The morning call., 1890-10-27
BOYS IN BLUE.
New Drill Regulations for the
Infantry.
Battalion Drills in the First Regiment.
Tactics in demand in the Fifth-Kud
Words From an Army officer.


showing careful study of the most recent
developments of tactical science abroad. In
many respects the Board of Revision has
been Conservative, in others it has broken
away entirely from the systems followed in
the past. The work is largely a compilation.
In its close order, or maneuyer formations,
Upton has been followed; in the extended
order formations the French, Belgian and
German systems, the frst-named predomi-
mating In the close order the double rank
is taken as the normal formation for in
fantry, the single rank being omitted eX-
cept for the purposes of drilling recruits.
TIE men. in close order, preserve an inter
val Of six inches. The most important fea-
ture Of the school of the soldier is in the in
Structiun Of the squad, which is intended to
be a permanent unit under the command of
a corporal, who maneuyers it by signals.
The provisions of the school require Oh the
whole more careful and thoroGgh training
of the individual
The manual of arms and the bayOnat eX-
ercises have been simplified and the COM
maBds for firing indicate the objective and
the range. The wheelugs are abolished and
for them the turn is substituted, the turn be-
ing quicker, more direct movement and a
much simpler one, now very seldom made
use Of. The company is divided into two
platOons and each platoon into two sections,
each section containing two or more squads
of eight men in double ranks. In the close
order drill the squad is termed a four. The
company is sized and formed, and fours
thereafter fall in the same place. The COM
pany drill is practically the same as in Up
ton, with a few additional movements for
forming il line OF plalOons in column of
fours.
ON BASIS OF FOUR COMPANIES.
The battalion is composed Of two or more
companies, not exceeding six, and move
ments ale explained on a basis of four com
panies. Companies are arranged in line as
III Upton. The color guard is composed Of
one Sergeant and two selected soldiers. and
q es not, as now, occupy fixed position on
Tie lett IN the color company. An interval
Of three PAGES is left between companies.
Tie maneuyer5 are, IN general. as in Upton,
with additions, principally the formations OF
companies succeSSNely, from column oil
f0urs into column OF companies, and from
column II companies mo column OF fours,
changing direction at the same lime.
An important new feature is the greater
DEVELOPMENT given to movements in line Of
columns and the adoption OF maneuYerS IN
platoon column, the latter formation being
defined as a company in column of pla-
ICONS" The movements by wings of battal-
ions, the double column and by divisions
are o. itted from the new drill. The regi-
mont imposed of three battaiiOuS, formed
with rivals of tWenty-four PAGES. The
eyolutionS prescribed are similar 10 thuse
for the brigade in Upton and provide for
formation in one. two or three lines. Prom
inence IS given to movements to and from
line and column of masses, recognizing the
impOrtanceS Of these formations preparatory
10 an engagement.
Such are, in brief, few of the most I'M
pOItant changes to be found in the new reg
ulatIonS. The old commands have generally
been retained and the new system can read
lily be learned by those familiar with Upton.
The Register claims for the new regulations
that there can be no doubt that the new
drill provides facilities for maneuNer IN
equai!ed by any foreign system, either in
QLlckGesS of execution or in the variety of
means provided for at aiming any given end.
Indeed, il might be urged as an objection
that more movements are prescribed than
are eSsentiaLz
BATTALION DRILLS IN THE FIRST.
The series OF battalion drills in tie First
Infantry was brought 10 a close Oh Thurs
day evening, Major Sullivan having borne
all the brunt OF the work. The first drill was
on Monday evening, when Companies G and
q and Is assembled. Company q was rep
resented by two companies OF twelve files
front, double rank, with guides; c with one
company in double rank and the other In
single, and b, two companies in single rank.
but with odd files in the line of fie-clOsers.
Tie men made good appearance, all of B's
being uniformed with gloves, though in g a
Sergeant vas conspicuous because lacking
gloves, and Corporal not less conspicuous
fer being alone III having a leather strap to
his gun, while in G one man was without
gloves and another not in his uniform panta-
looms.
The left guides, with one notable excep-
ton, did not come 10 "caTry" when the
guide was on them, but after one caution
tHey did not again offend in this respect. A
few minor errors were committed during the
drill, but in each case promptly rectitied by
Tie officer in command. As whole the
drill was good, in fact Major Sullivan COM
pimented officers and men by stating that
II was tile best drill ever held in the regi-
mental army.
On Tuesday evening D and Fl drilled, D
represented by two CONF anies, twelve files
front, double rank, lacking, however, 4 set
II fJurS III one company, and II by one
company, single rank. The men were in
Uniform and no criticism can be made on
this score. The drill was almost entirely in
movements on the right and very ioOr,
though IN justice it should be stated that the
blame was not with the men but with the
Lleutenants in command. Captain Bush
was in command OF the first company and
Lieulenants in charge of the other three,
Captain Jansen being absent.
On Thursday evening came the turn of
Companies 4 and +, which were drilled as
ur companies, twelve files front, single
rank. The nOn-cOmmissiOned officers were
in the minority, the list numbering one
First Sergeant, six Sergeants and as MANY
CcrpoIals for the two companies. In A
there was one man without gloves and
Corporal in black pantalOOns, and in + two
men without the pantalOonS belonging to
their uniform: man WAS noted with
COrpOraPs stripe on his pantalOons and no
other insignia OF his rank, il he had any,
While another spOrte First SeTgeants
IoZ nge On the sleeves of his blouse. The
drill and manual Of arms were only fair.
The ColGr-seTgeant and general guides we're
unknown quantities ut these drills.
READ UP YOUR TACTICS.
The structures OF the Oakland Tribune
have speedily borne fruit in tie Fifth, and
Colonel Fairbanks has appointed Lieu
tenant-Colouel A. X. Wilton, Captain c. \.
Hagan of Company 3 (San JOSE and Lieu
tenant T. ). Potts, C., board to sit at san
Jose to examine candidates for appointment
as non-commissione officers; Major f. r.
4. L. Smith of F and A, to sit in
Oakland, and Captains l.. W. JUL
lard, II. Il. Hiushaw and W. Elliott
to sit at such place as they may be from
time to tiL-e directed 10 examine candidates
in the Eetalnma, San Rafael and Santa
JOSd tDl pdllIt1s -NOl-GUuIIuioSlElltu ULlttlS
will il the future be appointed on recon-
mendation only after having passed salts
factory examination. In conclusion orders
declare:
The attention OF all non-comnissioned officers
OF this command is hereby directed to The neces-
rity Of tiieiT being tfcienl aud thoroughly conf
Teent to perform all the duties Of their position.
il is The intention of the commanding officer 10
have thorough school OF Instruction IN the sew
eJai companies during The month Of December,
NJ which time they viii be expected II called
upou 10 pass satisfactory examination iu tn
tactics and IN guard duty, Including both tleir
duties ana The dulles OF and instruction 10 senti-
nel>. Those falling to pass such examination
may have tier warrants revoked.
WHO Will say now that Colonel Fairbanks
is not endeayoring to make them toe the
marx?
AN UNwARRANTED CONCLUSION.
An evening paper after rehashing The
CALLS condensation of the official report
concludes unwarrautably, as usual, that
The report OF the Division Inspector j.
w. Staples, on The summer cam OF the
guard is flied with such unfrieady crili-
cism that a aEman will naturally ask why
the eucampmeutS were ever neld." The re-