c. For special purposes, close column or close line may be formed or extended at other than normal distance or interval by designating the distance or interval (so many paces) after the preparatory command for closing or extending.

39. Route step and at ease. The company marches at route step and at ease as prescribed for the platoon. When marching in column of platoons, the guides maintain trace and distance.

In route marches, the file closers march at the head, or in rear, of their platoons or company.

40. Assembly. The company being wholly or partially deployed or the platoons being separated, to assemble, the command is: 1. Assemble, 2. MARCH.

The company commander places himself opposite to, or designates, the element or point on which the company is to assemble. Platoons are assembled and marched to the indicated point. As the platoons arrive the company commander indicates the formation to be taken.

41. The guidon.-a. The guidon is carried according to the principles authorized and prescribed in TR 420-45 (Chapter VII).

b. In formation, the position of the guidon will conform to the indicated positions on Plates 21 and 22.

III. Rules for the deployment of the rifle section and platoon.

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1. Purpose of extended order drills.-The purpose of extended order drills is— a. To teach the leaders and members of small units the mechanism of deployment and movement utilized in combat exercises and actual combat.

b. It requires the leaders to see quickly what is to be done and to order it without hesitation; it requires the men to execute the order rapidly without losing their cohesion.

c. To give the leaders a method of employing their troops to meet tactical situations arising in combat.

2. General rules.-a. Extended order drill is executed at ease.

b. The platoon is the largest unit which, by formal commands, executes extended order drill.

c. Signals are freely used during instruction, in order that officers and men may readily know them.

d. In extended order, during real or simulated firings, squad leaders and, if necessary, individual men transmit orders by word of mouth along the firing line. Transmission of orders by this means requires special training.

3. General rules for loadings and firings.-a. The commands for loading and firing are the same whether standing, kneeling, sitting, or lying down.

b. Rifles, having been ordered loaded, are kept loaded without command until the command Unload or Inspection arms, fresh clips being inserted when the magazine is exhausted.

c. The aiming point or target is carefully pointed out. This is habitually done after announcing the sight setting. Both are indicated before giving the command for firing. The designation of the target may be omitted when the target appears suddenly and is unmistakable, but the range must always be announced, the command Battle sight being given when it is not desired to have the sight set.

d. The command for range serves as a preparatory command for firing; it insures the simultaneous opening of fire and the full effect of surprise.

e. The target or aiming point having been designated, such designation need not be repeated until a change is necessary.

f. Troops are trained to continue their fire upon the aiming point or target designated until a change is ordered.

g. If the men are not already in the position of load, that position is taken at the announcement of the range. Skirmishers not in a firing position, either at a halt or in movement, take such position at the command announcing the range.

h. A skirmish line may load while moving, the pieces being held as nearly as practicable in the position of load. (See TR 50-20, Chapter VI.)

4. To set the sight.-Being in any firing formation: RANGE, SIX HUNDRED (THREE FIFTY, EIGHT HUNDRED, etc.) or BATTLE SIGHT. The sight is set as ordered.

5. To fire at will.-a -a. Being in any firing formation: FIRE AT WILL. Each man, independently of the others, comes to the ready, aims carefully and deliberately at the aiming point or target, fires, reloads, and continues firing until ordered to suspend or cease firing.

b. To fire a designated number of rounds: 1. Two (one, five, etc.) rounds, 2. FIRE AT WILL. Each man fires the designated number of rounds, reloads, and holds the rifle in a position of readiness.

c. To increase (decrease) the rate of fire in progress, the instructor commands: FASTER (SLOWER). (See TR 420-40, Chapter X.)

6. To suspend firing.-a. The instructor blows a long blast of the whistle and repeats it if necessary or commands: SUSPEND FIRING.

Firing stops; rifles are held loaded and locked in a position of readiness for instant resumption of firing, sights unchanged. The men continue to observe the target or aiming point, or place at which the target disappeared, or at which it is expected to reappear. Suspend firing is used for short pauses or to steady the men.

b. This whistle signal may be used as a preliminary to Cease firing.

7. To cease firing. a. CEASE FIRING. Firing stops; rifles not already there are brought to the position of load; those not loaded are then loaded; sights are laid and rifles are locked and brought to the order.

Cease firing is used for long pauses to prepare for changes of position.

b. 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. 8. Instructions for use of the bayonet.-a. The bayonet is fixed at any time when so ordered.

b. If marching, kneeling, or lying down, the bayonet is fixed and unfixed in the most expeditious and convenient manner and the rifle returned to the original position. Fix and unfix bayonet are executed with promptness and regularity but not in cadence.

9. To deploy as skirmishers.—a. (1) Being in any formation, assembled: 1. As skirmishers (so many paces), 2. MARCH.

(2) The corporal places himself in front of the squad, if not already there. Moving at a run, the men place themselves abreast of the corporal at the designated interval. Nos. 1 and 2 on his right, Nos. 3 and 4 on his left, rear-rank men on the right of their file leaders, extra men on the left of No. 4; all then conform to the corporal's gait. If no interval is designated, the men deploy at 5-pace intervals.

(3) When the squad is acting alone, the deployment is similarly made on No. 2 of the front rank, who stands fast or continues the march as the case may be; the corporal places himself in front of the squad when advancing and in rear when halted.

(4) When deployed as skirmishers, the men march at ease, pieces at the trail, unless otherwise ordered.

(5) The corporal is the guide when in line; otherwise No. 2 of the front rank is the guide.

b. The interval between skirmishers depends upon the tactical situation.

c. If marching to the rear, skirmishers resume the march to the front by the command: 1. Forward, 2. MARCH.

d. If deployed, to increase or diminish the interval: 1. As skirmishers (so many paces), 2. MARCH. The men move by the flank toward or away from the guide until the new intervals are obtained.

10. To follow the corporal.-a. Being in any formation, to march the squad without unnecessary commands, the corporal places himself in front of the squad and commands: FOLLOW ME.

b. If in line or deployed as skirmishers, No. 2 of the front rank follows in the trace of the corporal at about 3 paces; the other men conform to the movements of No. 2, guiding on him and maintaining their relative positions.

c. If in column, the head of the column follows the corporal.

11. The assembly.-a. Being deployed: 1. Assemble, 2. MARCH.

b. The men move toward the corporal in double time and form in their proper places.

c. If the corporal continues to advance, the squad follows him at 3 paces.

d. The assembly is not executed while marching to the rear.

12. To kneel or lie down.-The kneeling or prone firing position will be assumed as prescribed in TR 150-5 (Chapter XI).

a. To kneel: KNEEL. Assume the kneeling firing position, except the left forearm is across the left thigh; rifle remains in position of order, right hand grasping it above the lower band.

b. Being at a halt, quick time, double time, or running; to lie down: DOWN.

(1) Advance the left foot, turning it across the front of the body.