The German company column is much more flexible, and the advantage of a prompt deployment for action, made possible by the fact that all platoon commanders and the heads of platoons are in the lead and therefore can see the objective, should not be underestimated. The company column is formed from line by the center platoon forming column of squads to the front (or rear), the flank platoons, each in column of squads, closing on the center platoon, heads of the three columns on the same line. Company column is formed as follows from column of platoons: the leading platoon executes squads right (left), column left (right), the two rear platoons execute squads right (left), and are led to a position abreast of the leading platoon. Company column from column of squads is formed by rear platoons moving to the right and left respectively, and abreast of the leading platoon. When line is to be formed from company column, the flank platoons have to incline to the right and left respectively in order to gain sufficient interval. Movements in Column. For marching short distances to a flank, column of twos may be employed; for longer distances, column of squads (or fours); and the march direction may be changed by inclining in the proper direction. * * * * * Since March 1904, experiments, which deserve to be mentioned here, have been made in France under the direction of Colonel Fumet, having for their object the simplification of the drill regulations. In the experiments a four-rank formation is being considered. In this proposed scheme the platoon is formed so as to place the four single-rank squads (_escouades_) in rear of each other at the very close facing distance of 0.50 m., the leaders of the _escouades_ taking post on the right flank, a first class private being posted on each flank and in the center of each _escouade_. [Illustration: Forming Double Rank from the Four-Rank Formation and the Reverse Movement.] [Illustration: Deployment of a Half-Platoon formed in Four Ranks into Two Half-Platoons formed in Double Rank.] [Illustration: The Platoon (_section_) in Line.] [Illustration: Deployment of a Half-Platoon Into Line of Skirmishers.] [Illustration: The Company.]