for the guide to forget to take the four short steps.
[Illustration: The diagram shows the movement completed]
Keep dressed accurately on the side of the guide. (He is always on the
side opposite from the file closers This is a rule of thumb that should
be memorized at once.) The guide in every squad should keep 40 inches
from the man in front. So many new men forget about the 40 inches. They
usually take a little over 30. When the company is moved into line there
is of course a jam. Hold your head up. Don't look down to the ground.
You will be in the formation more than any other. Try to keep the
following cautions in mind: The leading men of the company should have
four inches interval. Better to have too much than too little if
mistakes are to be insisted upon. Keep the pieces in the correct
positions at right shoulder and then have heads and rifles in a bee
line. When the movement is completed the company will be in the
formation shown in the drawing.
FOURTH MOVEMENT COLUMN RIGHT
Being in column of squads, to change direction: 1. Column right (left),
2. MARCH.
At the second command the front rank of the leading squad turns to the
right on moving pivot as in the School of the Squad; the other ranks,
without command, turn successively on the same ground and in similar
manner.
[Illustration]
It is a very common error for the pivot man to take too short a step and
thereby cause a jam. Bear this in mind. Another very common error is for
the flank man (or men) to take a very long step. This is caused by the
pivot man's forgetting to glance and see when the flank man arrives on
the line, before he takes the full step. Another common error is to get
out of column while making this movement. Bear this in mind and walk
straight to the turning point.
[Illustration: THIS SHOWS THE COMPANY IN COLUMN OF SQUADS, CORRECT
POSITION]
[Illustration: THIS SHOWS THE COMMON ERRORS]
Now we come to the last two movements. They cause more trouble than any
others.
FIFTH MOVEMENT ON RIGHT (LEFT) INTO LINE
Being in column of platoons or squads, to form line on right or left: 1.
On right (left) into line, 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT, 5. FRONT.
(On right [left] into line, means turn in the direction that is on your
right and get into line. You have to be in column before the movement is
begun.)
Let us first consider the company in column of squads.
[Illustration]
At the captain's command on righ
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