198 MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 



Men should be instructed to aim at that part of the target 

 assigned to their platoon which corresponds with their own 

 position in their own platoon, so that there will be no portion 

 of the target which is not covered by fire. A portion of the 

 enemy's line not covered by fire means that that portion is able 

 to coolly aim and fire at their opponents. 



In an engagement the voice can seldom be heard over a few 

 feet, and the platoon commander will gei;ierally have to convey 

 his orders by signals. A sergeant may be able to shout orders 

 to his section, and orders may be repeated along a skirmish line 

 by shouting. Care should be taken that orders intended for 

 one platoon only are not thus conveyed to another platoon. 



A short blast on the whistle, given by the platoon commander, 

 means "Attention to Orders." All noncommissioned officers at 

 once suspend firing and glance toward the platoon commander 

 to see if the latter has any signals or orders for them. If not, 

 they resume firing. A long blast on the v/histle means " Sus- 

 pend Firing." When a noncommissioned officer hears this sig- 

 nal from his platoon commander, he should at once shout " Sus- 

 pend Firing." Upon receiving a signal, the noncommissioned 

 officer for whom it is intended should at once repeat it back, to 

 be sure that it is correctly understood. 



As a rule, rushes should be started by a unit on one flank 

 and should be followed in succession by the other units to the 

 opposite flank. Each succeeding unit should halt on the line 

 established by the unit which first rushed. When a unit is 

 about to rush, leaders in charge of adjacent units should cau- 

 tion their men to be careful not to fire into the rushing unit as 

 it bounds forward. 



When one unit suspends fire for the purpose of rushing, ad- 

 jacent leaders should arrange to have a portion of their men 

 turn their fire on the target of the rushing unit, to the end that 

 there may be no portion of the enemy's line not under fire and 

 able to fire coolly on the rushing unit. . 



Rushes should be made for as long a distance as possible, 

 due regard being had for the wind of the men and not to get 

 beyond supporting distance of the other units. Long rushes 

 facilitate an advance, and quickly place a skirmish line close 

 to the enemy's position, where its fire will have more effect 



