The guide of a company or platoon in column of squads is toward the side of the guide, who places himself on the side of the company away from the file closers. The guide of a deployed line (a skirmish line) is always center unless otherwise announced. EXAMPLES Suppose the company to be in line. In executing: 1. Squads right. The guides go to the left flank. 2. Right by squads. The guides go to the left flank. 3. Squads left. The guides go to the right flank. 4. Left by squads. The guides go to the right flank. If the company is in column of squads and the command is either squads right or left about, the guides simply remember to remain on the flank opposite from the file closers. It is very easy to see that a world of confusion would be caused by the file closers attempting to move to the opposite flank during squads right or left about. If the guides are in doubt look to see where the file closers are and then apply the rule of thumb: File closers and guides are always on opposite flanks. TO DIMINISH THE FRONT OF A COLUMN OF SQUADS Being in column of squads: 1. Right (left) by twos, 2. MARCH. At the command march all files except the two right files on the leading squad execute "in Place Halt"; the two left files of the leading squads oblique to the right when disengaged and follow the right files at the shortest practicable distance. The remaining squads follow successively in like manner. Being in column of squads or twos: 1. Right (left) by file, 2. MARCH. At the command march, all files execute "In Place Halt," except the right file of the leading two or squad. The left file or files of the leading two or squad oblique successively to the right when disengaged and each follows the file on its right at the shortest practicable distance. The remaining twos or squads follow successively in like manner. [Illustration: RIGHT BY TWOS] Being in column of files or twos, to form column of squads; or, being in column of files, to form column of twos: 1. Squads (twos), right (left) front into line, 2. MARCH. At the command march, the leading file or files halt and come to order arms. The remainder of the squad, or twos, obliques to the right and halts on line with the leading file or files. The remaining squads or twos close up and successively form in rear of the first in like manner. The movement described in this paragraph will be ordered right or left, so as to restore the files to their normal relative positions in column of twos or in column of squads. [Illustration: RIGHT BY FILE] The movements prescribed in the three preceding paragraphs are difficult of execution at attention and have no value as disciplinary exercises. [Illustration: Executing twos left front into line. Executing squads left front into line.] Marching by twos or files can not be executed without serious delay and waste of road space. Every reasonable precaution will be taken to obviate the necessity for these formations.