37. Change deflection.-Thrust the hand out horizontally, to the full extent of the arm, in the direction in which the change in deflection is to be made, beginning the thrust at the shoulder with the palm side of the hand down. For the 37-mm. gun, each thrust, with the fist closed, signifies 1 mil; with the hand open, 5 mils. For the 3-inch trench mortar, each thrust, with the fist closed, signifies one half turn of the traversing handle; with the hand open, one complete turn of the traversing handle.

38. Echelon formation.-See paragraph 32.

39. Fire (so many) rounds.-Extend the arm toward the gunner for whom the signal is intended, with the hand raised and the palm toward him; expose the fingers to indicate the number of rounds to be fired, one finger for one round, two fingers for two rounds, and so on.

40. Increase (decrease) the range.-Thrust the fist upward vertically from the shoulder to the full extent of the arm once for each increase of 25 yards; thrust it downward vertically in the same manner for each decrease of 25 yards.

41. Off carts. See paragraph 33.

42. On carts. See paragraph 34.

43. Out of action. See paragraph 35.

44. Traversing fire.-Extend the arm and hand, fully, to the front, palm of the hand to the right (left); move them upward and downward with a chopping motion, at the same time swinging the arm to the right (left) in the direction it is desired to distribute the fire.

Section VII

ARM-AND-HAND SIGNALS FOR SERVICE COMPANIES
(TRANSPORTATION).

45. Execution of transportation signals.-The signals for transportation formations and movements consist of two parts-a preparatory signal and a signal of execution. The preparatory signal is the part designating the formation or movement; the signal of execution is the return of the hand to the side. When applicable, these signals may be used by the other companies having transportation.

46. Attention.-Extend the hand upward vertically to the full extent of the arm, palm to the front, and move the arm and hand slowly back and forth several times from right to left, left to right, in a vertical plane.

47. Forward, march.-See paragraph 9.

48. Halt. See paragraph 10.

49. Change direction, march.—See paragraph 14.

50. Right (left) by section, march.-Point to the right (left) section with the arm fully extended, palm of the hand down, and signal Forward march.

51. Sections column right (left), march.—Signal a change of direction to the right (left); then describe several small vertical circles with the hand while the arm is fully extended to the right (left).

52. Right (left) into line, march.-Signal Sections column right (left), march.

53. Right (left) front into line, march.-Describe several large vertical circles on the right (left) side of the body with the arm and hand fully extended.

Section VIII

SPECIAL SIGNALS FOR SCOUTS, OBSERVERS, AND PATROLS.

54. Dangerous locality.-Signal Double time march and point in the direction of the probable hostile position. This signal will indicate to the leader that the area where the scout then is is considered dangerous ground and should be avoided or passed over quickly.

55. Enemy in sight in small numbers.-Hold the weapon horizontally above the head with the arm or arms extended as if guarding the head.

56. Enemy in sight in large numbers.-Hold the weapon as explained in paragraph 55; lower and raise it several times by flexing the arm or arms at the elbow. 57. More time needed for reconnaissance. Signal Halt. The signal will indicate to the leader that the scout needs more time for reconnaissance. The leader acts as he deems necessary.

58. Attention.-Display a red flag from any opening in tank and hold it stationary with the pole vertical.

59. Column.-Display a red flag from any opening in tank and move it up and down with the pole vertical.

60. Disregard my movements.-Display a yellow flag in any position.

61. Do as I do.-Display a red and a blue flag at the same time (given by the leader).

62. Form line.-Display a red flag from any opening in tank and wave it from right to left, left to right, in a vertical plane.

63. Mission accomplished.-Display a blue flag in any position.

64. To deploy or assemble when deployed.-Display a blue and a yellow flag at the same time.

VII. Effect of wind-Sight changes-Use of the score book..

41-52

VIII. Fifth step-Examination of men before starting range practice... 53–54

1. Object of instruction.-a. Military rifle training is divided into two parts, "rifle marksmanship," in which the men are taught, individually, to be good shots, and "musketry," in which they learn to act as a team under the leadership of the squad, section, and platoon leaders to obtain the maximum fire effect on an enemy. b. Rifle marksmanship and musketry are inseparably related. Neither one alone will win battles without undue losses. In all training on the rifle range it must be borne in mind that the ultimate object is to make a team whose accurate fire can be controlled, directed, and distributed in battle by a leader.

c. This chapter deals only with rifle marksmanship.

2. Basis of instruction.-a. Rifle firing is a mechanical operation which anyone who is physically and mentally fit to be a soldier can learn to do well if properly instructed. The methods of instruction are the same as those used in teaching any mechanical operation. The soldier is taught the various steps in their proper order. He is carefully watched and is corrected whenever he starts to make a mistake.

b. Men instinctively do the wrong thing in firing the rifle. They give the trigger a sudden pressure, which is the cause of flinching. Consequently, men can not be taught to shoot by placing them alone on the firing line with ammunition to expend and targets at which to shoot in front of them. The idea that mere practice will

ultimately make them perfect is wrong. Such procedure merely fixes the instinctive bad habits in the average man and makes it extremely difficult for anyone to teach him to shoot, even with the proper methods. If he has, however, been thoroughly instructed and drilled in the mechanism of correct shooting, and is then carefully and properly coached when he begins firing, the correct shooting habits rapidly become fixed and replace the instinctive incorrect habits that he would have developed if left alone.

c. It is much easier to make an excellent shot out of a man who has never fired a rifle than it is to correct the errors of a man who has done a good deal of shooting under improper supervision.

3. Methods of instruction.-a. Phases.-Rifle instruction is divided into two phases, "preparatory exercises" and "range firing." Practically everything is included under the heading of "preparatory exercises," because this is the period of training during which the man learns everything necessary to become a good shot. When he goes on the range he will be able to shoot well if he applies that which he has learned previously. If he has been properly instructed he will put into practice all the points laid down in the preparatory exercises, with the one possible exception of trigger squeeze, the most important of all. Trigger-squeeze errors must be looked for and corrected at the very beginning of the firing before they become fixed habits.

(1) The preparatory exercises have a twofold purpose: First, to teach the man the correct way to do each of the essentials; second, to drill him in the correct method of doing these essentials until they become fixed habits.

(a) The preparatory exercises constitute five distinct steps and should be given in a concentrated period of time—

1. Sighting and aiming exercises.

2. Position exercises.

3. Trigger-squeeze exercise.

4. Rapid-fire exercises.

5. Examination of men before starting range practice.

(b) In addition, the following subjects will be taken up during the preparatory period: Definitions, nomenclature, care of rifle, effect of wind, use of score book, and sight changing. These items do not pertain particularly to any one step, but will be taken up before the examination. As a rule, the time spent indoors during inclement weather can be utilized in the study of these subjects.

(c) Each step of the first four starts with a lecture by the instructor to the assembled command. This talk includes a demonstration of the work being taken up. The demonstration should be made by a squad which the instructor puts through the exercises that are to constitute the day's work. He shows exactly how to do each of the exercises about to be taken up and explains why they are done and their application to rifle shooting. He shows how the corporal organizes the work in the squad so that no men are idle and how they coach each other when they are not under instruction by an officer or noncommissioned officer.

(d) These talks and demonstrations are an essential part of the training. If properly given they awaken the interest and enthusiasm of the whole command for the work and give an exact knowledge of how each step is to be carried on, something that men can not get from reading a description, no matter how accurate and detailed that description may be.

(e) The instructor who gives these talks and demonstrations may be the platoon leader of his platoon, the company commander of his company, or the battalion commander of his battalion; or he may be an especially qualified officer who has been detailed as officer in charge of rifle instruction. The instructors who apply the demonstrated exercises to the men of the command are the officers and noncommissioned officers of the companies undergoing instruction.

(f) The number of men who can be taught to shoot at one time by a good instructor is limited only to those who can hear his voice and see the demonstration. Regiments of over 3,000 officers and men who were totally ignorant of shooting matters have been put through preliminary work and range practice under one instructor with excellent results. As only one step is taken up at a time and as each step begins with a lecture and a demonstration showing exactly what to do, the officers and noncommissioned officers, although not previously instructed, can carry on the work under the supervision of the instructor. It is best, of course, to have the officers and noncommissioned officers instructed in advance, but such a course is not essential where armies are being hastily organized and time is not available.

(g) The instruction must be thorough and it must be individual. Each man must understand every point and must be able to explain each one in his own words.

(h) The blank form shown in paragraph 54 must be kept by each squad leader and by each platoon leader independent of the squad leader. This blank form shows at a glance just how much each man knows about each point. (i) Each man must be brought to as high a state of proficiency on all of the enumerated points as the time allowed for preparatory work will permit. The company commander will carefully supervise the work. He will pick out men at random through the different platoons from time to time and put them through a test to see if the instruction is thorough and is progressing satisfactorily.

(j) The importance of exactness should be impressed on the men at all times. For example, men in adjusting the sights in the sighting drills or triangle exercises are apt to say, "That is about right." There is no such thing as a sight that is about right; it is absolutely right or it is all wrong. Exactness in every detail is hard to get, but it must be attained.

(k) Interest and enthusiasm must be sustained and everything possible should be done to stimulate them. If the exercises are gone through in a manner approximately correct and as a routine piece of work, the results will be very disappointing. As soon as these exercises deteriorate into a perfunctory performance of physical exercise they do more harm than good. (1) Careful attention will be paid to the essential points as shown in the form of questions and answers under the heading, "Examination." (See par. 53.) This will be consulted by the instructor during each step of the preparatory work. Each man will be put through a thorough test along the line indicated in these questions and answers before he is allowed to fire. (m) The most important point of all is the trigger squeeze, and every effort should be made at the very beginning of range practice to correct trigger-squeeze The best method of correcting "flinching," which is always the visible sign of trigger-squeeze error, is for the coach to press the trigger while the man under instruction holds and aims the rifle.

errors.