Gaits are regulated as in pars. 337-a, b. (Fig. [34].)
This is one of the movements referred to in par. 468-b.
In the dismounted execution of the movement at quick time the leader commands: 1. Squad, 2. HALT, as soon as the leading element has advanced to the point where it is desired that the line shall form (par. 339-a, b, c). Only the leading (base) element halts at the command, each rear element halting as it arrives on the line (par. 337f-f). If executed while marching in double time, the leader similarly commands: 1. Quick time, 2. MARCH, the reduced gait being taken successively by the elements as they reach their positions (par. 337f-f). If marching in quick time, and double time be included in the command, the command for the increased gait applies only to the rear elements (par. 337f-f).
398. To prevent the inversion of twos or troopers in their respective fours the squad in column of twos or column of troopers should form line to the left front when the squad is right in front (par. 370), and vice versa.
399. Being in column of twos or troopers, to form column of fours: 1. Column, 2. MARCH. (See Def. [Column].)
Fig. 41, par. 399.
The leading element is the base and follows the leader.
If in column of twos the rear two of the leading four obliques at a correspondingly faster gait (par. 335) and takes its proper place abreast of, and to the right or left of, the leading two of that four, so that the troopers of the four shall appear from right to left, in the order of their respective numbers. All the other twos take up a correspondingly faster gait than the leading two, and the fours form successively from head to rear in the column in the manner indicated above (par. 331). The leading two of each four, other than the leading four, takes the gait of the head of the column (or halts) when at 4 feet from the corresponding two of the four next in front. In each four the rear two begins to oblique as the leading two of that four approaches the position where it decreases the gait (or halts).