Manual of Military Training Part 23

The band, arriving from the rear, takes its place in line when the right company is halted; it ceases playing when the left company has halted.

When the guides of the left company have been posted, the adjutant, moving by the shortest route, takes post facing the battalion midway between the post of the major and the center of the battalion.

The major, staff, noncommissioned staff, and orderlies take their posts, as prescribed in pars. 73; 76-78.

When all parts of the line have been dressed, and officers and others have reached their posts, the adjutant commands: =1. Guides, 2. POSTS, 3. Present, 4. ARMS.= At the second command guides take their places in the line. (Plate II, page 69.) The adjutant then turns about as explained in par. 74, and reports to the major: =Sir, the battalion is formed=, as prescribed in par. 75; the major directs the adjutant: =Take your post, Sir=; draws saber and brings the battalion to the =order=. The adjutant takes his post, pa.s.sing to the right of the major. (271)

To Dismiss the Battalion

=309. Dismiss your companies.=

Staff and noncommissioned staff officers fall out; each captain marches his company off and dismisses it, as laid down in par. 217.

(272)

To Rectify the Alignment

=310.= Being in line at a halt, to align the battalion: =1. Center (right or left), 2. DRESS.=

The captains dress their companies successively toward the center (right or left) guide of the battalion, each as soon as the captain next toward the indicated guide commands: =FRONT.= The captains of the center companies (if the dress is =center=) dress them without waiting for each other. (273)

=311.= To give the battalion a new alignment: =1. Guides center (right or left) company on the line, 2. Guides on the line, 3. Center (right or left), 4. DRESS, 5. Guides, 6. POSTS.=

At the first command, the designated guides place themselves on the line, as prescribed in par. 308, facing the center (right or left).

The major establishes them in the direction he wishes to give the battalion.

At the second command, the guides of the other companies take posts, facing the center (right or left), so as to prolong the line.

At the command =dress=, each captain dresses his company to the flank toward which the guides of his company face, taking the positions prescribed in par. 302.

At the command =posts=, given when all companies have completed the dress, the guides return to their posts. (Plate II, page 69.) (274)

To Rectify the Column

=312.= Being in column of companies, or in close column, at a halt, if the guides do not cover or have not their proper distances, and it is desired to correct them, the major commands: =1. Right (left), 2.

DRESS.=

Captains of companies in rear of the first place their right guides so as to cover at the proper distance; each captain aligns his company to the right and commands: =FRONT.= (See par. 302.) (275)

On Right (Left) Into Line

=313.= Being in column of squads or companies: =1. On right (left) into line, 2. MARCH, 3. Battalion, 4. HALT.=

Being in column of squads: At the first command, the captain of the leading company commands; =Squads right.= If at a halt each captain in rear commands: =Forward.= At the second command, the leading company marches in line to the right; the companies in rear continue to march to the front and form successively on the left, each, when opposite its place, being marched in line to the right.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM COLUMN OF SQUADS TO LINE ON RIGHT.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM COLUMN OF COMPANIES TO LINE ON RIGHT.]

The fourth command is given when the first company has advanced the desired distance in the new direction; it halts and is dressed to the right by its captain (par. 265); the others complete the movement, each being halted 1 pace in rear of the line established by the first company, and then dressed to the right.

Being in column of companies: At the first command, the captain of the first company commands: =Right turn.= If at a halt, each captain in rear commands: =Forward.= Each of the captains in rear of the leading company gives the command: =1. Right turn=, in time to add, =2.

MARCH=, when his company arrives opposite the right of its place in line.

The fourth command is given and the movement completed as explained above.

Whether executed from column of squads or column of companies, each captain places himself so as to march beside the right guide after his company forms line or changes direction to the right.

If executed in double time, the leading company marches in double time until halted. (276)

Front into Line

=314.= Being in column of squads or companies: =1. Right (left) front into line, 2. MARCH.=

Being in column of squads: At the first command, the captain of the leading company commands: =Column right=; the captain of the companies in rear: =column half right.= At the second command the leading company executes =column right=, and, as the last squad completes the change of direction, is formed in line to the left, as prescribed in par. 221, halted and dressed to the left. (See par. 302.) Each of the companies in rear is conducted by the most convenient route to the rear of the right of the preceding company, thence to the right, parallel to and 1 pace in rear of the new line; when opposite its place, it is formed in line to the left, halted, and dressed to the left.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM COLUMN OF SQUADS TO LINE TO THE FRONT.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM COLUMN OF COMPANIES TO LINE TO THE FRONT.]

Being in column of companies: If marching, the captain of the leading company gives the necessary commands to halt his company at the second command; if at a halt the leading company stands fast. At the first command, the captain of each company in rear commands: =Squads right=, or =Right by squads=, and after the second command conducts his company by the most convenient route to its place in line, as described above.

Whether executed from column of squads or column of companies, each captain halts when opposite, or at the point, where the left of his company is to rest. (277)

To Form Column of Companies Successively to the Right or Left

=315.= Being in column of squads: =1. Column of companies, first company, squads right (left), 2. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The leading company executes =squads right= and moves forward. The other companies move forward in column of squads and successively march in line the right on the same ground as the leading company and in such manner that the guide covers the guide of the preceding company. (278)

To Form Column of Squads Successively to the Right or Left

=316.= Being in column of companies (Plate III, page 90): =1. Column of squads, first company, squads right (left), 2. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The leading company executes =squads right= and moves forward. The other companies move forward in column of companies and successively march in column of squads to the right on the same ground as the leading company. (279)

To Change Direction