Lieutenant J. R. Ferris

“ All the training that our men can possibly receive on the subjects of musketry, bomb throwing, etc., that fits them for trench warfare is practically lost unless they are thoroughly skilled in the use of the trench digging and cutting tools, in which they require as much training as in the use of the rifle. ”

“ To accomplish the desired results special attention should be given to the instruction and training that will enable a soldier to use intelligently the different kinds of material which may come to hand. For example, our men may be taught to repair a trench by the use of sandbags, sods and brushwood, but might not be able to obtain these materials. At the same time back of the lines there might be all kinds of bale wire, packing cases, cull lumber, etc., by means of which, with a little instruction, the same work of repairing the trench might be accomplished. ”

“ The Battalion Bombers’ Section, when complete, should consist of about 40 trained men, including N.C.O.’s, but the training of all men should be proceeded with so that ultimately every man in the battalion is qualified. When trained a thrower should be able, when standing in a trench behind one traverse, to place 75 per cent. of his bombs in a bay on the farther side of a traverse 30 yards away. To be an expert bomber, one must be fit. It is therefore necessary to take a certain amount of physical exercise each day while in training and when on active service. ”

“ The car containing explosives must be labelled as such in a conspicuous manner and must be hauled as near the middle of the train as possible, and must not be placed next to a car containing oil or inflammable material. A flying switch must not be taken with explosives. In case of a wreck every precaution must be taken to prevent fire. While most of the high explosives burn quietly when lighted in small quantities, and without causing disastrous explosions, it must be remembered that it is not a safe experiment. ”

“ Men should be taught the art of passing of orders and information correctly, by word of mouth. This is a very important part of the soldiers’ training, and should always be practised when the trench practices are being carried out ”

“ In arranging for transportation by rail or boat, the car or the boat, as the case may be, should be thoroughly examined and not entrusted to the dangerous load unless you are absolutely sure it is in good order. In unloading make sure that no vacant spaces occur between cases that would permit of shifting or friction, and should the entire floor of the car or boat be not occupied with the cases the load should be fenced or blocked in such a way as to prevent it shifting and ensure against friction. ”

“ Local conditions have much to do with the type of structure to be built for an explosives’ magazine. In general, it may be said that the lighter the construction the better. The laws of some countries require that all magazines be built of such material, and in such a manner, that in the event of an explosion the building will be completely disintegrated and no pieces thrown to any great distance. ”

“ This has given rise to the popular error that nitro-glycerine and other high explosives act downwards; as a matter of fact they act with equal force in all directions. It is evident, therefore, that the violence of an explosion depends upon three things, namely, the time occupied completing the reaction of the explosive body; the temperature produced by the reaction, upon which directly depends the expansive forces of the resultant gases ”

“ When our First Canadian Division went into the trenches, as also have many other reinforcing battalions, without a sufficient knowledge of bombs, the result was that many accidents occurred through carelessness and ignorance and lack of training in this important branch of work.
Practice in Making and Throwing of Dummy Bombs. In order that the men may become proficient in the matter of throwing live bombs it is necessary to have dummies which represent as nearly as possible in size, shape and weight the live manufactured types which are used in active service. ”

“ Explosives should be stored in tiers, box on box, with laths between to prevent dampness accumulating. No cases must be opened in the magazines, a separate building being provided at a safe distance for that purpose. Gunpowder and dynamites in unopened cases, and fuses securely boxed, may be stored in the same magazine, but no fulminates in the form of caps, or otherwise, or loose coils of fuse, should ever be stored in the same building with gunpowder and high explosives. ”

“ Trenches should not be made wider or deeper than is absolutely necessary, as the effect of high explosives in deep trenches is much more deadly than in shallow ones, and [30] the highest part of the parapet and parados should be next to the trench and sloping slightly from the trench, the idea being not to aid bombs in rolling into the trench. ”

“ In each bay of the trench it is necessary at all times to have one man on sentry and, as a rule, three men in relief, and it is very important that means be provided that the reliefs get the necessary rest and sleep. ”

“ It is impossible in a narrow trench to move from a standing position when throwing. The men in throwing practices should therefore be made to maintain a standing position.
Sandbags. It is necessary that all men engaged in trench fighting should be specially taught in the uses of sandbags and the methods of filling, tying and [27] passing them in the trench. The method of passing sandbags in a trench is as follows: The men place themselves from two to three paces apart with their backs in the direction to which they are passing the sandbags and pass them between their legs from one to another. ”

“ They finally decide the exact extent of front which will be occupied in each case by direct frontal attack. The extent of front in each case is never greater than is absolutely necessary, and is clearly defined in orders. Every officer taking a part in the assault is supplied with maps and sketches, which constitute part of his orders. ”

“ When handling detonators for grenades, it should be remembered that the detonator by itself is capable of blowing the hand off, so it must be carefully handled, and if an igniter is accidentally fired it should be thrown a few yards clear of any one in the neighborhood. ”

“ If the suddenness of the reaction is very great, disrupted action upon solid objects in contact with the body may be obtained even when it is unconfined, because the cohesion of these objects can be overcome more readily in an instant of time than the inertia of the surrounding air. ”

“ Owing to the high and pronounced trajectory we are able by the use of bombs to reach the enemy in his trench, whereas with rifle fire the only precaution necessary on the part of the enemy is to keep his head below the parapet, the trajectory of rifle fire being practically flat at point blank range. ”

“ In the latter case, sandbags will probably be required to double-block the communicating trench and information passed back to this effect so that supply men can rush them forward for that purpose.
It is necessary that the trench scout be a very wide-awake, careful and resourceful man, and have his wits about him at all times.
In the absence of an officer or N.C.O. in the enfilading party the thrower commands and is responsible that signals be given that the artillery know the exact extent of our frontage at all times. ”

“ Trench Comforts. A little study in the matter of personal comforts in the trenches will prove to be of great advantage to the men. The clothing should be tight fitting about the neck and waist to prevent falling earth and pebbles getting inside the clothing and working down into the boots. The men should be instructed to take a change of socks when they go in the trenches and it is also necessary not to forget to have a supply of smokes ”

“ The effective area of a light grenade is mainly local, 6 yards diameter, but when possible it should not be thrown less than 20 yards in the open, as stones, etc., thrown up by the explosion would be dangerous to the thrower. ”

“ Our troops are massed as near as possible to the front line in readiness for the assault. The supplies of ammunition and material are brought forward to as convenient a position as possible, to be taken into the new position at the first opportunity. ”

“ A groove is cut around the stick about 8” from the handle end, to which is wired three pieces of cotton about 11⁄2” x 24” long. These act as streamers and tend to keep the business end of the bomb forward in its flight.
Note: The idea of the explosive being used in the dummy bombs is to accustom the men to handling explosives, the lighting of fuses and gauging of the time required per inch for a service fuse to burn, at the same time not sacrificing distance and accuracy in throwing. ”

“ By this means the ground we gain is consolidated for our purposes as we advance. On the other hand, if we do not consolidate our position as we advance we are left more or less in a state of unpreparedness and give the enemy a chance to launch a counter-attack with good results. ”

“ The nitrates carry the oxygen which combines with the base, under favorable circumstances developing a large volume of gases at a high temperature, so that if the powder is confined at the time of explosion there will be produced an enormous disruptive effect. The standard composition of gunpowder is:—
It might be interesting to note that the charcoal employed for military and sporting powder is made from dog-wood, while for inferior grades of powder willow and alder are used. ”

“ It is insensible to pressure, percussion or friction, unless closely confined or firmly compressed. It burns with a flash, but without explosion if brought into contact with burning or incandescent bodies. Wet gun-cotton will not burn or explode. Its ignition temperature is 360 degrees F. Pure gun-cotton will undergo no spontaneous decomposition and is the safest explosive known. Although it will not explode when wet, it may be detonated in this condition by a Mercury Fulminate Detonator with a small initial charge of dry gun-cotton in contact with it.
Nitro-Glycerine. ”

“ When a grenade is taken from the belt, the streamer is unwound and allowed to hang free, and the safety pin is withdrawn immediately before throwing.
The grenade is grasped by the end of the handle and thrown in the required direction, care being taken that the streamer does not get entangled with the thrower. ”

“ In moving cases containing explosives great care should be taken that they are not placed on anything or in such a position that they might topple over or be knocked over, or placed in such a position that other objects might fall on them. ”

“ If he understands his work and the grenades, that is, when they are safe, he has nothing to fear, although he will find that some of his more ignorant pals may shun him when he goes about with his full complement, in fact, they will make way wherever he goes. ”

“ The two explosives of these classes which are generally known are gun-cotton and nitro-glycerine, with special preparations made from them, such as dynamite, blasting gelatine, etc.
Gun-Cotton. Gun-cotton is made by treating suitably prepared cotton with a mixture of one part by weight of nitric acid and three parts sulphuric acid. The immersion lasts 48 hours, the temperature being maintained at 60 deg. F. The cotton is then subjected to a thorough and prolonged washing, after which it is carried through various processes to prepare it for use. ”

“ The “LIGHT GRENADE” is entirely filled with explosive. Weight slightly over 1 lb.
The IGNITERS and DETONATORS, packed 10 in a tin and 40 in each packing case, consist of a friction igniter, a length of safety-fuse and a service detonator. The friction igniter consists of the holder to which is fixed a flange with two notches and two springs. It also has two horns, which form a grip for turning the igniter into the locked position. The friction bar is fixed to a button through which the firing loop passes. ”

“ They are given special privileges, given the best of billets and shorter hours in the trenches, which gives them plenty of time for exercise, and their favorite games, which keeps them in good condition. Drinking is not prohibited, but if a man expects to be able to keep cool and think and act quickly it is better to be [25] temperate. A bombers’ duties in the trenches are looked upon as most interesting and lack monotony. ”

“ Offers complete range of foreground with the narrowest possible width of trench.
(b) Cannot become effective zone from the fire of one bomb.
(c) A greater fighting area is possible in the same extent of frontage.
(d) When connected up to form line of trenches from which to make assault, takes the place of an island traverse and relieves congestion of traffic at junction of communicating trench and fire trench.
(e) More men can be employed in constructing same than in the T-shaped type.
[7] Bombers’ Training
LECTURE I. EXPLOSIVES. Working Knowledge. ”

“ By throwing from sapheads when destroying the enemy’s keeps and strong places.
(b) Supplying cover fire for wire cutters, sappers, etc.
(c) Assisting in a frontal attack on an enemy’s position.
(d) Following up advantages gained in a frontal attack by an enfilade attack to the [29] flanks and our front from position gained in enemy’s trenches.
Advantages of Bomb and Grenade Fire Over Rifle Fire. It must not be supposed that when advantages are claimed for bomb and grenade fire over rifle fire that the latter has not its advantages, too. ”