The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-09-07


Ia the preceding articles on the
school Of the company, the platoon
mas purposely been left out OF consid
Grafton and the attention confined Il
she squad and company. The reason
yves that the principles upon which
platoon movements are executed arc
based on those Of the squad and com.
S,any; for the platoon. consisting OF
from two 70 four squads, Ii simply
company on reduced scale, OF q
squad on an enlarged scale, aud Ii
handled. generally speaking, accord
Ingiy Moreover, when the new sol.
der. after drill IN the school Of the
squad, Is FIRST placed In the school Of
the company. he IL taught the appIi-
cation " his squad movements In come
pnny formation. and this supplies the
natural connection between squad and
company eyolutions.
The platoon, as has been snId before.
As to the company what the company
Is 10 The battalion. Iii warstrength
campany there are four platoons. and
10 either peace or war strength bat
TALON there are fonr companies. lit
Is therefore apparent that such move
snents az Company right (left),"
which are for the purpose Of throwing
. column Of companies into line OF the
battalion are simulated with "piatoons
right tlyffl." by turning the platoons
on a fixed pivot into a line OF the com.
pany
A. pointed out In connection with
company right tieft)," the movement
Is the same Ia principle as "sqnnd
right ucftl"; but since platoon com
2Isis Of two three or four squads 1--WE
shall assume hereafter that the pla.
soon II ne The war strength Of four
squads, or nc menl. in such points as
the rules vary between squad and com
pany right the platoon follows the
rules for the company.
The reason fpr the subdivision Of the
company into four plaioons. Instead Of
two, as formerly, is-that modern bAtle
conditions have demonstrated Tint
from twenty 10 thirty rides arc ae
many as can be effectively controlled
ny one leader The platoon IL there
fore the Gre unit. MS We shail see when
we take up extended-0r,ier drill for the
company.
The platoons are commanded as fol-
lows The platoon on the right uf the
line. by the first lieutenant; the pla-
soon at the left Of the line, by the
second lieutenant; the platoon At
right center, BY the FIRST sergeant. ana
the psasu.M ~ left center, by the ser.
xeant next la rank.
Each platoon has sergeant for
guide. and the file closers are distrlh,
uted according 10 their posts behind
he line % the company. The musl-
clans march uu hle closers with the
flrsi platoon.
The plntoOns are numbered consecu-
lively from right 10 left. ana these des-
tgnntions do not change. Since tho
platoon Is the fire unit, its usefulness
~ most apparent ia extended order:
hut IL Is also frequently employed IN
marches. an the parade ground, or in
iAe armory In parades through the
streets at city company front Of
% men would generally be impossible;
also company front Of -. or two
platoons, Is frequently too Wide. The
column u platoons formation, there.
fore, OF war strength company would
give front ~ men wide. aud this
would accommodate itself 10 streets
which were too narrow for the two.
platoon front
Nevertheless, In garrison or ceremo-
Eales, the strength Of platoons may. II
desirable. exceed four squads. That Is,
, under such circumstances. the com
!, pany might be divided into two pla-
ICONS of eight squads each.