Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army Part 20

=143.= The disadvantage of remaining too long in one place, however good the concealment, should be explained. He should be taught to advance from cover to cover, selecting cover in advance before leaving his concealment.

It should be impressed upon him that a man running rapidly toward an enemy furnishes a poor target. He should be trained in springing from a p.r.o.ne position behind concealment, running at top speed to cover and throwing himself behind it. He should also be practiced in advancing from cover to cover by crawling, or by lying on the left side, rifle grasped in the right hand, and pus.h.i.+ng himself forward with the right leg.

He should be taught that when fired on while acting independently, he should drop to the ground, seek cover, and then endeavor to locate his enemy; also that in the sun he is visible to a much greater degree than when in the shade.

The instruction of the recruit in the use of cover is continued in combat exercises of the squad and platoon, but he must then be taught that the proper advance of the platoon or troop and the effectiveness of its fire is of greater importance than the question of cover for individuals _should the two considerations conflict_. He should also be taught that he may not move about or s.h.i.+ft his position in the firing line except to get a better view of the target.

OBSERVATION.

=144.= In order to develop the faculty of rapid and accurate observation, which is of great importance in campaign, the recruit should be trained in taking notice of his surroundings, at first from selected positions and later at the various gaits.

He should be practiced under various conditions of weather in recognizing colors and forms; in pointing out and naming military features of the ground; in observing the effect of the direction of light on distinctness of objects; in recognizing at gradually increasing distances the animate and inanimate objects ordinarily met with in the field; in counting distant objects; and in estimating the size of groups, such as herds of animals and bodies of troops.

MANUAL OF THE PISTOL.

=145.= Instruction under this head is first given on foot, the recruit having previously been made familiar with the mechanism of the pistol, the names of the princ.i.p.al parts, and the method of cleaning, a.s.sembling, and operating it.

When a lanyard is used the snaps are attached to the b.u.t.t of the pistol and the magazine, the lanyard is pa.s.sed over the head, and the sliding loop drawn snug against the right armpit. The lanyard should then be of just such length that the arm can be extended without constraint.

For dismounted instruction with the pistol the troopers may be formed with or without intervals.

During _instruction_ in the manual of the pistol given when dismounted _with intervals_ each trooper terminates the first execution of =raise pistol= by carrying his right foot 24 inches to the right and placing his left hand in the position of his bridle hand. This position is then retained until =return pistol= is executed, when the position of =attention= is resumed.

At _all other times_ when movements in the manual of the pistol are executed dismounted the left hand is raised to the position of the bridle hand whenever used to manipulate the mechanism and is then dropped again to the side.

=146.= Except in the act of firing, the automatic pistol, when actually on the person, whether loaded or unloaded, will be carried c.o.c.ked and locked. At all other times the hammer will be lowered _fully down_.

=147.= The pistol being in the holster, to raise pistol: 1. =Raise=, 2. =PISTOL.=

Raise: Unb.u.t.ton the flap of the holster with the right hand and grasp the stock, back of the hand outward.

=PISTOL=: Draw the pistol from the holster; reverse it, muzzle up, the hand holding the stock with the thumb and last three fingers, forefinger outside the guard, barrel to the rear and inclined to the front at an angle of 30, hand as high as the neck and 6 inches in front of the point of the right shoulder. This is the position of raise pistol. (Fig. 32.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 32, par. 147.]

=148.= Being at =raise pistol=, to inspect pistol: 1. =Inspection=, 2.

=PISTOL.=

(_a_) =When a magazine is in the pistol=: Push down the safety lock and lower the right hand to within easy reach of the left, pistol pointed upward and to the right front at an angle of about 30; grasp the corrugations of the slide with the left thumb and forefinger, thumb to the right; thrust upward with the right hand, thus drawing back the slide until the slide stop is engaged (fig. 35); resume =raise pistol= (fig. 33).

(_b_) =When no magazine is in the pistol=: Push down the safety lock and lower the pistol to the left hand, rotating the pistol so that the sights move to the left, barrel pointing downward and to the left front, stock pointing upward and to the right front; with the left thumb and forefinger grasp the corrugations of the slide, back of the left hand down (fig. 34); change the grasp of the right hand slightly until the thumb presses against the rounded surface of the slide stop; thrust downward and to the left front with the right hand, thus drawing back the slide, and at the same time press the slide stop with the right thumb against the slide until it engages; resume raise pistol.

=Inspection pistol= is never executed with a loaded pistol or with a loaded magazine in the pistol.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 33, par. 148 (_a_).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 34, par. 148 (_b_).]

=149.= 1. =Return=, 2. =PISTOL.=

(_a_) Being at =raise pistol=; lock the pistol, if not locked; lower the pistol to the holster, reversing it, muzzle down, back of the hand to the right; raise the flap of the holster with the right thumb; insert the pistol in the holster and thrust it home; b.u.t.ton the flap of the holster with the right hand.

(_b_) Being at =inspection pistol=; (with a magazine in the pistol) lower the pistol to the left hand and grasp the slide as prescribed for inspection pistol without magazine (par. 148-b, fig. 22); thrust downward and to the left front with the right hand, thus relieving the pressure on the slide stop, and at the same time disengage the slide stop with the right thumb; release the slide; reverse and lock the pistol; place it in holster as prescribed in (_a_). If there is no magazine in the pistol, lower it to the bridle hand as in =load= (par.

151); draw back the slide and release it; lock the pistol and place it In the holster.

When the last shot is fired the slide stop engages automatically.

=Return pistol= is then executed as from inspection pistol (_b_).

=150.= Being at raise pistol, to insert a magazine in the pistol: 1.

=Insert=, 2. =MAGAZINE=, or 2. =LOADED MAGAZINE.=

(_a_) When a magazine is in the pistol: Lower the pistol into the left hand, rotating it so that the sights move to the left; grasp the slide with the left hand, back of the hand down, barrel pointing downward to the left front, stock pointing upward to the right front; release the magazine catch with the middle finger of the left hand; withdraw the magazine with the right hand; insert the designated magazine and resume =raise pistol=. If there be no empty s.p.a.ce in the magazine pocket when the magazine is withdrawn from the pistol, the magazine may be held between the left thumb and the stock of the pistol until the magazine has been taken from the pocket and inserted; the magazine withdrawn from the pistol is then inserted in the magazine pocket.

Whenever the magazine catch is released, the right hand should be so placed as to limit the motion of the magazine and prevent its falling out.

(_b_) =When no magazine is in the pistol=: Lower the pistol into the left hand and grasp it as before; insert the designated magazine and resume =raise pistol=.

A loaded magazine will never be inserted without specific command.

=151.= Being at =raise pistol= with a loaded magazine in the pistol, to load: =LOAD=: Push down the safety lock and lower the pistol to the bridle hand as prescribed for inspection pistol when a magazine is in the pistol (par. 148 (_a_)); operate the slider, engage the safety lock with the right thumb, and raise pistol. (Fig. 35.)

To simulate loading for instruction, first withdraw the empty magazine.

The command load may be given in connection with the insertion of the magazine, for example: 1. =Insert=, 2. =LOADED MAGAZINE=; 3. =LOAD.=

After inserting magazine, reverse the pistol and load as above prescribed.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 35, par. 151.]

=152.= Being in any position, to eject the cartridge from the receiver: =UNLOAD=.

Pa.s.s the pistol into the left hand as in =insert magazine=; release the magazine catch with the middle finger of the left hand, slightly disengaging the magazine; push down the safety lock with the right thumb; operate the slide to eject the cartridge; engage the magazine; raise and lock the pistol.

=153.= Being in any position, to withdraw the magazine from the pistol: =WITHDRAW MAGAZINE=.

Handle the pistol as in =insert magazine=; release the magazine catch; withdraw the magazine and execute raise pistol.

Recruits are taught the motions of loading and firing without cartridges, and preferably without a magazine in the pistol to avoid wear on the magazine lips. Loading and pointing practice should be had at all gaits.

=154.= The hammer is always lowered preparatory to placing the pistol in the arm rack or other place of deposit.

=155.= Being at raise pistol, to lower the hammer:

(_a_) =Using both hands=: Push down the safety lock; a.s.sume the position of load; seat the right thumb firmly on the hammer and hold it there; raise the left hand, to the right and press the grip safety with the left thumb; insert the forefinger inside the trigger guard; press the trigger and carefully let the hammer down with the right thumb. Resume =raise pistol=.

(_b_) =Using but one hand=: Raise the right hand until the muzzle of the pistol is well above the head; disengage the safety lock; seat the ball of the right thumb firmly on the hammer; bear down the grip safety by pressure on the hammer; press the trigger and carefully let down the hammer with the right thumb.