Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 194, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1917 — THE TWO MOST DIFFICULT COMPANY MOVEMENTS. [ARTICLE]

THE TWO MOST DIFFICULT COMPANY MOVEMENTS.

We now come to the two company movements most difficult to master. They are “on right (left) into line” and “right (left) front into line.” Both movements must be executed from column of squads. To form the company line on the right or left from the column of squads, the command is “On right (left) into line, MARCH. . . . Company, HALT. . . . FRONT!” At the preparatory command from the captain, the corporal of the first squad gives his own men the command "Right turn;” the corporals of the remaining squads give “Forward.” At “MARCH,” the command of execution, the leading squad turns to’ the right on a moving pivot —that is, it executes “right turn” as taught in the school of the squad. The command “Halt” is given when the first squad has advanced the desired distance in the new direction. This command is from the captain, and will halt the whole company squad by squad as the successive squads place themselves in line with the leading squad. As soon as the halt is executed by the first squad, the corporal commands, “Right dress,” and the squad continues to remain at the right dress until the movement is completed by the company and the captain orders “front” after confirming the company alignments.. The other squads, in obedience to the command “Forward,” from their corporals, continue to march straight to the front until each is opposite the right of its place In the line. It then executes “right turn” at the command of the corporal, and is halted on the line at the command of its„corporaL He then gives, “Right dress.” Each unit in succession dresses on the first Unit in line. To form company line in the front, when in column of squads, the command would be, “Right (left) front into line, MARCH. . . . Company, Halt. _ . FRONT!” At the preparutory command, all corporals, ex-

cept leader of the first squad, gi re the corqmand “Right oblique.” If the company is at a halt, the corporal of the first squad commands “Forward." (He usually does this anyhow, for the Instruction of his men, although it is not required by the regulations if the column already Is marching.) At “march,” the command of execution from the captain, the first squad moves straight to the front, while the rear squads each oblique as Indicated. When the leading squad ha,s advanced the desired distance, the command “halt” is given by the captain. The squad halts, and the corporal gives the command “Left dress.” Each of the succeeding squads when, by obliquing to the right, has reached a point opposite its position in line, marches “forward” at the command of its corporal; by this command it is also halted and executes the “left dress.” All dress on the first unit in line. In this movement it will be observed that there is a variation from the usual series of commands. For example, although we have “right front into line,followed by “right oblique,” this is not brought ,to a conclusion with “right dress,” but w'lth “LEFT DRESS.” Yet the reason is obvious to the new soldier when he has once seen the movement executed. The leading squad, remember, marches straight .to the front and' the other squads oblique to the right. This causes them to form on the right of the first squad when they reach the line. The first squad, therefore —the squad upon which all the others are to dress —is now established at their left. It is necessary, then to give “left dress.”