Iditarod pioneer., 1917-09-01
SOME TIMELY INFORMATION
 REGARDING MILITARY TERMS

The following terms nave been adopted by the war department and at the present time in general use:
 A corps is two or more divisions, com manded by major general.
 A division Is composed of two or more brigades, also commanded by major gen. eral
 A brigade, commanded by brigadier gen. eral, is composed of two or more regiments and independent companies or battalions.
 A regiment of infantry consists of twelve line companies and three additional com panles. It IS commanded by colonel, with the following additional officers One lieu tenant colonel, three majors, fifteen captains as company commanders, three of them also being members of the colonePs staff as ad- jutant, quartermaster and commissary; two lieutenants to each company, one lieutenant acting on each of the three majors staffs.
 battalion is made up of four companies and is commanded by a major.
 A company of infantry consists of about l50 men, divided into two platoons; pla- toons are divided into squads a platoon is commanded by a lieutenant--a commis- Sloned officer; two or more squads are com
 
 manded by corporal and comprises seven men besides the corporal
 A company of cavalry IS called q troop and battalion of cavalry is called squad ron
 A company of artillery is called a bat tery It is divided into sections, and there may be different numbers of gun, accord ing to the kind of artillery.
 Three batteries of artillery make bat talion.
 The words company" "troop" or "5at- tery" should not be used before the letter, as Company B." It would be the same as to say Street Jackson" The latter comes first, just as the numeral comes before the word regiment" Second regiment" n1 Regiment Second"
 Troops are either ''federals," regular or naticnel guard. Every male citizen of the United States between the ages of IS and 45 is a member of the militia, Never Use the word when referring to organized bodies of troops.
 There are no such things as militia off cials" or army officials in military par lance They are national guard and army officers.
 slsirmish, engagement, brush, fight or encounter is not battle.
 A battle Is an engagement for the posses sion of certain point and is general in its character Large bodies of troops are en. gascI- more than brigade. Otherwise the fight s an engagement, skrmlsh or an encounter.
 Never say Captain Jones and his soldiers of Company A Say "A company com manded by Captain Jones" did so and so
 Any irregular body Of troops less than company or troop is called detachment unless it Is platoon, or squad, or section of artillery Never say 'Leutenant ,lcnes and number of men" from such and such an organization" Say "a detachment from A company, commanded by Lieutenant Jones'
 Ammunition is spoken of in terms oi rounds. Fifty rounds" means fifty cart ridges fifty shots
 Never say muskets There are not any Artillerymen carry pistols and not reVolverS
 Troops generally move in columns (th5 usual column Is four men abreaSt-tWC ranks comprising a squad, with the cor poral as the man on the left in the real rank. They go into the firing line in 'ez- tender order sometimes referred 10 g. skirmiyh line Troops are sent into battle or engagement as the firing line, the sup port and the reserve The tactical unit 1T l:ne Of battle or engagement Is the bat talion.
 A picket consists of several men -gener ally squad. One of a picket is sentinel or sentry. In front end on the Hanks of all troops in camp are outposts- -picketS All troops doing guard duty, picket duty outpost duty, etc, gre commanded by "the officers of the day. so designated for 8 period of twenty-four hours, as are the troops on guard duty.
 A cavalryman is called trooper"
 A recruit is not a 'rookie' unless you want to use slang The phrase, 'new re- cruit," IS redundant.
 Troors are mustered" into service anC out. Also they are "mustered' each month for the benefit of the paymaster he may know whether dead men are drawing pay.
 The insignia of United States officers des ignating rank are as follows:
 Second leutenant-Brown braid on cuffs gold black hat braid, U. s. on collar, leather leggings.
 First lieutenant-One bar on shoulder