Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-07-05
SELF HELPS for the
NEW SOLDER
HOW TO START AND srop.

IN IL small use In being taught
how to march II the soldier does not
know how to start. Knowing how TO
start IN not only important-it ia
fundamental. The whole unity and
smoothness Of . group movement de-
ponds upon whether IL has had q pre-
else beginning. Otherwise, it 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
ed down. perhaps, from the Mace
DOMAIN Phalanx) may exclaim, "Look
-look-everybody's out Of step with
Johnnie"
Knowing how to stOp--tO halt-is
fully as important, If Il movement is
TO have u trim ind military finish. In
some respects, 1t Is even more so, since
t. loose, slack movement with Il snappy
conclusion may leave a better impress
sion than u meteorological effort which
slumps down ut the end and expires.
Just ms all individual movements must
be exact in order to form the essential
habit Of military precision, 80 all
group movements must depend upon
the degree of exactness in the individ-
ual.
Whether u movement, well started,
may be carried to u successful and
precise termination rests upon cadence.
The extent to which the new soldier
may be assimilated into Il military unit
Is governed by the measure In which
he is able to fit his steps and move-
ments to the accepted cadence. This,
for marching at quick time, parades
and the manual Of arms, is at the rate
Of 100 %steps-Or beats-a minute.
Learn then to perform all movements
not otherwise specified at the rate Of
two counts Il second. After this, the
new soldier will find that he can be
shifted from n unit to another with
out a 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' is a preparatory command, and
It's difference from march" the com
mand Of execution, will be explained
In Il later article. At march, the left
foot-always the left ~foot--is moved
smartly forward for the regulation
step Of 30 inches. The sole remains
near the ground and 1t Is planted
without a shock. There is no such
contortion as the goose step in the
United States army.
The command company (squad)
halt is given as either foot strikes
the ground-which foot is governed
by the line on which the halt is to be
made. If 1t is the left foot which
the ground when the command
halt is given. the right foot will
still be planted 30 inches ahead In
marching. The left foot will then be
rnised 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 I'm.
til Il further command-either "For-
march," or halt" is given. The
is given as the right foot strikes
the ground, so that the soldier starts |
again with the left foot. MARK
time is n command that holds a
marching soldier in his tracks, SO to
speak, In marching cadence.