- munition should be taken out of the knapsacks, and the contents
of the ammunition wagons distributed among the men. The men carry this extra ammunition in their haversacks and in their coat and trousers' pockets, etc.
The two-horse company ammunition wagon, Model 1897, has a width
of track of 1.53 m., and, when empty, weighs 450 kg. Compared with the
ammunition wagon Model C, 1887, which was originally designed to carry
ammunition in boxes, it is lighter by 75 kg., and can be turned within a
shorter radius. The wagon body is provided with double doors in front and
in rear. The interior is divided into four compartments (to be emptied
separately), each capable of holding 16 bundles of cartridges placed on
end. Each bundle contains 15 packages of 15 cartridges in clips each. Each
bundle of 225 cartridges weighs 7.25 kg.
As three bundles of cartridges are to be carried by one man, according to the Field Service Regulations (par. 480), 1 non-commissioned officer and 21 men are detailed to unload the ammunition wagon. The unloading is managed as follows: Four men take post on each side of the wagon, two handing out the bundles to the other two, who lay them on the ground. The remaining men place the bundles in piles of three in such a manner that the carrying loops of two in each pile can be interlaced and held together by a stick or a bayonet. An ammunition wagon can be emptied in this manner in four minutes. The two ammunition bundles tied together are slung over the left shoulder, the rifle is slung over the right shoulder, and the third bundle is carried in the right hand. In this way, a man can carry 21.8 kg.
Each man is issued 60 to 75 cartridges from the ammunition
wagon. These weigh from 1.8 to 2.4 kg. When issued
too soon, this additional burden causes considerable inconvenience,
and consequently reduces the marching power of the
men. The leader must also decide what shall be done with the
ammunition in case it has been issued prematurely, and the
troops fail to get into action. As soon as the ammunition
wagons are emptied, they are sent to the rear in charge of the
mounted wagonmaster, and refilled from the ammunition columns.
When refilled, they rejoin their proper organizations.
If requested, ammunition must be issued to any body of
troops.
On the battlefield, ammunition wagons, unless they have been emptied, follow the movements of the several companies and take up a position under cover, indicated by the wagon-
