5. _Object of Company Drill._--The object of company drill is:--First, to enable the company, when it takes its place in the battalion, to carry out any movement or formation the commanding officer may prescribe, whether laid down in this manual, or improvised to meet the circumstances of the moment, without hesitation or confusion. Second, to render the company capable of independent action when detached from the battalion. [Illustration: PLATE III. POSITIONS OF COMMANDERS, ETC., IN A COMPANY. _Fig. 1._ _In Line._ _Fig. 2._ _In Column of Half Companies._] [Illustration: PLATE IV. POSITIONS OF COMMANDERS, ETC., IN COMPANY COLUMN.] [Illustration: PLATE V. A COMPANY FALLEN IN FOR INSPECTION BY ITS COMMANDER.] DRILL. =60.= _General Rules._ 1. The company may be formed as follows:-- (i) In line, Plate III, Fig. 1. (ii) In company column (i.e., column of sections), Plate IV. (iii) In column of half-companies, Plate III, Fig. 2. (iv) In column of fours. Company column is the normal formation for a company when acting alone or at an interval from other companies. Formation into and from column of half-companies is carried out in the same manner as into and from company column, the words _column of half-companies_ being substituted for _company column_. In line the left squad commander of the half-company on the right is the centre of the company. 2. Position and duties of the leaders. (i) The company commander.--When the company is acting alone or at an interval from other companies, the company commander will place himself where he can best exercise supervision. In the absence of the company commander, his place will be taken by the next in rank; a similar rule will be followed within the half-company, section, and squad. (ii) The subalterns.--When the company is in line, each half-company commander will, as a rule, be three paces in rear of the centre of his half-company. (Plate III, Fig. 1.) When in column of half-companies he will be three paces in front of the centre of his half company. (Plate III, Fig. 2.) When in column of fours he will retain his position as in line. When in company column he will, as a rule, be two paces from the centre of his half-company on the directing flank. (Plate IV.) (iii) Section commanders will be two paces in front of the centre of their sections in company column; in all other formations they will retain the positions shown in Plate III, Fig. 1. Squad commanders will be on the flanks of their squads as shown in Plate III, Fig. 1. The drummers will be two paces in rear of the first and seventh squads respectively unless the company is acting independently, when one drummer always goes with the company commander; the pioneer will be two paces in rear of the fifth squad. The signallers will be two paces in rear of the second, fourth, sixth and eighth squads.