The _non-commissioned officers_ are posted in the front rank, on the flanks and in the center of the platoons in Russia, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany and Italy they are all posted in rear of the line as file closers, and it is their duty to supervise the men. In France a part of the non-commissioned officers are posted in the front rank, the remainder as file closers. A German company of 200 men has a front of 100 paces, or 80 m. The infantryman with field equipment occupies a space about 75 cm. square. The German Infantry Drill Regulations define interval (_intervalle_) as the space between two elements on the same line, and distance as the space between two elements in the direction of depth. An interval is measured from the left flank of the element on the right to the right flank of the element on the left (or vice versa); and distance in the company and in the battalion is measured from the rear of the element in front to the head of the element in rear (or vice versa). If the distance between two elements is equal to their front, the column is called an “open column”, otherwise it is called a “close column.” FRONT AND FACING DISTANCE. ===========+=========================+================================ | FRONT. | FACING DISTANCE. | (Per man.) | (Distance between ranks.) -----------+-------------------------+-------------------------------- Germany |About 0.80 m. Loose elbow|0.80 m. from back of front rank |contact. |man to breast of rear rank man. -----------+-------------------------+-------------------------------- Austria |About 0.75 m. Files are |120 cm. from heels of front rank |separated by an interval |man to those of rear rank man |of the width of a hand. |(according to German method of | |measuring, about 0.88 m.). -----------+-------------------------+-------------------------------- Italy |0.70 m. |0.75 m. from breast of front | |rank man to breast of rear rank | |man(according to German method | |of measuring, 0.45 m.) on the | |march, 1.20 m. (according to | |German method of measuring, | |0.90). -----------+-------------------------+-------------------------------- France |0.70 m. including 0.15 m.|1 m. from back or knapsack of |interval between files. |front rank man to breast of rear | |rank man. -----------+-------------------------+-------------------------------- Russia |0.70 m. Files are |Rear rank man is an arm’s length |separated by an interval |from back of knapsack of front