, picket line, etc.
After the companies are marched to their proper positions and arms are
stacked, the details for guard and to bring wood, water, dig sinks,
pitch tents, handle rations, etc., should be made before ranks are
broken.
Immediately upon reaching camp and before the men are allowed to go
around, patrolling sentinels should be established to prevent men from
polluting the camp site or adjoining ground before the sinks are
constructed.
Sentinels should be posted over the water supply without delay.
As soon as the tents have been pitched and the sinks dug, the camp
should be inspected and all unnecessary sentinels relieved.
The tents should be pitched and the sinks dug simultaneously.
Should the troops reach camp before the wagons, the companies may be
divided into squads and set to work clearing the ground, gathering
fire wood, collecting leaves, grass, etc., for beds, etc.
The moment a command reaches camp its officers and men usually want to
go here and there under all sorts of pretexts. No one should be
allowed to leave camp until all necessary instructions have been
given.
Enlisted men should not be permitted to leave camp without permission
of their company commanders.
Sick call should be held as soon as practicable after the tents have
been pitched.
[Illustration: Fig. 1
CAMP OF A REGIMENT OF INFANTRY, WAR STRENGTH]
MISCELLANEOUS
=1235. Retreat.= In camp retreat formation should always be under
arms, an officer being present with each company and inspecting the
arms.
=1236. Parade ground.= In front of every camp of permanent nature,
there should be a parade ground for drills and ceremonies.
=1237. Camping on fordable stream.= In camping for the night on a
fordable stream that is to be crossed, cross before going into camp,
unless there is some tactical reason for not doing so; for a sudden
rise, or the appearance of the enemy, might prevent the crossing the
next morning.
=1238. Windstorms.= Whenever windstorms are expected, the tent pegs
should be secured and additional guy ropes attached to the tents.
Tents may be prevented from blowing down by being made fast at the
corners to posts firmly driven into the ground, or by passing ropes
over the ridge poles and fastening them to pegs firmly set into the
ground.
=1239. Making tent poles and pegs fast in loose soil.= If the soil be
loose or sandy, stones or other hard material should be placed under
the tent poles to prevent their working into the soil, thus leaving
the tent slack and unsteady. When the soil is so loose that the pegs
will not hold at all, fasten the guy ropes to brush, wood or rocks
buried in the ground.
=1240. Trees sometimes dangerous.= While trees add very much to the
comfort of a camp, care should be exercised not to pitch tents near
trees whose branches or trunks might fall.