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versed. Should the commander-in-chief desire to form it to starboard in natural order, or to port in order reversed, he has but to change the direction of the column to the opposite course before forming it into line. For instance, if he desire to form it to starboard in natural order, he first signals, Head of fleet E.; and so soon as he perceives that the leader of the fleet is turning to starboard, he signals, Head of fleet S. (See 56, Fig. 87.) When the fleet is in column to the Southward, he makes general signal E., and the line is in natural order.

71. The fleet being in column of vessels abreast, by divisions, heading N., to form it into line to the right or left, at right angles to the original direction.

Break the fleet into column of vessels on the right or left division, as in manoeuvre 42, Fig. 73, and afterward proceed as in manœuvre 70, Fig. 105.

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72. The fleet being in double column, heading N., to form it into line to the right or left, at right angles to the original dirction.

FIG. 106.

The commander-in-chief signals:
E. (or W.)

Which is repeated by the divisional commanders.

The fleet comes E. or W. at once, and moves by the flank in this direction, until the commander-in-chief makes signal, Forward into line— right oblique; when the vessels of the front line

slow to steerage-way, while those of the rear line keep two points to starboard, and come up abreast of them, as shown by the diagram precisely as in forming double column. (See manœuvre 27, Fig. 56.)

It is evident that if the fleet were in triple column, column of fours, etc., etc., it could be formed into line to the right or left, at right angles to the original direction, according to the same principles.

73. The fleet being in double columns, triple columns, etc., etc., abreast, by divisions, to form it into line to the right or left, at right angles to the original direction.

Break each division into column of vessels, as in manœuvre 39, Fig. 70, then form the whole fleet into column of vessels on the right or left division, as in 42, Fig. 73, and finally proceed as in 70, Fig. 105.

To form the fleet from column into line directly to the rear, reverse it as in manœuvres 46, 47, 48, and 49, and then proceed as in forming line to the front.

74. The fleet being in column of vessels, to form it into line on any course whatever.

Form the column at right angles to the course on which you intend the line shall head, or, in other words, form it on its line of bearing, and then throw the column into line by making the compass signal. For instance, let the fleet be heading N., and suppose the line has to be formed to the S.E.

FIG. 107.

The commander-in-chief makes signal:

Head of fleet N.E. (or S. W.), and so soon as the column is formed on the course signalled, he signals S.E., and the fleet is in line heading S.E. on the line of bearing N.E. and S.W., as shown by the diagram.

If the fleet be in double column, or triple column, etc., etc., it must be broken into column of vessels and then manoeuvred as above.

75. The fleet being in column of vessels abreast, by divisions, to form it into line on any course what

ever.

Break the fleet into column of vessels on the right or left division, at right angles to the course on which the line is to head, as in manœuvres 43 and 44, Figs. 75 and 76, and then proceed as in manœuvre 74, Fig. 107.

If the divisions be in double column, or triple column, etc., etc., they must be broken into columns of vessels and then manœuvred as above.

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