EXTENDED ORDER.
_Rules for Deployment._
199. The command _guide right (left_ or _center)_ indicates the base squad for the deployment; if in line it designates the actual _right (left_ or _center)_ squad; if in column the command _guide right (left)_ designates the _leading_ squad, and the command _guide center_ designates the _center_ squad. After the deployment is completed, the guide is _center_ without command, unless otherwise ordered.
200. At the preparatory command for forming skirmish line, from either column of squads or line, each squad leader (except the leader of the base squad, when his squad does not advance), cautions his squad, _follow me_ or _by the right (left) flank_, as the case may be; at the command _march_, he steps in front of his squad and leads it to its place in line.
201. Having given the command for forming skirmish line, the captain, if necessary, indicates to the corporal of the base squad the point on which the squad is to march; the corporal habitually looks to the captain for such directions.
202. The base squad is deployed as soon as it has sufficient interval.
The other squads are deployed as they arrive on the general line; each corporal halts in his place in line and commands or signals, _as skirmishers_; the squad deploys and halts abreast of him.
If tactical considerations demand it, the squad is deployed before arriving on the line.
203. Deployed lines preserve a general alignment toward the guide.
Within their respective fronts, individuals or units march so as best to secure cover or to facilitate the advance, but the general and orderly progress of the whole is paramount.
On halting, a deployed line faces to the front (direction of the enemy) in all cases and takes advantage of cover, the men lying down if necessary.
204. The company in skirmish line _advances_, _halts_, moves _by the flank_, or _to the rear_, _obliques_, resumes _the direct march_, pa.s.ses from _quick_ to _double time_ and the reverse by the same commands and in a similar manner as in close order; if at a halt, the movement _by the flank_ or _to the rear_ is executed by the same commands as when marching. _Company right (left, half right, half left)_ is executed as explained for the front rank, skirmish intervals being maintained.
205. A platoon or other part of the company is deployed and marched in the same manner as the company, subst.i.tuting in the commands, _platoon_ (_detachment_, etc.) for _company_.
_Deployments._
206. Being in line, to form skirmish line to the front: 1. _As skirmishers, guide right (left_ or _center)_, 2. _MARCH_.
If marching, the corporal of the base squad moves straight to the front; when that squad has advanced the desired distance, the captain commands: 1. _Company_, 2. _HALT_. If the guide be _right (left)_, the other corporals move to the _left (right)_ front, and, in succession from the base, place their squads on the line; if the guide be center, the other corporals move to the _right_ or _left_ front, according as they are on the right or left of the center squad, and in succession from the center squad place their squads on the line.
If at a halt, the base squad is deployed without advancing; the other squads may be conducted to their proper places by the flank; interior squads may be moved when squads more distant from the base have gained comfortable marching distance.
207. Being in column of squads, to form skirmish line to the front: 1.
_As skirmishers, guide right (left_ or _center)_, 2. _MARCH_.
If marching, the corporal of the base squad deploys it and moves straight to the front; if at a halt, he deploys his squad without advancing. If the guide be _right (left)_, the other corporals move to the _left (right) front_, and, in succession from the base, place their squads on the line; if the guide be _center_, the corporals in front of the center squad move to the right (if at a halt, to the right rear), the corporals in rear of the center squad move to the left front, and each, in succession from the base, places his squad on the line.
The column of twos or files is deployed by the same commands and in like manner.
208. The company in line or in column of squads may be deployed in an oblique direction by the same commands. The captain points out the desired direction; the corporal of the base squad moves in the direction indicated; the other corporals conform.
209. To form skirmish line to the flank or rear the line or the column of squads is turned by squads to the flank or rear and then deployed as described.
210. The intervals between men are increased or decreased as described in the School of the Squad, adding to the preparatory command, _guide right (left_ or _center)_ if necessary.
_The a.s.sembly._
211. The captain takes his post in front of, or designates, the element on which the company is to a.s.semble and commands: 1.
_a.s.semble_, 2. _MARCH_.
If in skirmish line the men move promptly toward the designated point and the company is re-formed in line. If a.s.sembled by platoons, these are conducted to the designated point by platoon leaders, and the company is re-formed in line.
Platoons may be a.s.sembled by the command: 1. _Platoons, a.s.semble_, 2.
_MARCH_.
Executed by each platoon as described for the company.
One or more platoons may be a.s.sembled by the command: 1. _Such platoon(s), a.s.semble_, 2. _MARCH_.
Executed by the designated platoon or platoons as described for the company.
_The Advance._
212. The advance of a company into an engagement (whether for attack or defense) is conducted in close order, preferably column of squads, until the probability of encountering hostile fire makes it advisable to deploy. After deployment, and before opening fire, the advance of the company may be continued in skirmish line or other suitable formation, depending upon circ.u.mstances. The advance may often be facilitated, or better advantage taken of cover, or losses reduced by the employment of the _platoon_ or _squad columns_ or by the use of a _succession of thin lines_. The selection of the method to be used is made by the captain or major, the choice depending upon conditions arising during the progress of the advance. If the deployment is found to be premature, it will generally be best to a.s.semble the company and proceed in close order.
Patrols are used to provide the necessary security against surprise.
213. Being in skirmish line: 1. _Platoon columns_, 2. _MARCH_.
The platoon leaders move forward through the center of their respective platoons; men to the right of the platoon leader march to the left and follow him in file; those to the left march in like manner to the right; each platoon lender thus conducts the march of his platoon in double column of files; platoon guides follow in rear of their respective platoons to insure prompt and orderly execution of the advance.
214. Being in skirmish line: 1. _Squad columns_, 2. _MARCH_.
Each squad leader moves to the front; the members of each squad oblique toward and follow their squad leader in single file at easy marching distances.
215. _Platoon columns_ are profitably used where the ground is so difficult or cover so limited as to make it desirable to take advantage of the few favorable routes; no two platoons should march within the area of burst of a single shrapnel.[1] _Squad columns_ are of value princ.i.p.ally in facilitating the advance over rough or brush-grown ground; they afford no material advantage in securing cover.
[Footnote 1: Ordinarily about 20 yards wide.]
216. To deploy platoon or squad columns: 1. _As skirmishers_, 2.
_MARCH_.
Skirmishers move to the right or left front and successively place themselves in their original positions on the line.
217. Being in platoon or squad columns: 1. _a.s.semble_, 2. _MARCH_.
The platoon or squad leaders signal _a.s.semble_. The men of each platoon or squad, as the case may be, advance and, moving to the right and left, take their proper places in line, each unit a.s.sembling on the leading element of the column and re-forming in line. The platoon or squad leaders conduct their units toward the element or point indicated by the captain, and to their places in line; the company is re-formed in line.
218. Being in skirmish line, to advance by a succession of thin lines: 1. _(Such numbers), forward_, 2. _MARCH_.
The captain points out in advance the selected position in front of the line occupied. The designated number of each squad moves to the front; the line thus formed preserves the original intervals as nearly as practicable; when this line has advanced a suitable distance (generally from 100 to 250 yards, depending upon the terrain and the character of the hostile fire), a second is sent forward by similar commands, and so on at irregular distances until the whole line has advanced. Upon arriving at the indicated position, the first line is halted. Successive lines, upon arriving, halt on line with the first and the men take their proper places in the skirmish line.
Ordinarily each line is made up of one man per squad and the men of a squad are sent forward in order from right to left as deployed. The first line is led by the platoon leader of the right platoon, the second by the guide of the right platoon, and so on in order from right to left.
The advance is conducted in quick time unless conditions demand a faster gait.
The company having arrived at the indicated position, a further advance by the same means may be advisable.