The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1917-07-13
SELF HELPS for the
NEW SOLDIER
s''''a''"'''''---a-
By United States Army officer
tcopyrght. 1911. By the whesler svpa,..,. :.
HOW TO START AND STOP.

Ihere is small use In being taught
now to march If the soldier does not
KNOW how to start. Knowing how to
start is not only important-it Is
fundamental The whole unity and
smoothness of group movement de-
Ponds upon whether it has had 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 (as In
the ancient story which has been hand
ed down, perhaps. from the Mace
DOMAIN Phalanx) may exclaim. look
-iook--eyerybody's out of step with
Johnnie! |"
knowing how to stop--to halt-is
fully as important, If movement is
to have trim and military finish. In
some respects, it is even more so, since
a loose, slack movement with a snappy
conclusion may leave a better impress
sion than well-conducted effort which
siumps down at the end and expires.
Just as all individual movements must
be exact in order to form the essential
habit of military precision. SO all
group movements must depend upon
the degree of exactness in the individ-
ual
Whether a movement, well started,
may be carried to q successful and
precise termination rests upon cadence.
The extent to which the new soldier
may be. assimilated into 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 40 steps-or beats-a minute.
Learn then to perform all movements
not otherwise specified at the rate of
two counts second. After this, the
new soldier will find that he can be
shifted from one unit to another with
out 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 preparatory command, and
its difference from march," the com
mand of execution, will be explained
in later article. AT march, the left
foot-always the left foot-is moved
smartly forward for the regulation
step of 80 inches. The sole remains
near the ground and 1t is planted
without 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
strikes the ground when the command
halt is given, the right foot will
still be planted 80 inches ahead in
marching. The left foot will then be
raised 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 a further command-either For
ward march, or halt is given. The
former Is given as the right foot strikes
the ground. so that the soldier starts
off again with the left foot. mark
time" is command that holds a
marching soldier in his tracks, so to
speak, in marching cadence.