186 MANUAL FOE 1T02TC0MHISSI0NED OPFICEKS. 



desires the base platoon to form or otherwise Indicates that 

 position to the leader of the base platoon. The platoon that 

 was the base when the troop dismounted remains the base of 

 the dismounted formation in the absence of other indication. 

 Its leader takes position at once in rear of the captain, or as 

 Indicated by the latter, and the dismounted platoon forms in 

 double column or as directed. The other platoons form so 

 as to extend the formation in line of double columns, or as the 

 captain orders, In accordance with the principles governing 

 the assembly of the troop. The captain may direct the pla- 

 toon leaders to proceed at once to designated positions without 

 forming the troop as a unit. In all cases the measures taken 

 must be such as to prevent unnecessary exposure of men or 

 Tiorses to hostile view or fire. 



Dismounted Combat (The Troop), 

 general considerations. 



650. When the troop, acting alone, dismounts to engage in 

 deliberate fire action the captain makes provisions for the led 

 horses (par. 649) and at once sends out scouts (usually two 

 experienced men detailed and trained as such) to the front to 

 reconnoiter. The captain reconnoiters usually in rear of, but 

 In touch with the scouts, and accompanied by platoon com- 

 manders and the first sergeant ; he explains to them the pur- 

 pose of the attack, gives them all the Information he has about 

 the enemy and about our own troops in the vicinity, points out 

 to them the objective of each platoon if they are to advance, 

 or Indicates the part of the. line to be held by each if to take 

 the defensive. 



651. The advance of a troop after dismounting, in anticipa- 

 tion of fire action either in attack or defense is made in close 

 order, preferably in columns of fours or twos, until the proba- 

 bility or the actual encountering of hostile fire makes it advis- 

 able to deploy. After such deployment the advance (now desig- 

 nated the approach) may be continued in line of skirmishers 

 or other suitable formation before opening fire. The approach 

 dismounted may often be facilitated, better advantage taken 

 of cover, and losses minimized by using formations such as 



