Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917 Part 11

This signal is also used to execute quick time from double time.

HALT. Carry the hand to the shoulder; thrust the hand upward and hold the arm vertically.

DOUBLE TIME, MARCH. Carry the hand to the shoulder; rapidly thrust the hand upward the full extent of the arm several times.

SQUADS RIGHT, MARCH. Raise the arm laterally until horizontal; carry it to a vertical position above the head and swing it several times between the vertical and horizontal positions.

SQUADS LEFT, MARCH. Raise the arm laterally until horizontal; carry it downward to the side and swing it several times between the downward and horizontal positions.

SQUADS RIGHT ABOUT, MARCH (if in close order) or, TO THE REAR, MARCH (if in skirmish line). Extend the arm vertically above the head; carry it laterally downward to the side and swing it several times between the vertical and downward positions.

CHANGE DIRECTION OR COLUMN RIGHT (LEFT), MARCH. The hand on the side toward which the change of direction is to be made is carried across the body to the opposite shoulder, forearm horizontal; then swing in a horizontal plane, arm extended, pointing in the new direction.

AS SKIRMISHERS, MARCH. Raise both arms laterally until horizontal.

AS SKIRMISHERS, GUIDE CENTER, MARCH. Raise both arms laterally until horizontal; swing both simultaneously upward until vertical and return to the horizontal; repeat several times.

AS SKIRMISHERS, GUIDE RIGHT (LEFT), MARCH. Raise both arms laterally until horizontal; hold the arm on the side of the guide steadily in the horizontal position; swing the other upward until vertical and return it to the horizontal; repeat several times.

a.s.sEMBLE, MARCH. Raise the arm vertically to its full extent and describe horizontal circles.

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 fist closed battle sight is indicated; by opening and closing the fist, expose thumb and fingers to a number equal to the hundreds of yards; to add 50 yards describe a short horizontal line with forefinger. To CHANGE ELEVATION, indicate the amount of increase or decrease by fingers as above; point upward to indicate increase and downward to indicate decrease.

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.

ARE YOU READY? or I AM READY. Raise the hand, fingers extended and joined, palm toward the person addressed.

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."

TO 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.

FIX BAYONET. Simulate the movement of the right hand in "Fix bayonet" (par. 95).--(_C._I._D._R.,_No._14,_May_18,_1916._)

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.

PLATOON. Extend the arm horizontally toward the platoon leader; describe small circles with the hand. (See par. 44.)

SQUAD. Extend the arm horizontally toward the platoon leader; swing the hand up and down from the wrist. (See par. 44.)

RUSH. Same as double time.

44. 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.

FLAG SIGNALS.

45. The signal flags 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: Company I. Blue field, red square.

Company K. Blue field, white square.

Company L. Blue field, red diagonals.

Company M. Blue field, white diagonals.

46. In addition to their use in visual signaling, these flags serve to mark the a.s.sembly point of the company when disorganized by combat, and to mark the location of the company in bivouac and elsewhere, when such use is desirable.

47. (1) For communication between the firing line and the reserve or commander in the rear, the subjoined signals (Signal Corps codes) are prescribed and should be memorized. In transmission, their concealment from the enemy's view should be insured. In the absence of signal flags, the headdress or other subst.i.tute may be used.

-------------+--------------------------+-------------------------- Letter of |If signaled from the rear | If signaled from the alphabet | to the firing line. | firing line to the rear.

-------------+--------------------------+-------------------------- A M |Ammunition going forward. |Ammunition required.

C C C |Charge (mandatory at all |Am about to charge if | times). | no instructions to the | | contrary.

C F |Cease firing. |Cease firing.

D T |Double time or "rush". |Double time or "rush".

F |Commence firing. |Commence firing.

F B |Fix bayonets. |Fix bayonets.

F L |Artillery fire is causing |Artillery fire is causing | us losses. | us losses.

G |Move forward |Preparing to move forward.

H H H |Halt. |Halt.

K |Negative |Negative.

L T |Left. |Left.

O |What is the (R. N., |What is the (R. N., (Ardois and | etc.?) Interrogatory. | etc.)? Interrogatory.

Semaph.o.r.e | | only.) | | O | do | Do.

(All methods | | but ardois &| | semaph.o.r.e.) | | P |Affirmative |Affirmative.

R |Acknowledgment. |Acknowledgment.

R N |Range. |Range.

R T |Right. |Right.

S S S |Support going forward. |Support needed.

S U F |Suspend firing. |Suspend firing.

T |Target. |Target.

(2) THE TWO-ARM SEMAPh.o.r.e CODE.