The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-08-09
SELF HELPS for the
NEW SOLDIER
BY . United States Army Officer
HOW TO START AND STOP.

There Is small use In being taught
how to march II the soldier does not
SNOW how to start. Knowing how to
start is not only lmportant--it Is
fundamental. The whole unity and
smoothness OF a group movement de-
Ponds upon whether 1t has had a pre-
else beginning. Otherwise. IL Is ragged.
Otherwise. It may be completely
spoiled while individuals are bobbing
along. trying to pick up the stride.
Otherwise. also, fond mothers Gas In
the ancient story which has been hand
ID down. perhaps. from the Mace
DOMAIN Phalanx) may exclaim, Look
-look-everybody's out Of step with
Johnniei I"
Knowing how to stop-to halt-ts
faily as important, II a movement IL
10 have a trim and military finish. In
some respects. II IL even more 80, since
a loose, slack movement with u snappy
conclusion may leave a better impress
sion than a w~eil-conducted effort which
siumps down ut the end and expires.
Just ms all individual movements must
DC exact In order to form the essential
habit Of military precision. 10 oil
group movements must depend upon
the degree Of exactness In the indIvid-
ual.
Whether q movement, well started,
may be carried to a successful and
Vrecise teeaAnatl00 rests upos cadence.
Ehe extent TO which the new soldier
snsy be assimliated Into 4 military unit
Is governed BY the measure In which
ne Is able 10 ft his steps and move
ments to the accepted cadence. This.
for marching at quick time. parades
and the manual Of arms, IL ut the rate
Of 120 steps-0r beats--a minute.
Learn then to perform all movements
got otherwise specified Mt the rate Of
two counts a second. After this, the
new soldier will fnd that he can be
shifted from one unit to another with
out . hitch.
Marches start from the position Of
attention. At the command forward"
the weight Of the body Is shifted to the
right leg, but the left knee must be
kept straight, and there must be no
visible evidence Of the transfer. "For-
ward" ID q preparatory command, and
its difference from "march." the COM
mand Of execution. will DO explained
in a later article. At march," the left
fpot-always the left foot-is moved
smartiy forward for tho regulation
step Of 80 inches. The sole remains
near the ground and It Ia planted
without q shock. There In no such
c~ontortion 10 the goose step in the
United States army.
The command company Squad
malt" II given AZ either foot strikes
the ground-which foot In governed
by the line on which the halt In to be
made. II It is the left foot which
strikes the ground when the command
halt" Is given. the right foot will
still be planted 10 inches ahead in
marching. The left foot will then be
raised and placed beside the right
foot. This completes the halt.
To 'mark time" the feet are raised
alternately. and In cadence, about two
inches from the floor and replaced In
the same spot. This Is continued un-
I'll q further command-elther "For.
ward march," or shalt" Is given. The
former Is given rs the right foot strikes
the ground. SO that the soldtsr starts
on again with the left foot. "Mark
time" Is a command that holds q
marching soldier in his tracks, SO "a
speak, In marching cadence.