urgently needed by the firing line, and when no other remedy suggests itself, a part of the ammunition of the reserves may be turned over to the firing line. Special detachments should be detailed to remove the ammunition from the dead and wounded. Wounded men who are able to walk to the dressing station, turn over their ammunition to their comrades.
If another organization requests to be furnished ammunition, the entire amount required, or a part thereof, depending upon the urgency of the case and the amount available, should be turned over to it.
RUSSIA.[1]
The ammunition carried in the cartridge boxes of the men may prove
insufficient during an action. On open ground the ammunition wagons,
assembled by regiment, accompany the regimental reserve, and in covered
terrain, they are assembled by battalion, and follow the battalion reserve.
When practicable, their position is to be indicated during the day by red
flags placed on their flank, and at night by green lanterns. In defense, an
adequate supply of ammunition should be deposited in rear of the firing line,
or should be at once distributed among the men. In attack, the ammunition
supply of the firing line and of the supports is to be replenished when they
enter ranges under 700 m. The best means of preventing shortage of ammunition
is to husband it at long ranges. Ammunition wagons are not to
be emptied and their contents distributed before an action begins; on the
contrary, the ammunition is to be issued during the fight, one wagon after
another being emptied. Ammunition may be sent forward from the reserve
to the firing line, the men who carry it remaining with that line. On the
other hand—and this seems to be the method most frequently employed—men
from the firing line may be sent to the rear for ammunition. The men
of the reserves at once turn over one-half of their cartridges to these men,
who are then assembled and sent forward under the command of a non-*commissioned
officer. The ammunition is carried forward in sacks—so-called
"bashlicks."
FRANCE.
Each company has one ammunition wagon, which is a part of the combat
train (train de combat), and carries 16,384 Lebel cartridges, and 36
intrenching tools. It can carry 19,000 rounds of the new "D" ammunition,[2]
So long as any ammunition remains in the ammunition wagons, they
remain under all circumstances with their battalion. They are assembled
in battalion groups on the left flank of their battalion. When the battalion
- ↑ In each battalion, the ammunition wagon of the 2nd company carries 108 explosive cartridges, weighing 200 g. each, and that of the 3rd company carries 48 fuzes.
- ↑ The company ammunition wagon Model 1893 weighs 287 kg. when empty, and 770 kg. when filled. It carries 14,400 rounds of ammunition (net capacity 48%) or 66 rounds per rifle.
