Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1917-08-25
:: SELFHELPS for the
: NEW SOLDIER
"''"i"iinnfhrIlIHIi
: BY United States Army Officer
tCopyTight, 1917, by the Wheeler Syndicate. Incl
CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF
THE COMPANY.

Beng in column of squads and wish
ing to change direction, without resort
ing TO the more cumbersome company
front-cumbersome if the space is linn
lted, and altogether impossible if
marching on road-the captain of a
company gives the command, Column
right (eft), MARCH!" This is exc
cuted as fright turn in the school of
the squad; that is, each rank turns to
the right separately on a moving pivot
and continues the advance without fur
Their command.
Being in line if it is desired to form
column of squads, and at the same
time to change direction, one command
is as follows: Squads right Qeft), col
umn right (left), MARCH" In this
case, the extreme right squad initiates
Chat is, begins) the column right as
soon as it has completed squad right"
and the other squads follow with
a right turn. AS far as the change of
direction is concerned, it will be seen
that the same result could be obtained
by Squads right QefD about" which
would completely reverse the front !;
but this would bring the company back
in line, exactly as before, whereas the
present requirement was to throw the
company into. column of squads as
well as to change the direction.
The second of the two ways in which
a company in line can form column of
squads and at the same time change
direction is indicated by the command,
Fright QefD by squads, MARCH!" At
march," the right squad marches for
ward; the remainder of the company
executes squads right, columns left"
and follows the right squad.
Being either in line or in column of
squads, if it is desired either to face
or march to the rear, these commands
may be given: Squads right QefD
about, MARCH!" or Squads right
Qeft about, MARCH. Com
pany, HALT" In the first command,
it is apparent that the march is to
continue, but in the opposite direction.
In the second command, the company
is to halt as soon as the movement
is completed, and results in a simple
reversal of front.
If the company is in column of
squads, the file closers-that is, adj
ditional men not included in the for
nation of squads-turn toward the col
umn and take their posts, which con-
tinue to be on the right of the line,
at the end of the front rank of
squad. If the company is in line, the
file clOserS dart through the nearest
interval between squads and take their
posts in the rear of the company.
To march the company to the rear
for q few PAGES, backward march"
may be given, but it is difficult for
company in line to keep the line
dressed in this movement, so that it is
preferable to command, about FACE
Forward MARCH"
In this case, no further movement
is executed until the line is brought to
a halt and faced to its original front.
If in line, the guides place themselves
in the rear rank, which has now be-
come the front rank. The file clOserS,
facing about, maintain their relative
positions. The reason that the guides
change to the rear rank is that their
business at all times is to steady and
guide" the line. In order to do this.
they must be in the rank which at the
moment is leading the company.