Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 194, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1917 — SELF HELPS for the NEW SOLDIER [ARTICLE]

SELF HELPS for the NEW SOLDIER

By a United States Army Officer

(Oopyriabt, WIT. by the Wheeler Syndicate, Ina.) CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF THE COMPANY. Being in column of squads and wishing to change direction, without resorting to the more cumbersome company front —cumbersome if the space is limited, and altogether impossible if marching on a road —the captain of a company gives the command, “Column right (left), MARCH!” This is executed as “right turn,” In the school of the squad; that is, each rank turns to the right separately on a moving pivot and continues the advance without further command. Being in line if it is desired to form column of squads, and at the same time to change direction, one command is as follows: “Squads right (left), column right (left), MARCH!” In this case, the extreme right squad initiates (that is, begins) the column right as soon as it has completed “squad right,” and the other squads follow with a right turn. As far as the change of direction is concerned, it will be seen that the same result could be obtained by “Squads right (left) about,” which would completely reverse the front; but this would bring the company back in line, exactly as before, whereas the present requirement was to throw the company into column of squads as well as to change the direction. The second of the two ways in which a company in line can form column of squads and at the same time change direction is indicated by the command, “Right (left) by squads, MARCH!” At “march,” the right squad marches forward; the remainder of the company executes “squads right, columns left,” and follows the right squad. Being either in line or in column of squads, if it is desired either to face or march to the rear, these commands •may be given: “Squads right (left) about, MARCH!” or, “Squads right (left) about, MARCH. . . . Company, HALT!” In the first command, it is apparent that the march is to continue, but in the opposite direction. In the second command, the company is to halt as soon as the movement is completed, and results in a simple reversal of front. If the company is in column of squads, the file closers —that is, additional men not included in the formation of squads—turii toward the column and take their posts, which continue to be on the right of the line, at -the end of the front rank of a squad. If the company is in line; the file closers dart through the nearest interval between squads and take their posts in the rear of the company. To march the company to the rear for a few paces, “backward march” may be given, but it is difficult for a company in line to keep the line dressed in this movement, so that it is preferable to command, “About FACE . . . Forward, MARCH!” In this case, no further movement is executed until the line is brought to a halt and faced to its original front. If in line, the guides place themselves in the rear rank, which has now become the front rank. The file closers, facing about, maintain their relative positions. The reason that the guides change to the rear rank is that their business at all times is to steady and “guide” the line. In order to do this, they must be in the rank which at the moment is leading the company.