It is a standard rule that never from the time men enter the trenches until they go out, regardless of what they are doing, does their equipment come off, not even to lie down to sleep. During working periods which take the men to the trenches, their equipment and rifles must always be carried with them. PREPARATORY TO ENTERING TRENCHES Things to be taken note of before entering: (a) Check periscopes, wire cutters, field glasses, water carriers, stretchers, field dressings, emergency rations, smoke helmets, rifles, identity discs, sandbags, ammunition. (b) See that water bottles are filled. (c) Each officer to have an orderly. (d) Magazines to be charged and bayonets fixed and unfixed beforehand to insure proper working. When taking over the trenches, the first thing to be done is: (a) Ascertain position of officers’ dugouts. (b) Arrange telephones. (c) Check stores, tools, and reserve ammunition, and its position. (d) Obtain rough sketch of front and number of traverses to be manned. (e) See that entanglements in front of trenches are absolutely intact. (f) Arrange for water and ration parties and find out position of latrines. TAKING OVER TRENCHES On arrival each sentry is to have a periscope, the whole company to stand at arms, and each platoon to have its own ammunition reserve and all men know where this is. It is of the greatest importance that every detail and portion of trench taken over be known, and also the adjoining trenches as far as they affect the trenches held. Accurate sketches of the trench should be made, and periscopes, prismatic compasses and ruled notebooks are required. General scale is roughly ¼ inch to 10 yards. Drains must be watched and every effort made to keep trenches dry. When large trench mortar batteries of the enemy are active, men must be told off to watch for these bombs, as they are easily seen, and many casualties may be prevented by timely warning of their coming. The fire trenches should contain as few men as possible, and work should be done at night, the men resting by day. SNIPING Each company generally has specially selected men told off as snipers. Strict discipline is necessary. They are generally on duty by day and excused from night work, and it is the rule that they are either told off to a definite post or given what is known as a roving commission. These men must be expert in building loopholes of all kinds by day or night, use of telescopic sights, periscopes, etc., the selection and judging of good sniping positions, either for use in front or behind fire trenches; expert in judging distances, in aiming and trigger pressing, in laying fixed rifles for night firing, and in the fixing and laying of rifle batteries. PATROLS