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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1894)
THE BATTALION. 17 light, if a sentinel sees any person or party on or near his post, he -will ad vance rapidly along his post toward such person or party, and when within thirty paces will challenge sharply, “Halt, who is theref” He will place himself in the best position to receive, or if necessary, arrest the person or party. A sentinel will not divulge the coun tersign to any one except the sentinel who relieves liim nr to a person from whom he properly receives order-', on such person’s verbal order given person ally. NIGHT ORDERS FOR ALL SENTINELS EXCEPT NO. 1. Until duly recognized by countersign or otherwise, the sentinel will allow no one to approach nearer than about ten feet from him. The sentinel will suffer one only of any party to approach him for the pur pose of giving the countersign, or, if no countersign be used of being duly rec ognized. When this has been done, the whole party is advanced, i. e.. allowed to pass. In all cases the sentinel must satisfy himself beyond a reasonable doubt that the parties are what they represent themselve- to be, and have a right to pass. If he be not satisfied, he must cause them to stand, and call the corpo ral of the guard. So, likewise, if he have no authority to pass persons with the countersign, or gives an incorrect one. When two or more persons approach in one party, the sentinel, on receiving an answer that indicates that some one in the party has the countersign, will say “ Advance one, with the Countersign,” and, if the countersign is given correctly, will then say, “Advance (so and so),” re peating the answer to his challenge. Thus, if the answer he “Friends with the countersign” (or patrol, or etc.), the sen tinel will say “Advance one with the countersign,” then, “Advancefriends, (or patrol or etc.).” If a person having the countersign approach alone, he is advanced to give the countersign. Thus: If the answer be “Friend with the countersign,” (or of ficer of the day, or etc.), the sentinel will say, “Advance friend or officer of the day, or etc.,) with the countersign)” then, “Advance friend, (or officer of the day, or etc.).” If two or more parties approach a sentinel’s post from different directions at the same time, all such parties are challenged in turn. The senior is first advanced, in accordance with the forego ing rules. If a party be already-advanced and in communication with a sentinel, the lat ter may challenge any other party that may approach ; if the party challenged bo senior to the one thready on po-d, the sentinel will advance such party at once. The senior, if competent, to give orders to the sentinel, may direct him to ad vance an}- or all of the other parties. Without such direction the sentinel will not advance any of them until the sen ior leaves him. He will then advance the senior only of the remaining parties, and so on. The following order of rank will gov ern a sentinel in advancing different persons or parties approaching his post at night: commandant, officer of the day, officers of the guard, non-commis sioned officer of the guard in the order of rank, friends. After challenging and duly recogniz ing an officer, the sentinel, unless spoken to, salutes and resumes wa lking his po.-t ; if spoken to he continues at port arms; he salutes when the officer leaves him. If no countersign be i-sti- d, the rule-' for challenging are the same. The rul s for advancing parties are modified oulv as follows: Instead of saving, advance (so and. so) with the countersign,” the sentinel will say, “Advance (■-<0 and so) to be recognized. Upon recogni i m the sentinel will say, “advance (so and so).” The same rules apply, when the coun tersign is used, in the case of persons whom the sentinel is authorized u> pass without the countersign. When not in the- presence of the ene my, sentinels may he required to call the hours and half hours between the time