The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-09-24
Q. s. INFANTRY TACTICS.
COMPILED BY A FIGHTING GENERAL
FOR OFFENSIVE WORK.

1nish Line Now Recognized-The Ad-
vance by Leaps and Short Rushes.
The fighting methods of the United
States infantry have now become OF IN
terest to the most peaceable newspa-
per reader. The peace-loving develop
ment of the United States explains
why it was the last nation that re-
formed its infantry tactics in modern
sense. Up till 1891 Upton's "Tac-
tics" which did not even absolutely |
| recognize the skirmish line, was the |
rule. 1t prescribed for rank and file |
the closest alignment. While Upton |
and his ''closed order have been done
away with by the new infantry regu,
lations of October, 1891, there is still
much of the spirit of this antiquated
rule in the present fighting formation.
At present the company, LOG men, is
the tactical unit in the United States
infantry. With its exclusive two-rank
formation it presents front OF nifty
men and two men as guides. The
alignment is six inches, hence less
than elbow touch. In closed order
the company is divided into twenty
five ''fours," which, as soon as the
company advances under fire, are
called squads. Two such squads in
the skirmish line form section, with
q noncommissioned officer, usually
sergeant, as leader. Two sections
form a platoon, commanded by COM
missioned officer. In regard to the
number of sections and platoons to
the company the present regulations
leave much discretion, and the same
is the case with the next highest for
nation, the battalion, which may con-
consist of from two to six companies.
Even tacticians of the European
armies admit that tn IS discretion in the
size of the battalion is not only no
; mistake, but an advantage. Soldiers
who stood in closed order under fire
during the Franco-Prussian war rec
ognize that the much praised German
. tactical unit, the battalion, is too IN
wieldy.
According to the military definition
the tactical unit of an army ought to
) be the maximum of men which COM
mander can reach with his voice.
:. With the present rapid firing, both
for small arms and field guns, it is i'm
possible for German company com.
mander to reach his 200 men with his
voice. far less can the battalion com
mander do so.
The regulation step Of the United
States infantry is thirty inches, OF
O.76 meter, and the time is lis to the
!. minute. In the German army the
. step is O.80 meter. or little more
= than one-half of one per cent. larger
and the time is 112 to the minute, OF
o little more than p per cent, slower
Il Regarding the change from thu
. marching formation to the battle line
= the present infantry regulations OF thu
. United States army prescribe that q
= soon as the company enters the zon'
of the enemy's artillery the line, com
;, pany front, is formed aud the com
:. pany advances in this formation unit
!. the artillery fire begins to be effec
- tive, a distance of about $500 yards
- Then the company commando
70 pushes out number of skirmisher
or scouts in charge of non-commis
~ stoned officer. Before advancing tn
= latter is informed by the compan
~ commander of the tactical task OF tn
- company and of the direction of th
- attack, and next the scouts-six c
!. eight men of a section which the con
y pany commander reserves for SUI
80 port-seek to reach a distance
about $50 yards from the enemy
front.
is This accomplished, the compan
he commander pushes out two section
er in line and the other sections folio
:" as support of both the skirmishe
On and the advance sections. Regardir
tic the distance between the fire line al
the support sections the regulation
to contain nothing definite. This di
It lance is in the German infantry abo
ut 500 yards.
Ter In the meantime the scouts, wi
nv must be good shots and must be pa
he ticularly agile IN taking advantage
ce any cover the territory may atior
it's open skirmishing fire. The next fl
tie lowing two sections form line, kee
Ter ing the squads together as closely
sa- possible. and at about 900 yards the
in SQUADS break into skirmish line al
on take up the scouts or first skirmishel
is The opening of the company firi
raj should be retarded as long as possib
hin though the company commander ms
Ids if the enemy shows exposure, ord
,ck volleys by the company or by des
- mated sharpshooters, in each instan
designating the number OF wolfe.
The first volley is at the same til
the signal for the two support sectio
to to close up, one at each OF the
Inc wings of the company.
bel For the distance from 900 yards
ter 500 yards the company advances
Die: line, firing by sections, the firing
ird be volleys exclusively. Five hundl
ght wards distant from the enemy
ms company advances in leaps, the
,er- vance to be by sections in such MI
Use. ner that the temporarily resting s
tions fire volleys over the heads OF
, rushing sections.
- The leaps or rushes are short, abb
s fifteen yards. They are followed
s': 70 PUSHES in lines, and at 400 yards
- lance from the enemy the comps
commander orders rapid firing, b
ia 'nd onets fixed. Rapid fire upon the
,tsr treating enemy and rules for repuis
. .S.. of q counter attack by the enemy Il
's'- the close of the normal attack OF
infantry company.
IL