The most important factor in the care of the feet and the marching ability of the soldier is the shoe. Civilian shoes, particularly light, patent leather, or low shoes, are sure to cause injury and in time will ruin a man"s foot. Only the marching shoe issued by the Quartermaster Corps should be worn, and they must be properly fitted to the individual. It will not suffice to order a marching shoe of the same size as one"s ordinary civilian shoes, for it must be remembered that a soldier may have to march many miles daily over rough roads and carrying a heavy pack. The pack itself causes the foot to spread out to a larger size, and the rough roads give so much exercise to the muscles of the feet that they swell greatly through the increased blood supply. (For directions as to measuring the foot for the marching shoe, see General Order No. 26, War Department, 1912, a copy of which should be on hand in each company.)
Do not start out on a march wearing new shoes. This is a frequent cause of sore feet. New shoes should be properly broken in before beginning a march by wearing them for several hours daily for a week before the march, and they should be adapted to the contours of the feet by stretching them with shoe stretchers with adjustable k.n.o.bs to take the pressure off painful corns and bunions. Such stretchers are issued by the Quartermaster Corps, and there should be one or more pair in every company of infantry. Should this be impracticable, then the following is suggested:
The soldier stands in his new shoes in about 2-1/2 inches of water for about five minutes until the leather is thoroughly pliable and moist; he should then walk for about an hour on a level surface, letting the shoes dry on his feet, to the irregularities of which the leather is thus molded in the same way as it was previously molded over the shoe last. On taking the shoes off a very little neat"s-foot oil should be rubbed into the leather to prevent its hardening and cracking.
If it is desired to waterproof shoes at any time, a considerable amount of neat"s-foot oil should be rubbed into the leather.
Waterproof leather causes the feet of some men to perspire unduly and keeps them constantly soft.
Light woolen or heavy woolen socks will habitually be worn for marching. Cotton socks will not be worn unless specifically ordered by the surgeon. The socks will be large enough to permit free movement of the toes, but not so loose as to permit of wrinkling. Darned socks, or socks with holes in them, will not be worn in marching.
Until the feet have hardened they should be dusted with foot powder, which can be obtained at the regimental infirmary, before each day"s march. Clean socks should be worn daily.
As soon as possible after reaching camp after a day of marching the feet should be washed with soap and water, and the soldier should put on a dry pair of socks and his extra pair of shoes from his surplus kit. If the skin is tender, or the feet perspire, wash with warm salt water or alum water, but do not soak the feet a long time, as this, although very comforting at the time, tends to keep them soft. Should blisters appear on the feet, p.r.i.c.k and evacuate them by p.r.i.c.king at the lower edge with a pin which has been pa.s.sed through the flame of a match and cover them with zinc oxide plaster applied hot. This plaster can be obtained on request at the regimental infirmary. If serious abrasions appear on the feet, or corns, bunions, and ingrowing nails cause trouble, have your name placed on sick report and apply to the surgeon for treatment. Cut the toenails square (fairly close in the middle, but leaving the sides somewhat longer), as this prevents ingrowing nails.
CHAPTER V.
EXTRACTS FROM CAVALRY DRILL REGULATIONS.
UNITED STATES ARMY, 1916.
=Section 1. Definitions.=
=Alignment.=--The placing of several troopers or units on the same straight line; also the line on which such adjustment is made.
=a.s.sembly.=--The grouping =in order=, and in a close-order formation, of the elements of a command. The special arrangement and condition that const.i.tute =order= for each unit are explained in the corresponding part of the text. The purpose of the a.s.sembly is to bring about a close-order formation in order.
=Base.=--The element on which a formation or movement is regulated.
The base may be a trooper, two, four, section, platoon, or larger unit. When the base is a single trooper in ranks, he may also be termed the =guide=.
=Center.=--The middle point or element of a command. If the number of elements considered be even, the right center element will be meant when the center element is referred to.
=Column.=--A formation in which the elements of a command are placed one behind the other. The elements here referred to may be troopers, twos, fours, sections, platoons, or larger units. When used in these regulations as a =word of command=, without qualifying words indicating the kind of column (as =of twos=, =of platoons=, etc.), =column= signifies =a column of fours=. In all other cases the word is to be understood in its general sense unless the context indicates the contrary.
=Deployment.=--An evolution in which the command extends its front, as in forming line from column or in pa.s.sing from close order to extended order.
=Depth.=--The s.p.a.ce from front to rear of any formation, including the front and rear elements.
=Directing leader.=--The leader of a subordinate unit who temporarily conducts the march when the commander is not leading in person. A trooper in the rank of a platoon or smaller unit who similarly conducts the march is termed =a directing guide=.
=Direction of march.=--The direction in which the base of the command in question, whether actually in march or halted, is facing at the instant considered.
=Disposition.=--The distribution of the elements of a command, and the formations and duties a.s.signed to each for the accomplishment of a common purpose.
=Distance.=--The s.p.a.ce between men or bodies of troops measured in the direction of depth. Distance is measured--mounted, from the croup of the horse in front to the head of the horse in rear; dismounted, from the back of the trooper in front to the breast of the trooper in rear.
=Dress.=--The act of taking a correct alignment.
=Drill.=--The exercises and evolutions, taught on the drill ground and executed in accordance with definitely prescribed methods.
=Echelon.=--A body of troops is in _echelon_ with reference to another when it is more advanced or less advanced and unmasks or uncovers the other body, wholly or in part; units thus placed are called _echelons_.
=Element.=--One of the component subdivisions of a command. As used in these regulations the term _element_ is a general one and may mean a single trooper, a set of twos, a four, section, platoon, or larger unit, according to the command and formation that are being considered. The expression =elements of the column= refers to the several troopers, fours, platoons, or other units that are placed successively, one behind another, in any column formation.
=Evolutions.=--Movements by which a command changes its position or pa.s.ses from one formation to another.
=File closers.=--Officers or noncommissioned officers placed out of ranks, whose duty it is to supervise the men in ranks and see that the orders of the commander are carried out. For convenience, this term is applied to any man posted as a file closer.
=Flank.=--The right or left of a command in line or column. In speaking of the enemy the term right flank or left flank is used to designate the flank that would be so designated by him.
=Flank guard.=--An element of a command disposed with a view to protecting a flank.
=Foragers.=--Mounted troopers distributed in line in extended order; also the formation in which the troopers are so distributed.
=Formation.=--The arrangement of the elements of a command in line, column, or echelon.
=Gait.=--One of the special movements of the horse, as the walk, the trot, or the gallop.
=Gait of march.=--The gait at which the base of the command in question is moving at the instant considered.
=Horse length.=--A term of measurement. For convenience in estimating s.p.a.ce, a horse length is considered as 3 yards; by actual measure it is about 8 feet.
=Interval.=--The lateral s.p.a.ce between the elements or fractions of a command. Interval is measured: Mounted, from the left knee of the man at the right of the open s.p.a.ce to the right knee of the man at the left of the open s.p.a.ce; dismounted, interval is measured on similar principles, but from elbow to elbow.
=Line.=--A formation in which the different elements are abreast of each other. When the elements are in column the formation is called a line of columns.
=Maneuvers.=--Operations against an outlined or actual force under a separate commander, who, within the limits of the a.s.sumed situation, is free to adopt any formations and make any movements he chooses.
=Order.=--An indication of the will of the commander in whatever form conveyed. An order may be given orally, by signal, or in any manner that is intelligible to those for whom it is intended. The expression, =in order=, has no reference to this definition, but is used to indicate a special arrangement and condition of the elements of a command.
=Order, close.=--This includes formations in which the intervals and distances between elements are habitually based upon those required for forming the normal line formation of each unit of the formation.
=Order, extended.=--The formation in which the troopers, or the subdivisions, or both, are separated by intervals or distances greater than in close order.
=Pace.=--Used with reference to gait, pace signifies the rate of speed of the gait. Used as a unit of measure, pace signifies a step of 30 inches.
=Patrol.=--A group detached from a command and operating with specific mission, usually related to security or information. The term is ordinarily applied to groups varying in size from two men to a platoon. They are frequently designated by special names connected with their princ.i.p.al mission or their composition; as, =reconnoitering patrols=, =combat patrols=, =visiting patrols=, =officer"s patrols=.
=Ployment.=--An evolution in which the command diminishes its front, as in pa.s.sing from line to column, or from extended order to close order.
=Rally.=--The rapid grouping behind the leader of the elements of a command, without reference to their previous situation or formation.
The object of the rally is to reestablish cohesion with a view to immediate action, or to form line in a new direction when the regular method of forming line would be slow or complicated. It is executed in the order of arrival of the elements of the command without regard to their normal order. The formation in which each unit is rallied is fixed in the drill instructions of that unit.
=Rank.=--Two or more troopers placed side by side.