Page:Tactics (Balck 1915).djvu/97

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safe place under escort.[1] At the Albrechtshaus farm (Wörth) the colors served as rallying points around which the disordered skirmishers rapidly assembled.[2]

The figures given on pages 72 and 73 of the German Infantry Drill Regulations illustrate formations with organizations at peace strength. The approximate dimensions of broad and deep columns at war strength are as follows:


Russia. Numerous formations are prescribed. In addition to route column, columns with half company front and with company front are prescribed. Reserve columns are mentioned. These, according to the number of companies on the same line, are called single platoon column (deep column), two platoon column (double column), or four platoon column.

Austria. The mass, in which the companies of the battalion are on the same line, each company in company column[3] with intervals of three paces between companies, is employed for assembling the battalion in a restricted space in a position in readiness when out of range of hostile fire, or for assembling the battalion under cover. The line of columns, in which the companies, each in column or some other suitable formation, are formed abreast of each other at deploying intervals plus three paces, is also used.

The line. In this formation the companies, each in line, are placed abreast of each other at intervals of three paces.

The column. In this formation the companies are placed in rear of each other, each either in line or in column, with distances of nine paces

  1. See Kunz, Kriegsgeschichtliche Beispiele, 14, p. 180, battle of Wörth. A platoon of the Füsilier-Battalion of the 47th Infantry was sent to the rear with the color, and a squad of the Füsilier-Battalion of the 46th Infantry finally had six colors to guard. In the 88th Infantry, out of a total of 48 sections, 9 sections remained in rear as a guard for 2 colors, but finally 6 of these sections crossed the Sauer.
  2. Kunz, Kriegsgeschichtliche Beispiele, 13, pp. 77, 152.
  3. In the Austrian company column (Kompagniekolonne), the platoons, each in line, are formed one in rear of the other. This formation was formerly called company column (Kompagniekolonne) by the Germans also, but at present they designate it by the term "column of platoons" (Zugkolonne). Translator.