Manual of Military Training Part 6

=Range or Change elevation.= To announce range, extend the arm toward the leaders or men for whom the signal is intended, fist closed; by keeping the fist closed battle sight is indicated;

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by opening and closing the fist, expose thumb and fingers to a number equal to the hundreds of yards;

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to add yards describe a short horizontal line with forefinger.

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=To change elevation=, indicate the =amount of increase or decrease= by fingers as above; point upward to indicate increase and downward to indicate decrease.

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=What range are you using?= or =What is the range?= Extend the arms toward the person addressed, one hand open, palm to the front, resting on the other hand, fist closed.

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=Are you ready?= or =I am ready.= Raise the hand, fingers extended and joined, palm toward the person addressed.

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=Commence firing.= Move the arm extended in full length, hand palm down, several times through a horizontal arc in front of the body.

=Fire faster.= Execute rapidly the signal, "Commence Firing."

=Fire slower.= Execute slowly the signal, "Commence Firing."

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=Swing the cone of fire to the right, or left.= Extend the arm in full length to the front, palm to the right (left); swing the arm to right (left), and point in the direction of the new target.

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=Fix Bayonet.= Simulate the movement of the right hand in "Fix bayonet." (See par. 142.)

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=Suspend firing.= Raise and hold the forearm steadily in a horizontal position in front of the forehead, palm of the hand to the front.

=Cease firing.= Raise the forearm as in =suspend firing= and swing it up and down several times in front of the face.

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=Platoon.= Extend the arm horizontally toward the platoon leader; describe small circles with the hand. (See par. 93.)

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=Squad.= Extend the arm horizontally toward the platoon leader; swing the hand up and down from the wrist. (See par. 93.)

=Rush.= Same as =double time=. (43)

=93. Use of signals "platoon" and "squad."= The signals =platoon= and =squad= are intended primarily for communication between the captain and his platoon leaders. The signal platoon or squad indicates that the platoon commander is to cause the signal which follows to be executed by platoon or squad.

=Note.=--The following signals, while not prescribed, are very convenient:

=Combined Sights.= Extend the arm toward the leaders for whom the signal is intended, hand open and turn hand rapidly from right to left a number of times. Then indicate ranges in the manner prescribed, giving the mean of the two ranges. (For example: If the combined sights are 1050 and 1150, indicate a range of 1100 yards. The leaders who give the oral commands, give the command, "Range 1050 and 1150,"

whereupon every man in the front rank, before deployment, fixes his sight at 1150, and every man in the rear rank, before deployment, fixes his sight at 1050.)

=Company.= Bring the hand up near the shoulder and then thrust to the front, snapping fingers in usual way; repeat several times.

=Contract fire.= Extend both arms horizontally, fingers extended, arms parallel, palms facing each other; bring hands together =once=, and hold them so and look at the leader concerned.

=Disperse fire.= Bring hands together, fingers extended, pointing in direction of leader concerned, arms extended horizontally; swing arms outward once, and hold them so and look at the leader concerned.

=Platoon column.= Raise both arms vertically, full length, arms parallel, fingers joined and extended, palms to the front.

=Prepare to rush.= Cross the arms horizontally several times.

=Squad Column.= Raise both arms vertically from elbows, elbows at side of body, fingers joined and extended, palms to the front.--Author.

(44)

Flag Signals

=94. Signal flags carried by company musicians; description of flags.= The signal Hags described below are carried by the company musicians in the field.

In a regiment in which it is impracticable to make the permanent battalion division alphabetically, the flags of a battalion are as shown; flags are a.s.signed to the companies alphabetically, within their respective battalions, in the order given below.

First battalion:

Company A. Red field, white square.

Company B. Red field, blue square.

Company C. Red field, white diagonals.

Company D. Red field, blue diagonals.

Second battalion:

Company E. White field, red square.

Company F. White field, blue square.

Company G. White field, red diagonals.

Company H. White field, blue diagonals.

Third battalion: