fense, when the target disappears behind cover, platoon
leaders suspend fire, prepare their platoons to fire upon the point
where it is expected to reappear, and greet its reappearance instantly
with vigorous fire.

SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION.

258. The battalion being purely a tactical unit, the major's duties
are primarily those of an instructor in drill and tactics and of a
tactical commander. He is responsible for the theoretical and
practical training of the battalion. He supervises the training of the
companies of the battalion with a view to insuring the thoroughness
and uniformity of their instruction.

In the instruction of the battalion as a whole, his efforts will be
directed chiefly to the development of tactical efficiency, devoting
only such time to the mechanism of drill and to the ceremonies as may
be necessary in order to insure precision, smartness, and proper
control.

259. The movements explained herein are on the basis of a battalion of
four companies; they may be executed by a battalion of two or more
companies, not exceeding six.

260. The companies are generally arranged from right to left according
to the rank of the captains present at the formation. The arrangement
of the companies may be varied by the major or higher commander.

After the battalion is formed, no cognizance is taken of the relative
order of the companies.

261. In whatever direction the battalion faces, the companies are
designated numerically from right to left in line, and from head to
rear in column, _first company_, _second company_, etc.

The terms _right_ and _left_ apply to actual right and left as the
line faces; if the about by squads be executed when in line, the right
company becomes the left company and the right center becomes the left
center company.

The designation center company indicates the right center or the
actual center company according as the number of companies is even or
odd.

262. The band and other special units, when attached to the battalion,
take the same post with respect to it as if it were the nearest
battalion shown in Plate IV.

CLOSE ORDER.

_Rules._

[Illustration: Plate III. THE BATTALION.]

263. Captains repeat such preparatory commands as are to be
immediately executed by their companies, as _forward_, _squads right_,
etc.; the men execute the commands _march_, _halt_, etc., if applying
to their companies, when given by the major. In movements executed in
ro