Infantry Drill Regulations, United States Army, 1911 | Page 5

officers and men may readily know them. In making arm signals the saber, rifle, or headdress may be held in the hand.
33. Officers and men fix their attention at the first word of command, the first note of the bugle or whistle, or the first motion of the signal. A signal includes both the preparatory command and the command of execution; the movement commences as soon as the signal is understood, unless otherwise prescribed.
34. Except in movements executed at attention, commanders or leaders of subdivisions repeat orders, commands, or signals whenever such repetition is deemed necessary to insure prompt and correct execution.
Officers, battalion noncommissioned staff officers, platoon leaders, guides, and musicians are equipped with whistles.
The major and his staff will use a whistle of distinctive tone; the captain and company musicians a second and distinctive whistle; the platoon leaders and guides a third distinctive whistle.
(C.I.D.R., No. 15.)
35. Prescribed signals are limited to such as are essential as a substitute for the voice under conditions which render the voice inadequate.
Before or during an engagement special signals may be agreed upon to facilitate the solution of such special difficulties as the particular situation is likely to develop, but it must be remembered that simplicity and certainty are indispensable qualities of a signal.
Orders.
36. In these regulations an order embraces instructions or directions given orally or in writing in terms suited to the particular occasion and not prescribed herein.
Orders are employed only when the commands prescribed herein do not sufficiently indicate the will of the commander.
Orders are more fully described in paragraphs 378 to 383, inclusive.
Commands.
37. In these regulations a command is the will of the commander expressed in the phraseology prescribed herein.
38. There are two kinds of commands:
The preparatory command, such as forward, indicates the movement that is to be executed.
The command of execution, such as MARCH, HALT, or ARMS, causes the execution.
Preparatory commands are distinguished by italics, those of execution by CAPITALS.
Where it is not mentioned in the text who gives the commands prescribed, they are to be given by the commander of the unit concerned.
The preparatory command should be given at such an interval of time before the command of execution as to admit of being properly understood: the command of execution should be given at the instant the movement is to commence.
The tone of command is animated, distinct, and of a loudness proportioned to the number of men for whom it is intended.
Each preparatory command is enunciated distinctly, with a rising inflection at the end, and in such manner that the command of execution may be more energetic.
The command of execution is firm in tone and brief.
39. Majors and commanders of units larger than a battalion repeat such commands of their superiors as are to be executed by their units, facing their units for that purpose. The battalion is the largest unit that executes a movement at the command of execution of its commander.
40. When giving commands to troops it is usually best to face toward them.
Indifference in giving commands must be avoided as it leads to laxity in execution. Commands should be given with spirit at all times.
Bugle Signals.
41. The authorized bugle signals are published in
Part V of these
regulations.
The following bugle signals may be used off the battle field, when not likely to convey information to the enemy:
Attention: Troops are brought to attention.
Attention to orders: Troops fix their attention.
Forward, march: Used also to execute quick time from double time.
Double time, march.
To the rear, march: In close order, execute squads right about.
Halt.
Assemble, march.
The following bugle signals may be used on the battle field:
Fix bayonets.
Charge.
Assemble, march.
These signals are used only when intended for the entire firing line; hence they can be authorized only by the commander of a unit (for example, a regiment or brigade) which occupies a distinct section of the battle field. Exception: Fix bayonet. (See par. 318.)
The following bugle signals are used in exceptional cases on the battle field. Their principal uses are in field exercises and practice firing.
Commence firing: Officers charged with fire direction and control open fire as soon as practicable. When given to a firing line, the signal is equivalent to fire at will.
Cease firing: All parts of the line execute cease firing at once.
These signals are not used by units smaller than a regiment, except when such unit is independent or detached from its regiment.
Whistle Signals.
42. Attention to orders. A short blast of the whistle. This signal is used on the march or in combat when necessary to fix the attention of troops, or of their commanders or leaders, preparatory to giving commands, orders, or signals.
When the firing line is firing, each squad leader suspends firing and fixes his attention at a short blast of his platoon leader's whistle. The platoon leader's subsequent commands or signals are repeated and enforced by the squad leader.