Captain Hanguillart's book should be carefully compared with these. But because of its peculiar origin it has for the officer a value not possessed by other books on this subject. It gives what a company commander =actually found essential=. Furthermore, it corresponds to the booklets published in France which are placed in the hands of every recruit. Every officer should have full knowledge of his specialty, but =every private= should understand the essential concerns of his officers so as to appreciate orders the more readily. The army of democracy should be an intelligent thinking army. Such little books have helped to give the French poilu his famed self-reliance and resourcefulness. It is the hope of the publishers that this translation may help to do the same for his American comrades. The publishers also believe that the book offers just the information needed by civilians to follow intelligently reports of military operations and of life at the front. The editor has felt it his duty in rearranging the loose notes of Captain Hanguillart to respect scrupulously the text, though, at times, the best way to do so was through a free translation. The paragraphs have been numbered and questions and diagrams added to facilitate assimilation. Cambridge, Mass. L.J.A.M. FOOTNOTE: [A] Cf Chapuis. _Instruction théorique et générale du soldat pour la période de guerre._ 27e édition, January 1917. Part I. Trench Life and Trench Warfare. TRENCH LIFE AND TRENCH WARFARE. TAKING OVER THE TRENCHES. 1.--Leaving Billets. The battalions of a Brigade occupying a given sector of the front are billeted when out of the trenches, in the villages closest to their sector. Cf. appendix. When their turn comes to relieve the battalions in the trenches, the officers in charge should have the following instructions carried out: 2.--On the day before the relief make sure: That the rifles, bayonets, etc., are in good condition. That the ammunition and reserve rations are supplied. That the equipment of every man is complete. That all officers and N.C.O.'s watches are set to division time. 3.--On the day of the relief, one hour before departure: Have rifles stacked and equipment laid out outside the billets. Make sure that nothing is left behind, that premises are cleaned, all rubbish burnt, and latrines filled. Have rifles loaded and with the safety lock turned to the safe. Assign an energetic N. C. O. to act as file closer of each platoon to prevent straggling. Call the roll and have it duly forwarded to the company commander. 4.--On the way to the trenches: If under fire, have units march at proper intervals (Cf. par. 117ff.) Adopt marching order best suitable to avoid blocking the road. At night do not allow smoking. Exact silence when nearing the trenches.