The following examinations, given at the second Plattsburg Training Camp, will enable students of military matters to form some idea as to where they stand in their grasp of the subject:
Plattsburg Training Camp:
1. Explain the "Position of the Soldier." (Par. 51, i.d.r.) 2. Being at parade rest, explain position of right foot. (Par. 53, i.d.r.) 3. Explain the "Hand Salute." (Par. 58, i.d.r.) 4. (1) Give length of full step (a) in quick time, (b) in double time.
(2) How is the full step measured? (Par. 60, i.d.r.) 5. Explain "Halt" from quick time. (Par. 70, i.d.r.) 6. Explain position of b.u.t.t of rifle at "Order Arms" standing.
(Par. 77, i.d.r.) 7. Explain position of left forearm at present arms. (Par. 78, i.d.r.) 8. At parade rest under arms (rifle), explain position of left hand. (Par. 90, i.d.r.) 9. The squad being in line explain "Squad Right." (Par. 119, i.d.r.) 10. The company in line, give commands and explain "To dismiss the company." (Par. 174, i.d.r.)
1. Being in any formation a.s.sembled, give commands and explain movements for deploying the squad as skirmishers. (Par. 124, i.d.r.) 2. When deployed as skirmishers (a) How do the men march? (b) How are the pieces carried? (c) Who is the guide? (d) What is the normal interval between skirmishers? (e) What is the length of the front of the squad when deployed at normal intervals? (Par.
124, i.d.r.) 3. In what formations are the loadings executed? (Par. 133, i.d.r.) 4. At the preparatory command for forming skirmish line, what does each squad leader do? (Par. 200, i.d.r.) 5. In what direction does a deployed line face on halting? (Par.
203.) 6. Being in skirmish line, explain the movement "Platoon columns."
March. (Par. 213, i.d.r.) 7. What is the purpose of the advance in a succession of thin lines? (Par. 219, i.d.r.) 8. Name three cla.s.ses of fire. Which cla.s.s is normally employed in action? (Par. 241-2-3, i.d.r.) 9. Why is it necessary to have proper distribution of fire? (Par.
246, i.d.r.) 10. Explain briefly the functions of platoon leaders, platoon guides and squad leaders in the fire fight. (Par. 252, i.d.r.)
1. Explain the position of parade rest (without arms). (Par. 53, i.d.r.) 2. Being in the position of the soldier, explain the position of the heels, feet and knees. (Par. 51, i.d.r.) 3. Give the commands for and explain the execution of "Right Face."
4. Being at a halt, give the commands for moving forward in quick time and explain the execution thereof. (Par. 62, i.d.r.) 5. (a) Being in march in quick time, give the commands necessary to march in double time and explain the execution thereof, (Par. 63, i.d.r.) (b) What is the length of step and the rate of steps per minute in double time? (Par. 60, i.d.r.) 6. At "Right Shoulder Arms": (a) Explain the position of the trigger guard. (Par. 83, i.d.r.) (b) What is the position of the barrel? (Par. 88, i.d.r.) 7. In the rifle salute (right shoulder arms), describe the position of the: (a) Left forearm on first count, (Par. 93, i.d.r.) (b) Left hand on first count. (Par. 93, i.d.r.) 8. Explain the position of the left forearm on the second count of right shoulder arms from order arms. (Par. 83, i.d.r.) 9. The squad being in line explain "Squad right about." (Par. 121, i.d.r.) 10. Explain the execution of "Right by Squads," 2 March. (Par. 183, i.d.r.)
1. What are the two general cla.s.ses of military information? (Par.
9, f.s.r.) 2. What do you understand by the term "reconnaissance?" (Par. 11, f.s.r.) 3. (a) Name the various kinds of patrols. (Note to Par. 23, f.s.r.) (b) What are the advantages of small patrols over strong patrols? (Par. 24, f.s.r.) 4. What governs the formation adopted by the patrol? (Par. 26, f.s.r.) 5. What is a field message? (Par. 32, f.s.r.) 6. (a) What is the function of an advance guard? (Par. 40, f.s.r.) (b) What of a flank guard? (Par. 53, f.s.r.) 7. (a) What is an outpost? (Par. 60, f.s.r.) (b) How are the outguards cla.s.sified? (Par. 64, f.s.r.) 8. Define a successful march. (Par. 96, f.s.r.) 9. What rules govern the halts of a column of troops on the march?
(Par. 102, f.s.r.) 10. (a) From a certain point off the road you observe a column of troops marching on the road. You can distinguish that these troops are infantry in column of squads. It requires 20 minutes for them to pa.s.s a given point. How much infantry is in the column? (Par. 27, f.s.r.) (b) The day is still, no wind blowing, further to the rear you can see a broken cloud of dust extending in prolongation of the road but cannot see the cause. What does this indicate?
(Par. 27, f.s.r.)
Harvard College. School of the Soldier:
1. Define depth, distance, interval, front, base, point of rest, deployment, pace. (i.d.r. definitions.) 2. (a) What is the guide of the leading subdivision, in column of subdivisions, charged with? (Par. 20, i.d.r.) (b) What is the guide of the subdivisions in rear charged with?
(Par. 20, i.d.r.) 3. What are orders, commands and signals. (Par. 31, 37, i.d.r.) 4. Describe position of the soldier or attention (without arms.) (i.d.r. 51.) 5. What are the rests? Describe each. (Par. 52, i.d.r.) 6. Describe about face. (Par. 57, i.d.r.) 7. (a) Being at a halt, or marching in quick time, to march in double time. Describe commands and how executed. (Par. 63, i.d.r.) (b) Marching in double time, to resume quick time. Describe commands and how executed. (Par. 64, i.d.r.) 8. What are the rules that govern the carrying of the piece? (Par.
75, i.d.r.) 9. What general rules govern the execution of the manual of arms?
(Par. 76, i.d.r.) 10. Give the rate per minute and length of the half step and full step in quick and double time. (Par. 60, i.d.r.) 11. What are the arm signals for: Column left, march; halt; as skirmishers, march; a.s.semble, march; suspend firing; range, 250 yards; fix bayonets. (Par. 43, i.d.r.) 12. Explain the execution of the command "Right Dress." (Par. 107, i.d.r.)
School of the Squad:
1. To suspend firing: Give the commands and describe execution.
Same, to cease firing. (Par. 149-150, i.d.r.) 2. Describe in detail the execution of "Squads Right." (Par. 119, i.d.r.) 3. Give the commands and explain execution for taking intervals.
How does it differ from taking distances? (Pars. 109, 110, 111, 112, i.d.r.) 4. Describe in detail "Right oblique, March." (Par. 116, i.d.r.) 5. Explain the use of "In place, Halt." (Par. 14, i.d.r.) 6. When can the following commands be used: Resume March. (Par. 14, i.d.r.) Oblique March. (Par. 117, i.d.r.) By the right flank, March. (Par. 71, i.d.r.) Take Arms. (Par. 114, i.d.r.) 7. Describe by what commands and in what manner a squad is formed.
8. (a) Being in line, give the commands and describe the movements for turning on a moving pivot.
(b) Being in line, give the commands and describe the movements for turning on a fixed pivot.
9. Being in any formation, a.s.sembled, give the commands and describe the movements for deploying as skirmishers.
School of the Company:
1. Give the proper commands for the following movements: (a) Company being in line, to march to the front in column of squads. (Par. 183, i.d.r.) (b) Company being in line, to form column of squads to the flank. (Par. 178, i.d.r.) (c) Company being in line, to form skirmish line. (Par. 206, 200, 202, i.d.r.) (d) Company being in column of squads, to form line to the right so the leading squad shall be on the right of the line.
(Par. 188, i.d.r.) 2. Being in line, to align the company. Give the commands and explain the movement. (Pars. 175, 107, i.d.r.) 3. The company having gone from line into column of squads by the command: "Squads right, March," state the position of the captain, two lieutenants and right and left guides. (Pars. 163, 168 and Plate II, i.d.r.) 4. Show by diagram: (a) A company of two platoons in column of platoons, (b) A company of three platoons in line of platoons.
(Plate II, i.d.r.) 5. What commands are given to form the company?
6. (a) Who is the pivot in executing "Company Left?"
(b) Who is the pivot in executing "Left Turn?"
Military Science and Tactics.
MINOR TACTICS.
MAP: GETTYSBURG--ANTIETAM (HUNTERSTOWN SHEET).
First Problem: An Advance Party--Situation I:
_Your battalion_ and the _machine gun_ company occupy _Center Mills_, in enemy"s country. The remainder of the _Harvard Regiment_ is encamped _two miles north of Center Mills_. The Battalion has an outguard _at J. Fohl, 1150 yards southeast_ of Center Mills. _It is mid-winter;_ there is _no snow_, but the _streams are frozen_.
At 6.45 a.m., 1 Feb., 17, your battalion and the machine gun company are _hurriedly a.s.sembled, pieces are loaded_, and the column, _your company in the lead_, is marched out of town, over the southeast road. Your captain calls the _officers and non-commissioned officers_ to the head of the company and gives the following verbal order:
_A Blue force, estimated at one battalion with machine guns, is marching north from Granite Hill Sta. Blue patrols have been reported in vicinity of Henderson meeting house (700 yards north of Hunterstown). There are no Red troops south of here. Our battalion and the machine gun company are going to take up a position on the 712-707 hills, which flank this road, about 3 miles south of here. This company will be the advance guard. The main body, which is the rest of our column, follows at 600 yards. Lieutenant Allen, your platoon (1st) and the second platoon will const.i.tute the_ ADVANCE PARTY. _The third and fourth platoons will form the_ SUPPORT, _and will follow the advance party at 300 yards. Here is a map for you. Follow this road (pointing and indicating on map) through J. Fohl--554-534--Bridge S.H., to crossroads 666, where you will halt and establish a_ MARCH OUTPOST. _I will be with the support. When we reach the outguard at J.
Fohl the column will halt and the advance guard will move out. Posts._
The column halts at the outguard. You are Lieutenant Allen.
Required:
Your instructions, and dispositions in detail.
Situation II:
The _advance party_ has just cleared roadfork 534 when it is fired upon from the woods along the stream about _500 yards southeast_.
There are probably _20 rifles firing upon you_. The enemy"s fire is well-directed. The _point_ has crossed the first bridge, 300 yards south of 534. The _support_ has halted; but is not under fire.
Required:
Your instructions and dispositions.
Second Problem: An Advance Guard Point--Situation I:
The situation is the same as in the First Problem.
You are the commander of the point.
Required:
Your instructions and dispositions as the _point_ clears the outguard.
Required:
The _point_ has just crossed the first bridge 300 yards southeast of 534, when you hear firing and observe that the _advance party_ is being fired upon from the woods directly east of you. A few moments later you note a few dismounted men crossing the island about 400 yards to the east. The firing has ceased.