Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-09-24
MACHINE GUN COMPANY
FOR ST. JOHNS COLLEGE
Platoon VIII be Segregated From
Regular Cadet Battalion.
ORDER OF WAR DEPARTMENT.
The Machine Gun Described---Pe
sonnel Of Squad, Capt. Robert G.
Moss Detailed to Command.

3 AAOSS 1NANAANG ~ SSAhhA1IIs
With the progressing plans for or
genizing a Machine Gun Company in
Annapolis and St Johns College. con
siderable interest has arisen as TO the
utility and makeup Of these instru-
ments Of modern warfare The nation
is particularly weak in this respect.
and the great effectiveness Of machine
guns in the European struggle was
caused the War Department to urge the
formation of these organizations where
ever possible
Thus when a regiment of the Ma
tional Guard approaches IN numbers
it's full complement of officers ard men
il is at once ordered to provide for ma
chine guns. The company to be re-
cruited and organized locally will be
part Of the First Regiment, Maryland
National Guard 1t was originally in
tended TO recruit the entire company
n ST Johns College. but it has since
been decided to place only half com
pany tone platoonl at this institution.
and TO organize the other platoon
among the available and Interested
Young men Of Annapolis.
The St Johns platoon Will be segre-
gated from the rest of the battalion of
Cadets, drilling separately at all times
under separate command, and will have
the double capacity of a National Guard
and Cadet organization. The machine
gun is not a separate arm of the serv-
ice but an auxiliary branch to all arms
Of both land and sea forces In ac-
tion the immense amount of ammuni-
tion used rendersc ontinuous fire inn
practicable, so that the fire must be
withheld until critical and decisive
times or when greatest results can be
effected by them
In the assault the guns must be kept
in such a position relative to the sue
cessive attacking positions that they
can be rushed forward in the event of
success to hold the taken position
counter attacks or join in the pursuit;
or, if unsuccessful. to cover the with
drawal. On the defensive ~ as part Of
the rear guard, parties from the Com
pany acting as engineers must be sent
back to choose and prepare successive
positions for the guns to fall back upon
and the guns must never become so in
volved in one position that they can
not be readily removed to the next i'm
comparative safety
The superiority of the fire OF machine
guns over that of rifles is in the great
or accuracy of the former, its annihi-
lating effect because Of greater com
pactness of cone of dispersion, and the
demoralizing effect of its nerve-racking
rattle. THESE qualities render machine
gun fire invaluable against fanat1cal
rushes, in quelliug mobs and street
riots, and against a semi-civilized
enemy
Under ordinary conditions the Ma
chine Gun Company is commanded by
captain 1t is CONFUSED of as many
squads as there are guns assigned to
the company, two squads forming a
platoon. The first. or right platoon, is
commanded by lieutenant if one is
available, if not, by the senior non-com-
missioned officer, other non commits
stoned officers being assigned as pla-
toon leaders and gunners, respectively.
IN order of rank; the sergeant best fit
ted being assigned as range finder ser
geant, and extra non commissioned Of
ficeTs being assigned to duty with pla-
toons, these last taking command of the
platoon IN order of rank in the event of
the absence or disability OF the regular
platoon commander
The squad consists OF a squad leader,
gun-squad ammunition detail and driv-
eFs. The squad-leader is sergeant.
the gunner a corporal or experienced
private, the remainder of the squad are
privates and are designated to spec
ific duties by number No. / is loader
No. ,, tripod carrier, and No. 3 is in
charge of ammunition and extra parts
making himself generally useful around
the gun.
These, with the gunner, constitute the
gun-squad. Nos 4, 5 and are drivers
each in charge of an animal Of the
combat train; Nos. and are the am
munition detail, bringing forward fresh
ammunition from the supply train
Extra men are assigned as drivers OF
extra animals and observers of the
effect of fire. without packs the com
pany forms and maneuvers just as a
company of infantry; with packs the
same principles are followed. alIowan-
ces of distance being made for animals
and drivers to follow their respective
squads.
The driver takes position on the near
Qeft) side of the animal at its head
holding the reins near the bit in his
right hand and the loop in mis- left The
animal is gathered by running the right
hand along the reins until it touches
the under jaw, and this is always done
before moving off. halting or changing
gait or direction. The animal is never
turned sharply, but on the arc of cir
Gle OF yard radius; nor is it ever fac
ed, threatened or led with a taut rein,
but is urged forward, if necessary, from
the rear.
The order of the War Department
contemplates an Appropriation for the
purchasing and maintenance of ami
mails for organizations such as the
one TO be formed locally; also that they