BRIGADE AND DIVISION DRILL.
103. General Rules.
1. Movements in brigade and division are practised in order to accustom the battalions to assemble rapidly and without confusion; and to train them to march in mass, without losing distance or interval.
2. The brigade or division commander may give his orders verbally, but on service and at manœuvres orders may be written, and the object of every important movement or formation should invariably be explained to the battalion commanders, and, in case of a division, to the brigadiers.
3. Instructions given by the commander of a parade will be passed by commanding and mounted officers, who are responsible that they are distinctly conveyed to, and understood by, the next unit.
On receiving their instructions, commanding officers will give all necessary orders and be prepared to march off their battalions together on the signal or order of the brigadier. The cautions and commands given by commanding officers will be as in Battalion Drill.
When the progress of an order is interrupted, commanding officers will conform, as quickly as possible, to the movement they see in execution.
4. Intervals and distances of thirty paces between battalions and brigades, and sixty between divisions, will be preserved in all formations, unless otherwise ordered.
5. A battalion will always be named to direct, the remaining battalions preserving their intervals from that battalion.
6. In brigade and division drill, battalions will be in quarter column unless otherwise ordered.
7. In all interior movements of a brigade, battalions will move to their places by the shortest lines, moving, when possible, by the diagonal march.
8. Division drill.—The principles laid down for brigade drill are equally applicable to division drill.
104. A brigade wheeling from mass into line of battalions and vice versâ.
A brigade can be wheeled into line of battalions from mass and vice versâ, by the battalions wheeling as in Battalion Drill, 95.
The above movements may be performed either at the halt or on the move.
105. A mass deploying into line of battalions and vice versâ.
The battalion which is the point of formation stands fast. The remaining battalions will be moved by their commanding officers by the shortest line to the spot where their inner flank will rest, this spot being marked by the second in command.
If the deployment is in an oblique direction, the battalion of formation will be formed on the required alignment by its commanding officer, in accordance with the instructions of the brigadier. The deployment will then be carried out as already described.
Mass will be formed from line of battalions in a similar manner.
In forming mass on a central battalion, the battalions on the right and left will pass into mass left arm to left arm.
A line of battalions changing position.
A line of battalions will change position on a flank battalion as follows:—The battalion of formation will be wheeled into the required alignment, the others forming on it, the seconds in command marking the spots where the inner flanks will rest.
106. Marching in line of battalions either in column or quarter column.
When a brigade marches in line of battalions, a battalion of direction will be named. The remaining battalions will march by their inner flanks, the seconds in command riding on the flank next to the regulating battalion, and notifying to the commanding officers whether interval is being correctly kept or not. Signals should be agreed on for this purpose; the commanding officer should watch for them, and direct the movement of the battalion accordingly.
When it is necessary to advance in echelon of battalions, intervals will be preserved on the principles described in 117.