The daily Alaskan., 1917-12-26
SOME ARMY TERMS
Light For the Layman Not Post
 ed on Military Matters.
HOW ARMY UNITS ARE NAMED.

Corps to a Squad-ln Speaking of a
 Company, Troop or Battery the Let
 ter Should Always Be Named First.
 To the culinary civilian, who Is not particularly well posted on military matters. an interpretation of the army terms in general use may prove or h. terest. The following are among those that are most constantly employed:
 A corps is two or more divisions and Is commanded by major general.
 A division is composed of two or more brigades and Is also commanded by a major general.
 \ brigade, commanded by 0r1ga- dler general. Is composed Of two or more regiments and independent com panies or bsttaliOns.
 A regiment of infantry consists Of twelve line companies and three addi- tlonal companies. It Is commanded by a colonel, with the following additional officers: One lieutenant colonel, three majors, fifteen captains as company commanders. three of them also being members of the colOnel's staff ss adJu- tant. uuartermaSter and cOmmtSSaryi two ueutenautS to each company, one lieutenant acting on each of the three majors staffS.
 1 battalion Is made up of four com panies and Is commanded by major.
 NF 4pF SlgfH n about l5O men. divided into two pla- toons; platoons are divided into squads. A platoon Is commanded by lieuten- ant-a commissioned officer; two or more squads are commanded by ser geant; a squad Is commanded by a cor poral and comprises seven men besides the corporal.
 4 company of cavalry Is called a troop, and a battalion of cavalry is called a squadron.
 \ company of artillery Is called 6 battery. IL is divided into sections, and there may be different numbers of guns, according to the kind of artillery.
 Three batteries of artillery make 8 battalion.
 The word company" troop" or battery" should not be used before the letter, as ''Company B." It would be the same as to say Street Jackson" " The letter comes first. just as the nu- neral comes before the word regiment -"Second regiment" not Regiment Second"
 Troops are either "federals" (regulRr) or national guard. Every male citizen ot the United States between the ages of eighteen and forty-fve is a member of the militia. Never use the word when referring to organized bodies of troops.
 There are no such things as militia officials" or army officials" in military parlance. They are national guard and army officers.
 \ skirmish, engagement. brush, nght or encounter Is not battle.
 A battle is an engagement for the possession of a certain point and Is general in its character Large bodies of troops are engaged-mOre than a brigade; otherwise the fight Is an en- gagement q skirmish or an encounter.
 Never say Captain Jones and his soldiers of Company A." Say "A con- pany commanded by Captain Jones did SD and SO"
 Any irregular body of troops less than a company or troops is called detachment unless 1t Is q platoon or suuad or q section o, artillery. Never say lieutenant Jones and number of men" from such and such an or ganization. Say "A detachment from A company, commanded by Lieutenant Jones"
 Ammunition Is spoken of In terms of rounds. Fifty rounds means fifty cartridges-Hfty shots.
 Never say muskets. There are not any. Artillery carry pistols and not revolvers.
 Troops generally move in columns. The usual column Is four men abreast, two ranks comprising squad, with the corporal aS the man on the left in the rear raWE. They go into the firing line in extended order" sometimes referred tu as q Skirmish line. Troops Ire sent into battle or engagement as ,he firing line, the support and the re serve. The tactical unit in line of bat tle or engagement iS the battalion.
 4 picket consists Ur several men, gen orally q squad. One of a picket is a sentinel or sentry. In front und on the Hanks of all troops in camp are out poSts-picketS. All troops doing guard duty. picket duty. outpost duty, etc, Ire commanded by "the officers of the day" so designated for period of twenty-four hours, us are the troops on guard duty.