ARTICLE X.

SHELTER.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS.

592. Lack of sufficient rest not only renders troops unfit for hard work, but also diminishes their power of resisting disease. It is therefore the duty of all commanders to secure for their troops, as far as practicable, the nightly rest to which they are accustomed, to avoid unnecessary night marches, alarms in camp, and dissipation, and to permit troops who have been on night duty to make up their loss of sleep.

593. In order to rest well troops must have shelter. Exposure to bad weather makes greater inroads on the numerical strength of troops than a severe engagement. Neglected animals suffer even more, and their lack of condition will soon cripple a command.

594. The kind and amount of shelter for troops will depend upon the distance of the enemy, the length of stay in one place, the means available, and the season of the year.

In cantonments the troops occupy buildings in towns or villages or are sheltered in huts erected on their camp grounds. The term implies a considerable length of stay.

In time of peace, on the occasion of local insurrection, riot, or disorder, public buildings will be used for the temporary shelter of troops only in case of great emergency; private buildings will not be entered by troops without permission, except to prevent destruction or to protect life.

In time of war temporary use may be made of public buildings in our own country when absolutely necessary, for example, in the care of the wounded; but as long as patriotic communities or individuals offer the use of buildings, or when they can be rented at reasonable rates, seizure should not be resorted to, except in response to the imperative demands of humanity. In the enemy's country public and private buildings are available for the use of troops and may be converted into cantonments. However, families should not be removed from their residences unless it is unavoidable.

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Cantonments often develop through improvement of camps, huts or temporary buildings taking the place of worn-out tents. During suspension of hostilities awaiting negotiations and ratification of treaties of peace, in the occupation of hostile or insurgent territory, and at sieges, cantonments may be utilized with advantage in sheltering troops, especially during cold and wet weather.

Billeting is the assignment of officers and men to public or private buildings in towns or villages on or near the line of march. The stay is for one night only, or at most for a few days. This method of sheltering troops in private houses is never resorted to except in the enemy's country, under circumstances when it is impracticable to carry tents or to pitch them, or when the protection of shelter tents would be inadequate. The inhabitants should not be deprived of bedrooms or kitchens.

In a camp the troops are sheltered under canvas.

In a bivouac the men rest on the ground without shelter.

SHELTER BEFORE BEGINNING OPERATIONS.

595. When war is imminent, and as a preparation to entering into campaign, the regular troops and the regiments of volunteers mustered into service, will be assembled at convenient and suitable places and be formed into brigades, divisions, and army corps.

As the troops arrive at the place of assembly they will be placed under canvas or sheltered in portable buildings, huts, or temporary barracks. All danger from an enemy being precluded, the principal endeavor should be to provide for the comfort, health, and instruction of men and animals. These objects can best be attained in carefully selected and properly managed camps or cantonments. 596. The largest command usually formed for administrative purposes at this stage is the army corps. Districts which are suitable for the camps or cantonments of army corps should be selected by the General Staff in time of peace, after securing the report of experts on the character of the water supply and the salubrity of the country. The following requirements are essential:

(a) The space should be ample to allow for the camping of troops at wide intervals, the location of depots, corrals, parks, and hospitals, and the reservation of large grounds for the exercise and instruction of troops.

(b) There should be an abundance of open, rolling country suitable for the establishment of well-drained camps.

(c) The water supply should be excellent and abundant. Each brigade, if possible, each regiment, should have an independent

water supply which can not be contaminated by drainage from other camps.

(d) Several railroads with ample sidings, loading platforms and switching facilities should pass through the district or be within easy reach.

(e) There should be good wagon roads from the railroad stations to various parts of the district so that the camps may be conveniently accessible.

597. All the arrangements for the accommodation of troops should be completed before their arrival. Tents should be pitched and aligned, kitchens equipped, water supply arranged, and fuel delivered. Latrines require special attention; the completeness of their equipment will depend upon the length of time they are to be used. Staff officers will be ordered to meet all troops upon arrival at the railroad station and personally conduct them to their camps.

598. Headquarters of the command should be centrally located, with mail, telegraph, and telephone facilities.

Similarly, division, brigade, and minor independent headquarters should be centrally located with respect to their troops and connected with general headquarters by wire.

Depots and storehouses should be placed at railroad sidings. No part of camp should be more than 5 miles from the depots.

Hospitals should not be far from the railroad station, in order that their evacuation by rail may be facilitated. As a rule the mobile field hospitals should not be set up at this time, although their personnel may be utilized in the care of the sick in local hospitals.

The location of troops in camps should correspond to their organization—that is, regiments of the same brigade, and brigades of the same division should adjoin each other, or at least not be separated by impassable obstacles. Cavalry and artillery are usually at somewhat greater distance from headquarters than the infantry; corrals, wagon trains, and pack trains are placed so as not to interfere with the comfort and cleanliness of other troops.

599. As the time for operations approaches, the troops will be drawn from the preparatory camps and assembled into armies. Tactical considerations will now demand a closer degree of concentration, and control the location of camps. Cavalry divisions should be about a day's march in advance; the principal lines of approach should be held, and outposts established where necessary. The army corps should be placed along the general line to be held in case of attack.

The troops will be sheltered in the tents forming part of their equipment. In case tents are not available, shelter tents will be

used and additional shelter may be improvised, depending upon the probable length of stay and the means available.

SHELTER DURING OPERATIONS.

600. On the march.-On ordinary marches in time of peace the troops usually put up tents after each day's march. During active operations in contact with the enemy the wagons carrying the tents will often be not accessible. In our own country the troops will in such cases be obliged to use their shelter tents or bivouac. In severe weather, menacing the health of the troops, necessity may require that large public and private buildings be utilized for shelter. The civil authorities should be consulted and satisfactory arrangements made before arrival of the troops.

In the enemy's country public buildings are seized without other hesitation than precaution against epidemic diseases; private buildings may be utilized to the extent necessary, beginning with those that have been deserted or are empty. Staff officers and one representative officer from each battalion, squadron, or battery, accompanied by some noncommissioned officers and orderlies will, when practicable, precede the column on days when the use of buildings as shelter is contemplated. The senior staff officer confers with such civil authority as may be present and makes an equitable division of the accommodations available into distinct sections and turns them over to the representatives; the latter distribute the quarters to their troops and furnish the necessary guides.

601. Unless the country is densely inhabited, or the force in march is small, shelter of this character will usually be inadequate, and some of the troops will be forced to use shelter tents or bivouac. However, villages and large farms often afford facilities such as wells and cisterns, bakeries, blacksmith shops, material for repairs, fuel, and forage, which contribute to the comfort of troops; it will therefore be of advantage to camp or bivouac near them.

602. In contact with the enemy.-During a lull in an engagement, or in case hostilities are suspended at nightfall without having arrived at a definite decision, the troops will bivouac in line of battle. As soon as outposts are established after a battle the commanders will decide whether the troops of the main body shall be permitted to pitch shelter tents. In bad weather the outposts also may use shelter tents when they can be hidden from view of the enemy.

During prolonged suspension of hostilities tents may be brought up, fresh clothing and supplies issued, and the troops sheltered with a degree of comfort, depending upon circumstances.

603. At sieges.-On account of the long range of modern fortress artillery the camps or cantonments of the main body of the investing force can not be placed much nearer than 5 miles from the enemy's works, unless good cover is available. In order to guard against sorties a large proportion of the troops will be on outpost duty; good shelter in which to recuperate from this arduous work is very desirable.

The shelter at the outposts may be left standing for use from day to day; but when troops have completed their tour of outpost duty they should be permitted to return to their own camps with the main body.

Because of the danger of epidemics in the necessarily crowded camps or cantonments of the besiegers, the water supply and sanitary arrangements will require the most careful attention.

CAMPS.

SELECTION OF SITE.

604. On account of tactical considerations there will often be but little choice in selecting a site for a camp in time of war. When a great battle is impending the troops may have to camp many nights on ground which is objectionable from a sanitary point of view. However, when the enemy is more than two marches distant it will nearly always be possible to give weight to sanitary considerations.

605. When there are no tactical questions involved, and the camp is to be occupied for some time, a great responsibility rests upon the officers selecting a site. The most scrupulous cleanliness on the part of the troops can not overcome the disadvantages of a bad site. Through no fault of its own a regiment thus situated may suffer greater casualties than it would in a long campaign.

The senior medical officer of the command will be required to report on the quality of the water and healthfulness of the proposed site.

606. When selection is not restricted each camp site should fulfill the following conditions:

(a) The ground should be large enough to accommodate the command without crowding.

(b) The water supply should be abundant, of good quality, and conveniently accessible.

(c) The drainage should be so good that after a rain there will be