Of interest to Volunteers.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3438, 31 December 1879, Page 1

Of interest to Volunteers.

[cOMMUIIiCATKD.]

The non-commissioned officers of the southern volunteers hare evidently to pass a strict examination for promotion. The competitors are pladed in a room at,,, separate tables, being supplied with writing materials and the following ques> turns to answer; for the benefit of Thames men we subjoin the questions, and also supply the correct answers :— 1. What is a company? A company ii a body of soldiers, consisting of from 20 to 40 files, with a proper complement of officers and non-commissioned officers. When formed and told off, the company should be correctly sized from lank to centre. After a company has been once or twice sized the men should remember their relative heights, and invariably fall in in their proper places. The commander of the company is termed 'the " cap* %am," the senior subaltern the "right guide," and the junior subaltern the " left guide." Two sergeants are told off as " right" and " left markers." 2. What is a file? The front rank man, covered by his rear rank man. 3. What is meant by " pivot?" The flank on which a company or column wheels. 4. What is a section? The fourth part of a company. 5. What is meant by appuiP The point of formation, thus if a column by the left is ordered to quarter column on. the company, the left guide of the leading company rests on the point of appui. 6. What is the regulation distance • soldier should step in quick and slow time; also when ordered to step short, step out, and double ? In quick time and slow time the length of pace is.3o iaehes, in stepping out and at the double pace the length of pace is 33 inches. 7. What is the length of the ride step ? The side step is 12 inches. \ t 8. Explain how a squad would be ordered to open its ranks? On the word " order " the right and left flank men of the rear rank, step. back two paces and turn to the right; on the word "march;," the flank men turn to the front and raise the disengaged arm horizontally from the elbow, the rear rank step back simultaneously. The ordersl '• rear rani:, dress " and " eyes front" eempletes the formation;

9. What must be done previous to forming fours P The squad or company mast be ordered to " number.' 1

10. When has an odd number to aot «i a left file P When it happens to be the flank file on the left of the squad. 11. Where is the right marker's place in line ? In rear of and covering the right guide, correctly dressed with the rear! rank at close order, on the rightof the front rank, when at open order.

12. Where is the right marker's place in column by the left? la the supernumerary rank, covering the third file from the right. 13. Where is the right marker's plaea in columu by the right? In the supernumerary rank, covering the right liank file.

14. Where is the left marker's place in column bj the ieft? In the supernumerary rank, coveripg the left 'flank file. 15. Where will the right and left * markers place themselves when the order is Riven " Left wheel into line ? " The tight marker will run out and mark where the outer flank (the right) of the company will rest,' tfye left marker where the left of the company will rest, both turning in the direction of, and facing the piv«t. y 16. Where is the right marker's pltW when the company is marching in fbMj>:* ■ to the right ? In front of the pivot Dui|;£ of the leading section of fours. "•' :g$ 18. Make out a parade state on tto|»!, attached form according to thp followii^% details :—Wiih leave, 1 sergeant, 5 pn*^.'' rates; without leave, sies^£^. sergeant, 3 privates. By filling in: fim^t sent on parade—l Captain, 1 Lieutenan^: 3 sergeants, 5 corporals, 1 bugler, and BJs\v^ privates the it ate will be correct. jugy