Part 30 (1/2)

The troopers, if not already aligned, align themselves without command on the guide as they halt (par. 364). Movement in the rank then ceases.

If marching at the trot or gallop, the gait is ordinarily decreased progressively, the halt being executed from the walk (par. 239).

=384.= =Being in line at a halt, to march backward=: 1. =Backward=, 2.

=MARCH.=

All the troopers rein back (par. 280), regulating on the guide, who maintains his distance from the leader. The execution of the march backward as a _collective movement_ is habitually limited to cases where the movement may be necessary; it is then executed for short distances only. It is not executed at an increased gait.

=385.= =Being in line, to oblique and resume the original direction=: 1. =Troopers right (left) oblique=, 2. =MARCH.=

Executed by each trooper as in par. 230. During the oblique march the right knee of each trooper should be just in rear of the left knee of the trooper on his fight; the trooper on the flank toward which the oblique is made acts temporarily without special indication as directing guide (Def.) of the squad. The line during the oblique march should be parallel to its original direction. The leader does not take position in front of the flank trooper during the oblique.

Halting the mounted squad while at the oblique should be avoided. If the squad has to be halted thus, the troopers upon halting turn their horses to the original front in so far as practicable.

To resume the original direction by similar means, the commands are: 1. =Forward=, 2. =MARCH.=

In executing the oblique by trooper, dismounted, each trooper preserves his relative position, keeping his shoulders parallel to those of the directing guide and so regulating his step that the rank may remain parallel to its original front. In resuming the original direction, the troopers half face to the left in marching, then move straight to the front. If at =half step= or =mark time= while obliquing, the oblique march is resumed by the commands: 1 =Oblique=, 2. =MARCH.= Should the halt be commanded while the squad is obliquing, the troopers halt faced to the front (fig. 32).

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 38, par. 385.]

=386.= =Being in line, to turn to the right or left=: 1. =Right (left) turn=, 2. =MARCH=; 3. =Forward=, 4. =MARCH=; or 3. =Squad=, 4. =HALT.=

The principle of the movement is explained in par. 329-a.

The form of the third and fourth commands is determined by whether the turn is to terminate with the advance in line or with the halt.

In the turn the squad is led by its leader (par. 367) through a change of direction of 90. The leader (and, therefore, the guide) are restricted not only to this particular change of direction but also to a particular arc or path during the turn (par. 387).

There is no special arm signal for the _turn_ as such; but, as the turn is a change of direction, the signal for the latter movement is applicable. The signal for the change of direction does not in itself indicate the degree of the turn, but the leader's subsequent signal forward or halt indicates when the change of direction is to cease.

In the turn, as in any case of the march in line, the leader, subject to the restrictions just indicated, regulates the direction and gait of march, the guide conforms to the movements of the leader, and all the other troopers regulate their alignment and interval on the guide.

The rate of march of the leader and the guide should not be so rapid as to make it impracticable for the troopers on the marching flank of the squad to preserve their alignment on the guide during the turn.

The guide moves in the _trace of the leader during the turn_, as well as before and after the turn. When the turn is executed by the _marching squad_ the leader gives the command after he has begun to change direction and at the moment when the guide arrives at the _point where the leader straightened his horse in the new direction_ (par. 471). When executed from a _halt_ the second command can not be given as above indicated. The leader in that case begins to turn at the command of execution, while the guide, instead of beginning the actual turn at once, moves forward so as to move, during the turn, _in the trace of the leader_ (par. 367).

In executing the turn dismounted the leader so regulates the length of step of the guide that the _trooper on the marching flank_ can keep the regular step corresponding to the gait at which the turn is made.

The other troopers lengthen or shorten the step accordingly, maintaining the cadence and their alignment and interval with respect to the guide. If the turn be terminated by the commands: 3. =Forward=, 4. =MARCH=, all the troopers resume the regular step at the fourth command.

=387.= In executing the turn in a _squad_ or _platoon_, the leader, followed by the guide, so turns on the arc of a circle that the pivot trooper, in _conforming to the guide's movements_, marches on the arc of a circle whose radius varies with the gait of the guide, this radius being 2 yards at a walk, 4 yards at a trot, and 6 yards at a gallop. When the turn is executed dismounted the corresponding radius, in either quick or double time, is 1 yard.

=388.= At the command: 1. =Right (left) half turn=, 2. =MARCH=; 3.

=Forward=, 4. =MARCH=; or 3. =Squad=, 4. =HALT=, a change of direction of 45 may be made in accordance with the principles explained in pars. 386 and 387. The arm signal for the half turn follows the rule indicated for the full turn (par. 386).

=389.= In all movements in these regulations in the course of which =fours=, =twos=, or =troopers= execute a turn or half turn this last movement is made by each element in accordance with the principles explained in pars. 386 and 387, except that the commands 3. =Forward=, 4. =MARCH=, are omitted and each element continues the march in the new direction, upon completion of the turn, unless the commands: 3.

=Squad=, 4. =HALT=, are given. The guide of a four in the turn is always No. 2; the guide of a two the right trooper.

=390.= Where only a slight change in the direction of march is desired; it is habitually accomplished by leading without any special command or signal therefor. The leader may caution: =INCLINE TO THE RIGHT (LEFT)=. The execution of this movement, like that of the turn, is a special case of leading applied to the march in line. The leader slightly alters the direction of march, the guide conforms to the leader's movements, and the other troopers conform to the movements of the guide.

=391.= =Being in line, to form column of fours to a flank=: 1. =Fours right (left)=, 2. =MARCH.=