Transcriber’s Note
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SNIPING IN FRANCE
By the Same Author.
- WHERE BLACK RULES WHITE—HAYTI
- THROUGH THE HEART OF PATAGONIA
- HUNTING CAMPS IN WOOD AND WILDERNESS
- THROUGH TRACKLESS LABRADOR
From a drawing by] [Ernest Blaikley.
The Sniper-Observer-Scout.
SNIPING IN FRANCE
With Notes on the Scientific Training ofScouts, Observers, and Snipers
BY
MAJOR H. HESKETH-PRICHARD
D.S.O., M.C.
WITH A FOREWORD
BY
GENERAL LORD HORNE OF STIRKOKE
G.C.B., K.C.M.G., etc.
Illustrations by ERNEST BLAIKLEY, Artists’Rifles, late Sergeant-Instructor at the FirstArmy School of S.O.S., the late Lieut. B. Head,The Hertfordshire Regt., and from Photographs.
NEW YORK:
E. P. DUTTON AND COMPANY
681, FIFTH AVENUE
Printed in Great Britain.
FOREWORD
By General Lord Horne, G.C.B.
It may fairly be claimed that when hostilities ceasedon November 11th, 1918, we had outplayed Germanyat all points of the game.
Perhaps as a nation we failed in imagination.Possibly Germany was more quick to initiate newmethods of warfare or to adapt her existing methodsto meet prevailing conditions. Certainly we wereslow to adopt, indeed, our souls abhorred, anythingunsportsmanlike.
Had it been left to us, “Gas” would have taken nopart in the Great European War.
But, however lacking in imagination, however slowto realize the importance of novel methods, once wewere convinced of their necessity, once we decided toadopt them, we managed by a combination of brainsand energy, pluck and endurance, not only to make upthe lost ground, but to take the lead in the race. Inproof of this statement I would instance Heavy FieldArtillery, High Explosives, Gas, Work in the Air, etc.,and many other points I could mention in whichGermany started ahead of us, including Sniping,Observation and Scouting.
And for our eventual superiority we owe much toindividuals, men who, like the author of this book,Major Hesketh-Prichard, combined expert knowledgewith untiring energy, men who would not be deniedand could not recognize defeat.
In the early days of 1915, in command of the 2ndDivision, I well remember the ever-increasing activityof the German sniper and the annoyance of ourofficers and men in