Each man, independently of the others, comes to the _ready_, aims carefully and deliberately at the aiming point or target, _fires_, _loads_, and continues the firing until ordered to _suspend_ or _cease firing_.
147. To increase (decrease) the rate of fire in progress the instructor shouts: _FASTER (SLOWER)_.
Men are trained to fire at the rate of about three shots per minute at effective ranges and five or six at close ranges, devoting the minimum of time to loading and the maximum to deliberate aiming. To ill.u.s.trate the necessity for deliberation, and to habituate men to combat conditions, small and comparatively indistinct targets are designated.
_To Fire by Clip._
148. _CLIP FIRE._
Executed in the same manner as _fire at will_, except that each man, after having exhausted the cartridges then in the piece, _suspends firing_.
_To Suspend Firing._
149. The instructor blows a _long blast_ of the whistle and repeats same, if necessary, or commands: _SUSPEND FIRING_.
Firing stops; pieces are held loaded and locked, in a position of readiness for instant resumption of firing, rear sights unchanged. The men continue to observe the target or aiming point, or the place at which the target disappeared, or at which it is expected to reappear.
This whistle signal may be used as a preliminary to _cease firing_.
_To Cease Firing._
150. _CEASE FIRING._
Firing stops; pieces not already there are brought to the position of load, the cut-off turned down if firing from magazine, the cartridge is drawn or the empty sh.e.l.l is ejected, the trigger is pulled, sights are laid down, and the piece is brought to the order.
_Cease firing_ is used for long pauses to prepare for changes of position or to steady the men.
(_C.I.D.R., No. 7._)
151. Commands for suspending or ceasing fire may be given at any time after the preparatory command for firing whether the firing has actually commenced or not.
_THE USE OF COVER._
152. The recruit should be given careful instruction in the individual use of cover.
It should be impressed upon him that, in taking advantage of natural cover, he must be able to tire easily and effectively upon the enemy; if advancing on an enemy, he must do so steadily and as rapidly as possible; he must conceal himself as much as possible while firing and while advancing. While setting his sight he should be under cover or lying p.r.o.ne.
153. To teach him to fire easily and effectively, at the same time concealing himself from the view of the enemy, he is practiced in simulated firing in the p.r.o.ne, sitting, kneeling, and crouching positions, from behind hillocks, trees, heaps of earth or rocks, from depressions, gullies, ditches, doorways, or windows. He is taught to fire around the right side of his concealment whenever possible, or, when this is not possible, to rise enough to fire over the top of his concealment.
When these details are understood, he is required to select cover with reference to an a.s.sumed enemy and to place himself behind it in proper position for firing.
154. The evil of remaining too long in one place, however good the concealment, should be explained. He should be taught to advance from cover to cover, selecting cover in advance before leaving his concealment.
It should be impressed upon him that a man running rapidly toward an enemy furnishes a poor target. He should be trained in springing from a p.r.o.ne position behind concealment, running at top speed to cover and throwing himself behind it. He should also be practiced in advancing from cover to cover by crawling, or by lying on the left side, rifle grasped in the right hand, and pushing himself forward with the right leg.
155. He should be taught that, when fired on while acting independently, he should drop to the ground, seek cover, and then endeavor to locate his enemy.
156. The instruction of the recruit in the use of cover is continued in the combat exercises of the company, but he must then be taught that the proper advance of the platoon or company and the effectiveness of its fire is of greater importance than the question of cover for individuals. He should also be taught that he may not move about or shift his position in the firing line except the better to see the target.
_OBSERVATION._
157. The ability to use his eyes accurately is of great importance to the soldier. The recruit should be trained in observing his surrounding from positions and when on the march.
He should be practiced in pointing out and naming military features of the ground; in distinguishing between living beings; in counting distant groups of objects or beings; in recognizing colors and forms.
158. In the training of men in the mechanism of the firing line, they should be practiced in repeating to one another target and aiming point designations and in quickly locating and pointing out a designated target. They should be taught to distinguish, from a p.r.o.ne position, distant objects, particularly troops, both with the naked eye and with field gla.s.ses. Similarly, they should be trained in estimating distances.
SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY.
159. The captain is responsible for the theoretical and practical instruction of his officers and noncommissioned officers, not only in the duties of their respective grades, but in those of the next higher grades.
160. The company in line is formed in double rank with the men arranged, as far as practicable, according to height from right to left, the tallest on the right.
The original division into squads is effected by the command: _COUNT OFF_. The squads, successively from the right, count off as in the School of the Squad, corporals placing themselves as Nos. 4 of the front rank. If the left squad contains less than six men, it is either increased to that number by transfers from other squads or is broken up and its members a.s.signed to other squads and posted in the line of file closers. These squad organizations are maintained, by transfers if necessary, until the company becomes so reduced in numbers as to necessitate a new division into squads. No squad will contain less than six men.
161. The company is further divided into two, three, or four platoons, each consisting of not less than two nor more than four squads. In garrison or ceremonies the strength of platoons may exceed four squads.
162. At the formation of the company the platoons or squads are numbered consecutively from right to left and these designations do not change.
For convenience in giving commands and for reference, the designations, _right_, _center_, _left_, when in line, and _leading_, _center_, _rear_, when in column, are applied to platoons or squads.
These designations apply to the actual right, left, center, head, or rear, in whatever direction the company may be facing. The _center squad_ is the middle or right middle squad of the company.
The designation "So-and-so"s" squad or platoon may also be used.
163. Platoons are a.s.signed to the lieutenants and noncommissioned officers, in order of rank, as follows: 1, right; 2, left; 3, center (right center); 4, left center.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate II. THE COMPANY.]
The noncommissioned officers next in rank are a.s.signed as guides, one to each platoon. If sergeants still remain, they are a.s.signed to platoons as additional guides. When the platoon is deployed, its guide, or guides, accompany the platoon leader.
During battle, these a.s.signments are not changed: vacancies are filled by noncommissioned officers of the platoon, or by the nearest available officers or noncommissioned officers arriving with reenforcing troops.
164. The first sergeant is never a.s.signed as a guide. When not commanding a platoon, he is posted as a file closer opposite the third file from the outer flank of the first platoon; and when the company is deployed he accompanies the captain.
The quartermaster sergeant, when present, is a.s.signed according to his rank as a sergeant.
Enlisted men below the grade of sergeant, armed with the rifle, are in ranks unless serving as guides; when not so armed, they are posted in the line of file closers.
Musicians, when required to play, are at the head of the column. When the company is deployed, they accompany the captain.