Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the United States, 1917 Part 21

187. Being in column of platoons or squads, to form line on right or left: 1. _On_right_(left)_into_line_, 2. MARCH, 3. _Company_, 4. HALT, 5. FRONT.

At the first command the leader of the leading unit commands: RIGHT TURN. The leaders of the other units command: FORWARD, if at a halt. At the second command the leading unit turns to the right on moving pivot. The command HALT is given when the leading unit has advanced the desired distance in the new direction; it halts; its leader then commands: RIGHT DRESS.

The units in rear continue to march straight to the front; each, when opposite the right of its place in line, executes right turn at the command of its leaner; each is halted on the line at the command of its leader, who then commands: RIGHT DRESS.

All dress on the first unit in line.

If executed in double time, the lending squad marches in double time until halted.

FRONT INTO LINE.

188. Being in column of platoons or squads. to form line to the front: 1. _Right_(Left)_front_into_line_, 2. MARCH, 3. _Company_, 4. HALT, 5. FRONT.

At the first command the leaders of the units in rear of the leading one command: RIGHT OBLIQUE. If at a halt, the leader of the leading unit commands: FORWARD. At the second command the leading unit moves straight forward; the rear units oblique as indicated. The command HALT is given when the leading unit has advanced the desired distance; it halts; its leader then commands: LEFT DRESS. Each of the rear units, when opposite its place in line, resumes the original direction at the command of its leader; each is halted on the line at the command of its leader, who then commands: LEFT DRESS. All dress on the first unit in line.

189. Being in column of squads to form column of platoons, or being in line of platoons, to form the company in line: 1.

_Platoons,_right,_(left)_front_into_line_, 2. MARCH. 3.

_Company_, 4. HALT, 5. FRONT.

Executed by each platoon as described for the company. In forming the company in line, the dress is on the left squad of the left platoon. If forming column of platoons, platoon leaders verify the alignment before taking their posts; the captain commands front when the alignments have been verified.

When FRONT INTO LINE is executed in double time the commands for halting and aligning are omitted and the guide is toward the side of the first unit in line.

AT EASE AND ROUTE STEP.

190. The column of squads is the habitual column of route. but route step and at ease are applicable to any marching formation.

191. To march at route step: 1. _Route_step_, 2. MARCH.

Sabers are carried at will or in the scabbard; the men carry their pieces at will, keeping the muzzles elevated; they are not required to preserve silence, nor to keep the step. The ranks cover and preserve their distance. If halted from route step, the men stand AT REST.

192. To march at ease: 1. _At_ease_, 2. MARCH.

The company marches as in route step, except that silence is preserved; when halted, the men remain at ease.

193. Marching at route step or fit ease: 1. _Company_, 2.

ATTENTION.

At the command ATTENTION the pieces are brought to the right shoulder and the cadenced step in quick time is resumed.

TO DIMINISH THE FRONT OF A COLUMN OF SQUADS.

194. Being in column of squads: 1. _Right_(Left)_by_twos_, 2. MARCH.

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.

195. Being in column of squads or twos: 1. _Right_(Left)_by_ _file_, 2. MARCH.

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.

196. 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.

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.

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

198. Marching by twos or files can not be executed without serious delay and waste of road s.p.a.ce. Every reasonable precaution will be taken to obviate the necessity for these formations.

EXTENDED ORDER.

RULES FOR DEPLOYMENT.

199. 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. After the deployment is completed, the guide is CENTER without command, unless otherwise ordered.

200. 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.

201. 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.

202. The base squad 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; the squad deploys and halts abreast of him.

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

203. Deployed lines preserve a general alignment toward the guide.

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.

204. 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, skirmish intervals being maintained.

205. 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 (DETACHMENT, etc.) for COMPANY.

DEPLOYMENTS.

206. Being in line, to form skirmish line to the front: 1. _As_ _skirmishers,_guide_right_(left_or_center)_, 2. MARCH.

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.

207. Being in column of squads, to form skirmish line to the front: 1. _As_skirmishers,_guide_right_(left_or_center)_, 2. MARCH.

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.