Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army / of the United States 1917. To be also used by Engineer Companies (Mounted) for Cavalry Instruction and Training

by United States. War Department

Extended Order.

404. In extended-order drills the troopers habitually march at ease, but keep on the alert so as promptly to conform to the indications of the leader and the movements of the guide.

The rifles of dismounted troopers in extended order are carried as in par. 61.

405. Foragers may be formed when the squad is in any authorized formation (par. 468) or in disorder, when it is moving at any gait or is halted. The extension is effected toward the direction of march. When possible the deployment should be made upon ground protected from hostile view and fire. Whatever the method employed for the extension, the leader controls the movements of the base (par. 323). The other troopers, moving at a gallop, form foragers in accordance with the methods indicated.

The squad, deployed as foragers, is marched to the front and halted, obliques, resumes the original direction, executes changes in gait and changes of direction, by the commands and methods prescribed for the squad in line.

406. The appropriate substitution of skirmishers for foragers, is made in the commands for movements in extended order, dismounted (par. 368c-c). The skirmishers move at a run to their positions on the line of foragers.

407. A greater or less interval than 3 yards between foragers may be ordered, the words at (so many) yards being added to the preparatory command so as immediately to follow the word foragers or skirmishers.

408. Being in line, to form foragers: 1. Foragers, 2. MARCH.

The guide continues to be the base and advances (par. 405) at the gait of march unless the leader indicates otherwise (pars. 337f-f, 405). The troopers to the right of the guide move at a gallop obliquely to the right front; those to the left obliquely to the left front. The troopers take position abreast of the base in the same order as in line and at intervals of 3 yards measured from the side of the base. Should the right trooper be the guide, all oblique to the left; should the left trooper be the guide, all oblique to the right.

In the execution of the corresponding dismounted movement (commands: 1. Skirmishers, 2. MARCH—par. 406) the troopers move to their places at a run, taking intervals of one-half pace, unless some other interval be indicated (pars. 368e-e, 407.) (Fig. [37].)