He should also explain that the short distances are only used in the preparatory drill, on account of the circumscribed space in which the drill is necessarily carried on, and also for the purposes of instruction, and in order to keep the movements as much as possible within view of the whole squad.

If possible, the Non-Commissioned Officers, while engaged in the preparatory drill, should attend the Regimental Office for an hour during the day to answer questions, and have the movements which they have practised in the morning thoroughly explained to them by the Adjutant, so as to ascertain that they fully understand the practical working of what they have been taught.

The men may also attend their own Troop SerjeantMajors' quarters for the purpose of answering questions, and having the meaning and intention of the drill explained.

By this means a certain portion of the movements and details of the patrolling service will be acquired by the men previous to instructing them upon a more extended scale, and, consequently, the attention of the Instructor will not be distracted, or the men confused, by these minor details, when working the patrolling duties practically with more extended intervals on the roads or in the open country. These details will have been already acquired and have become a habit.

Upon the advanced file being sent to the front, or the rear file to a flank to observe, the Instructor should explain that the reason for doing so is as follows:-If there should happen to be rising ground, or any point from which a good view within a hundred yards or so of the patrol could be obtained, the Corporal might think it expedient to send a man in that direction to observe, to assure himself of the proximity of the enemy, or otherwise, as the case may be, the Corporal and the remainder of the

patrol, in the meantime, remaining where they first halted.

How the man should proceed when sent forward for the purpose above-mentioned, may be also explained, as it will prepare him for the practical instruction when patrolling on the roads or in the country.

For instance, he should be told that when sent out to reconnoitre in the way described, he should keep under cover as much as possible, and that in ascending a height, he should only go far enough to look over and avoid exposing himself and his horse on the summit.

When the man returns from making the observation ordered, it is laid down that he should, during the time of making his report, occupy the same position in which he first halted, before being sent to observe, and also remain facing in the same direction towards which he was moving previous to the halt.

The object and intention of this should be explained to the men, namely, that it is desirable that videttes, whether stationary or in movement, should always, during the time they are on this duty, remain constantly and unremittingly in observation of the space placed under their immediate surveillance, whether making a report, giving up or receiving orders, being relieved, &c., for until the relief is absolutely completed, unless they are despatched upon some other duty, to observe, make a report, &c., they are responsible that no party of the enemy shall approach over the portion of ground they may have been directed to watch.

If, therefore, their attention should be distracted, or their observation diverted from the proper quarter, while making a report, giving up or receiving orders, &c., a party of the enemy may, during the interval, suddenly appear from behind some cover, or even approach from a distant point, and gain a considerable distance without being detected, and much mischief may be done even during the few moments that the vidette is otherwise occupied.

A

LESSON II.

BOUT a dozen men fall in, in two ranks, on the usual drill ground; the Non-Commissioned Officers in one rank in the rear by seniority from the right, dividing the ground equally, Serjeants and Corporals numbering off from the right of each rank. The Instructor then gives the word, 'No. 1 Corporal to the front,' upon which the senior Corporal reins back if necessary, moves round to the front, and halts opposite to, and facing the Instructor, ready to receive his orders. The Instructor then gives the Corporal the following order: Take out two file from the right as a patrol.' Upon receiving this order, the Corporal turns towards the party and gives the word-two file on the right advance, march,' upon which the men move to the front. The Corporal then gives the word 'halt; rear rank take order, march; spring arms;' and upon the arms being sprung, and the men inspected, the Corporal gives the word, 'rear rank take close order-march.' He then goes to the Instructor of the drill, halts opposite to him as before, reports the patrol ready, and waits to receive his orders.

The Instructor then gives him his orders as to the distance he is to go, according to the size of the drill ground, the direction he is to follow, and the pace at which he is to proceed.

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Having received his orders, the Corporal returns to the patrol, gives the word advance by half sections,' 'walk' or 'trot' according to the pace ordered, and then giving the wordmarch,' moves off in the required direction.

The Corporal, having pointed out to the leading front rank man the direction he is to take, should then be instructed to send the rear rank man to the right, and the next front rank man to the left, who should be taught to keep some forty or fifty yards on the right and left rear of the advanced file, keeping him always in view, halting when he halts, and moving forward again when he moves forward; also, looking out to their own front and flanks.

The Corporal then halts, and orders the remaining rear rank man to halt' also, until the front rank man has advanced about fifty yards or so. He then moves on, always keeping the advanced files in view; the last rear rank man keeps about twenty yards or so in rear of the Corporal.

The Instructor then moves up to the advanced file, and orders him in a low tone of voice, so as not to be heard by the rest of the patrol, to halt.' Upon receiving this order the advanced file halts, and remains motionless.

Upon seeing the advanced file halt, the Corporal, the rear file, and the two flank files, should be instructed to halt also and remain still.

The Instructor should then order the advanced file to move forward again; upon seeing him do so, the Corporal, rear file, and two flank files, move forward as before.

The Instructor then moving near the advanced file again orders him in a low tone of voice to halt, upon which he halts, and the remainder of the patrol halt also, as before.

The Instructor then orders the advanced file to make a signal; upon observing the signal the Corporal moves up alongside of the advanced file.

The rear rank man must be instructed to remain where he first halted upon the signal being made, if he can keep the Corporal or advanced file in view from thence, otherwise he must move on a little till he gets within sight of them.

The Corporal should then be instructed to order the advanced file to proceed as before.

The advanced file moves forward, the flank files and the rear file move forward also; the Corporal halts till joined by the rear file at the usual distance, when the patrol proceeds as before.

The Instructor will then order the Corporal to make the signal to halt; upon which the patrol halts and remains still, the advanced file still looking to the front.

The Corporal should then be instructed to make the signal for the leading file to advance; upon hearing the signal the leading file advances, and upon seeing the leading file advance, the remainder of the patrol move to the front as before.

The Corporal should then be instructed to make the signal to halt, and immediately afterwards the signal files about. Upon hearing the signal the leading file and rear file turn their horses right about and proceed to the rear.

Upon seeing the advanced file turn his horse and proceed to the rear, the flank files turn about inwards, and proceed to the rear also-keeping the file which was the rear file and has now become the advance file in view.

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The Corporal now makes the signal files about' again, upon which the advanced and rear files go about and advance as before, upon seeing which the two flank files go about inwards, and proceed as before. The Corporal then makes the signal to close; upon which the leading file gives the signal, and the rear file trots up to the correct distance in rear of the advanced file. The Corporal also moves up to the left of the advanced file, upon seeing which the flank files immediately close into their proper places in rear of the advanced file.

The Corporal should then order files about,' upon which the patrol goes files about outwards.

The Corporal will then be instructed to distribute the