At the command =attention= the pieces are brought to the right shoulder and the cadenced step in quick time is resumed. (193)

To Diminish The Front of A Column of Squads

=234.= Being in column of squads: =1. Right (left) by twos, 2. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

At the command =march= all files except the two right files of the leading squad execute =in place halt=; the two left files of the leading squad oblique to the right when disengaged and follow the right files at the shortest practicable distance. The remaining squads follow successively in like manner. (194)

=235.= Being in column of squads or twos: =1. Right (Left) by file, 2.

MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

At the command =march=, all files execute =in place halt= except the right file of the leading two or squad. The left file or files of the leading two or squad oblique successively to the right when disengaged and each follows the file on its right at the shortest practicable distance. The remaining twos or squads follow successively in like manner. (195)

Being in column of files or twos, to form column of squads; or, being in column of files, to form column of twos: =1. Squads (Twos), right (left) front into line, 2. MARCH.=

At the command =march=, the leading file or files halt. The remainder of the squad, or two, obliques to the right and halts on line with the leading file or files. The remaining squads or twos close up and successively form in rear of the first in like manner.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

This diagram ill.u.s.trates a squad executing =LEFT= front into line.

The movement described in this paragraph will be ordered =right= or =left=, so as to restore the files to their normal relative positions in the two or squad. (196)

The movements prescribed in the three preceding paragraphs are difficult of execution at attention and have no value as disciplinary exercises. (197)

EXTENDED ORDER

Rules for Deployment

=236. Designation of base squads.= The command =guide right= (=left= or =center=) indicates the base squad for the deployment; if in line it designates the actual =right= (=left= or =center=) squad; if in column the command =guide right (left)= designates the =leading= squad, and the command =guide center= designates the =center= squad, as laid down in par. 205. After the deployment is completed, the guide is =center= without command, unless otherwise ordered. (199)

=237. Action of squad leaders at preparatory command for forming skirmish line.= At the preparatory command for forming skirmish line, from either column of squads or line, each squad leader (except the leader of the base squad, when his squad does not advance) cautions his squad, =follow me= or =by the right (left) flank=, as the case may be; at the command march, he steps in front of his squad and leads it to its place in line, as explained in par. 169. (200)

=238. Point on which base squad marches.= Having given the command for forming skirmish line, the captain, if necessary, indicates to the corporal of the base squad the point on which the squad is to march; the corporal habitually looks to the captain for such directions.

(201)

=239. Deployment of the squads.= The base squad (par. 199) is deployed as soon as it has sufficient interval. The other squads are deployed as they arrive on the general line; each corporal halts in his place in line and commands or signals, as =skirmishers= (executed as prescribed in par. 170); the squad deploys and halts abreast of him.

If tactical considerations demand it, the squad is deployed before arriving on the line. (202)

=240. Alignment of deployed lines; deployed line faces to front on halting.= Deployed lines preserve a general alignment toward the guide, as prescribed in par. 65. Within their respective fronts, individuals or units march so as best to secure cover or to facilitate the advance, but the general and orderly progress of the whole is paramount.

On halting, a deployed line faces to the front (direction of the enemy) in all cases and takes advantage of cover, the men lying down if necessary. (203)

=241. Certain movements in extended order executed by same commands as in close order.= The company in skirmish line =advances, halts=, moves =by the flank=, or =to the rear, obliques=, resumes =the direct march=, pa.s.ses from =quick to double time= and the reverse by the same commands and in a similar manner as in close order; if at a halt, the movement by =the flank= or =to the rear= is executed by the same commands as when marching. =Company right (left, half right, half left)= is executed as explained for the front rank (in par. 165) skirmish intervals being maintained. (See par. 171.) (204)

=242. Deployment of platoons and detachments.= A platoon or other part of the company is deployed and marched in the same manner as the company, subst.i.tuting in the commands, =platoon= (=detachments=, etc.), for =company=. (205)

Deployments (See pars. 170-172.)

=243.= Being in line, to form skirmish line to the front: =1. As skirmishers, guide right (left or center), 2. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

If marching, the corporal of the base squad moves straight to the front; when that squad has advanced the desired distance, the captain commands: =1. Company, 2. HALT.= If the guide be =right (left)=, the other corporals move to the =left (right)= front, and, in succession from the base, place their squads on the line; if the guide be center, the other corporals move to the right or left front, according as they are on the right or left of the center squad, and in succession from the center squad place their squads on the line.

If at a halt, the base squad is deployed without advancing; the other squads may be conducted to their proper places by the flank; interior squads may be moved when squads more distant from the base have gained comfortable marching distance. (206)

=244.= Being in column of squads, to form skirmish line to the front: =1. As skirmishers, guide right (left or center), 2. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: GUIDE RIGHT.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: GUIDE CENTER (MARCHING).]

[Ill.u.s.tration: GUIDE CENTER (AT A HALT).]

If marching, the corporal of the base squad deploys it and moves straight to the front; if at a halt, he deploys his squad without advancing. If the guide be =right (left)=, the other corporals move to the =left (right) front=, and, in succession from the base, place their squads on the line; if the guide be =center=, the corporals in front of the center squad move to the right (if at a halt, to the right rear), the corporals in rear of the center squad move to the left front, and each, in succession from the base, places his squad on the line.

The column of twos or files is deployed by the same commands and in like manner. (207)

=245. Deployment in an oblique direction.= The company in line or in column of squads may be deployed in an oblique direction by the same commands. The captain points out the desire direction; the corporal of the base squad moves in the direction indicated; the other corporals conform. (208)

=246. Deployment to flank or rear.= To form skirmish line to the flank or rear the line or the column of squads is turned by squads to the flank or rear and then deployed as described. (209)

=247. Increasing or decreasing intervals.= The intervals between men are increased or decreased as described in the School of the Squad, as explained in par. 172, adding to the preparatory command, =guide right (left or center)= if necessary, as explained in par. 236. (210)

The a.s.sembly

=248.= The captain takes his post in front of, or designates, the element on which the company is to a.s.semble and commands: =1.

a.s.semble, 2. MARCH.=

If in skirmish line the men move promptly toward the designated point and the company is reformed in line. If a.s.sembled by platoons, these are conducted to the designated point by platoon leaders, and the company is reformed in line.

Platoons may be a.s.sembled by the command: =1. Platoons, a.s.semble, 2.

MARCH.=

Executed by each platoon as described for the company.

One or more platoons may be a.s.sembled by the command: =1. Such platoon (s), a.s.semble, 2. MARCH.=

Executed by the designated platoon or platoons as described for the company. (211)