The snipers are on duty all day, but they have their nights in bed. They conduct their operations in pairs and are given a definite post to occupy and in exceptional cases may be given a roving commission. The advantage of having the same men regularly on the same post is that they learn thoroughly the appearance of every square foot of the ground included in their area of observation and are able immediately to note any change that may take place. They soon learn where to look for the enemy and in fact learn the habits, etc., of the enemy occupying their sphere of observation.
1. The construction of loopholes by day and by night.
2. The use of telescopic sights, field glasses, periscopes and all optical contrivances designed for observation purposes.
3. The selection of good positions for sniping.
4. Judging distances and estimating or measuring ranges.
5. Rifle firing. He should be an expert rifleman in order that full advantage may be taken of the opportunities to inflict losses on the enemy.
6. In trench warfare each pair of snipers will be required to report each evening to the company commander the result of their day’s operations.
When the enemy makes his attack you will generally fire at those who appear in the sector that has been allotted to you to cover. You may, however, abandon your target on your own initiative under the following circumstances and fire:
1. On officers and noncommissioned officers. These can be recognized by their gestures. They are generally in the center of groups and get up and start first. They should be disabled, as this is the surest way of breaking up the attack.
2. At a group on the move. Fire should be concentrated on an advancing group. The time when the group is preparing to start its rush may be indicated by rifles being raised and the movements that take place along the line. After a rush has started, look out for the late comers trying to rejoin their comrades. They make good targets.
3. When the enemy attempts to build up his line to the front by a process of infiltration. That is, by having single men crawl from one point to the other, each man should be fired on during his advance.
4. Fire will be immediately concentrated on any machine gun that comes into action. With the German gun prolonged firing heats the water in the jacket to the boiling point and puffs of steam are given off. Do not be deceived into thinking that this necessarily gives away the position of the gun, for this steam has been piped to a distant place and allowed to escape so as to draw fire that otherwise might be directed on the real position of the gun.