Attack of Fortified Places. Including Siege-works, Mining, and Demolitions.: Prepared for the use of the Cadets of the United States Military AcademyMercur, James
History
Attack of Fortified Places. Including Siege-works, Mining, and Demolitions.: Prepared for the use of the Cadets of the United States Military Academy
Mercur, James
Defensive (Military science); Military engineering; Offensive (Military science); Siege warfare
=114.= In our service a company will usually have a camp-cooking
outfit sufficient for its needs, and generally of good pattern; but
these are not always on hand when needed, and small detachments are
frequently deprived of them for days or weeks. In ordinary soil,
kitchens, and in a clay soil ovens, can be constructed, which, with a
few kettles and cans, will enable the men to prepare for themselves
fairly good meals without unnecessary waste of fuel. A few of these are
figured in Pls. IX, X, Figs. 96-103. The banks of the trench shown in
Fig. 96 afford support for cross-bars, and protect the fire from the
wind. The type shown in Figs. 97, 102, 103 take the place of a stove,
require but little fuel, and secure a steady heat. To obtain a good
draught they should be so built that the wind blows toward the chimney.
For this purpose they may radiate from a central chimney. (The flues
of those not in use may be temporarily stopped up with sods.) The arch
of the oven shown in Pl. X, Fgs. 98-101, may be built over a piece of
sheet iron if it can be obtained; if not, over a hurdle well smeared
with clay. A slow fire will, under favorable conditions, dry and bake
the clay arch so that it will stand after the brushwood of the hurdle
is burned out. They may then be heated and used for baking.
LATRINES, SINKS, ETC.
=115.= Latrines and sinks for the reception of garbage, etc.,
are objects of the greatest importance in all camps, temporary or
permanent; and, unless properly made and cared for, they speedily make
their presence known, and become a most prolific source of discomfort
and disease.
For permanent camps liable to be occupied for a long time special
arrangements for the disinfection, removal, and destruction of garbage
and excreta must be made. For temporary camps it will suffice to
provide pits with suitable conveniences and screens; covering with a
thin layer of the excavated earth all deposited garbage and excreta
before they become offensive. When, as is sometimes the case, these
pits cannot be kept free from water, it may be necessary to use in
addition lime, copperas, carbolic acid, or other chemical disinfectants
and deodorizers.
The ordinary constructions used in temporary camps are shown in Pl.
X, Figs. 104-107. Separate latrines for officers are constructed and
screened. The seat shown in Fig. 107, when one can be obtained, adds
much to their comfort.
In more permanent camps the latrines may be roofed and screened with
canvas or boards, and board seats be provided for the men. Uninclosed
sinks and latrines should have earthen banks all around them, to
indicate their position and to prevent men walking into them at night.
Upon abandoning a camp all sinks and latrines are to be disinfected and
filled up.
WATER-SUPPLY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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