The English of military communications

by William Addleman Ganoe

LECTURES

Lectures are but extended Explanations. Officers are more and more being called upon to appear before large audiences of educated people in order to give to the country military knowledge. Training Camps and war are increasing the necessity for the delivery of lectures.

Because the Lecture takes more time, it should be more carefully developed than the Explanation. The subject should be divided into its various parts in a logical way. It should be bound together coherently. And each part should have in it only what belongs there. This process is simply that of following the rules of English with which we are already acquainted. The purpose is speed and clearness.

There are other elements which enter into the betterment of a long talk. Since an audience is human, there is reason in helping it through a dry subject. The treatment of the Lecture may in this way, besides aiding the interest, make the points stick longer. Two qualities which help to attain this treatment are Humor and Presence.

Ordinarily the American does not need to be told to cultivate humor. He reeks with it. But there are some instructors whose minds work along so impassively that it is difficult for them to be wakened from their gravity. To them the conscious development of the short anecdote, homely illustration, and incongruous phrase is a splendid aid. The great majority, however, must be guarded in the use of humor. The quality itself may be overworked so that the proportion of matter in the Lecture is small in comparison to the witticisms. Humor is but a means to an end. Its sole object should be to lighten the talk in order to help the subject into the auditor’s mind more easily. Fun should be incidental and made without effort.

As to Presence more can be said in its favor. It is an indispensable quality in a speaker. If his diaphragm is in his mouth during his delivery, or if his heart action is violent, the audience cannot be fooled. It will be made uncomfortable. A speaker should have such ordinary fluency of accurate expression through practice that he entertains no fears of obscure or halting language. He should be so familiar with the sensations of looking into a number of faces that he will feel at ease. He should impress his audience that he enjoys standing before them for the purpose of imparting interesting knowledge. Such Presence can be attained only by taking advantage of every opportunity for correct public and private speech. The military novice should enter every impersonal discussion he can find, and should urge himself to speak whenever possible to more than a dozen people at a time.

He must be more than an ordinary talker, for he must have speed and interest as ready agents of his ideas. To gain those qualities is a matter of constant attention to speaking and to writing exactly what he wishes to say.

We have now covered the territory of military communications. We have seen the necessity for correct expression, and the difficulty of its attainment. What we have done should be but a beginning. It may be a long struggle to gain brevity and clarity—the terse and the unmistakable. But achievement will come with practice and will repay us fully in future satisfaction, and increased worth in our profession.

APPENDICES[25]

APPENDIX
Forms of Complete Field Orders

While the following forms are given for the convenience of officers in the field, and with a view of securing uniformity in the service, it must be remembered that no two military situations are the same. The sequence in paragraph 3 is not obligatory, the commander arranging the details according to his best judgment.

For an advance.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
Troops	1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
(a) Independent	2. [Plan of commander]
Cavalry:	3. (a) [Instructions for independent cavalry—place and time of departure, roads or country to be covered, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(b) Advance Guard:	(b) [Instructions for advance guard—place and time of departure, or distance at which it is to precede the main body, route, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(c) Main Body—in	(c) [Instructions for main body—distance at which it is to follow the advance guard, or place and time of departure]
order of march:
[Commander][26]
(d) Right [left] Flank Guard:	(d) [Instructions for flank guard—place and time of departure, route, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(e) Signal Troops:	(e) [Instructions for signal troops—lines of information to be established, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
	(x) [Instructions for outpost—when relieved, subsequent duties]
	4. [Instructions for field train—escort, distance in rear of column, or destination when different from that of main body, if disposition not previously covered in “Orders”]
[Instructions for sanitary, ammunition, supply and engineer trains, when necessary]
5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]

For advance guards.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
Troops	1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
(a) Advance Cavalry:	2. [Plan of commander]
[Commander]	3. (a) [Instructions for advance cavalry—place and time of departure, roads or country to be covered, special mission]
[Troops]
(b) Support:	(b) [Instructions for support—place and time of departure, route, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(c) Reserve—in order	(c) [Instructions for reserve—distance at which it is to follow support]
of march:
[Troops]
(d) Right [left] Flank Guard:	(d) [Instructions for flank guard—place and time of departure, route, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
	4. [Instructions for field train—generally to join train of column if not previously covered in orders]
	5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent, location of lines of information]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]

A halt for the night—Camp with outpost.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops, including independent cavalry]
2. [Plan of commander—to encamp or bivouac]
3. (a) [Designation of commander and troops of outpost,[27] general line to be held, special reconnaissance, connection with other outposts, if any]
(b) [Instructions for troops not detailed for outpost duty—location of camp, designation of camp commander,[28] observation of flanks and rear when necessary, lines of information, conduct in case of attack]
4. [Instructions for field train—generally to join troops, though if near enemy, field train of outpost troops may be held in rear] [29]
[Instructions for sanitary, ammunition, supply, and engineer trains, when necessary]
5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]

For outposts.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
Troops	1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
	2. [Plan of commander—to establish outpost approximate line of resistance]
(a) Advance Cavalry:	3. (a) [Instructions for advanced cavalry contact with enemy, roads or country to be specially watched, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(b) Supports:[30]	(b) [Instructions for supports—positions they are to occupy, and sections of line of resistance which they are to hold, intrenching, etc.]
No.1[Commander]
[Troops]
No.2[Commander]
[Troops]
No.3[Commander]
[Troops]
(c) Detached Post:	(c) [Instructions for detached post—position to be occupied, duties, amount of resistance]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(d) Reserve:	(d) [Instructions for reserves—location, observation of flanks, conduct in case of attack, duties of special troops]
[Commander]
[Troops]
	4. [Instruction for field train if necessary]
	5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent, location of lines of information]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued][31]
It is sometimes necessary to issue two outpost orders; the firstas above, containing general instruction; the second, issued after aninspection of the line, and containing more definite instructions orinvolving changes.

For positions in readiness.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
2. [Plan of commander—to take up a position in readiness at or near ——]
3. (a) [Instructions for cavalry—to reconnoiter in direction of enemy, special mission]
(b) [Instructions for artillery—position or place of assembly]
(c) [Instructions for infantry—position or place of assembly, points to be especially held, reconnaissance]
(d) [Instructions for engineers—position or place of assembly]
(e) [Instructions for signal troops—lines of information]
4. [Instructions for field trains, sanitary, ammunition, supply and
engineer trains if not previously covered in orders—generally to halt at designated localities in rear, ready to move in any direction]
5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]

For defense positions.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
2. [Plan of commander—to take up a defensive position at or along ——, for the purpose of ——]
3. (a) [Instructions for artillery—position, target, intrenching, etc.]
(b) [Instructions for fighting line—division of front into sections and assignment of troops thereto, intrenching, etc.]
(c) [Instructions for reserve—troops and position]
(d) [Instructions for cavalry—usually to cover with its main force the more exposed flank, a detachment being sent to patrol the other; reconnaissance]
(e) [Instructions for engineer—defensive work, clearing field of fire, preparation of obstacles, opening roads, etc.]
(f) [Instructions for signal troops—to establish lines of information]
4. [Instructions for sanitary train—location of dressing stations and station for slightly wounded]
[Instructions for ammunition train—location of ammunition distributing stations]
[Instructions for field and supply trains, if not previously covered in orders]
5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]

For an attack.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
2. [Plan of commander—indicating the general plan of attack, usually to envelop a flank]
3. (a) [Information for artillery—position, first target, generally hostile artillery]
(b) [Instructions for holding attack[32]—commander, troops, direction and objective]
(c) [Instructions for main attack—commander, troops, direction and objective]
(d) [Instructions for reserve—commander, troops, position]
(e) [Instructions for cavalry—generally to operate on one or both flanks, or to execute some special mission]
(f) [Instructions for engineers—any special mission]
(g) [Instructions for signal troops—to establish lines of information between the commander and the main and secondary attacks, artillery, reserves, etc.]
4. [Instructions for sanitary train—location of dressing stations and stations for slightly wounded when practicable]
[Instructions for ammunition train—location of ammunition distributing stations]
[Instructions for field and supply trains, if not previously covered in orders]
5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]
Note.—In war it is not always possible to issue a complete attackorder like the above, disposing of an entire command. In unexpectedencounters, for instance, orders must be given as the situation develops.

For a retreat.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
Troops	1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
	2. [Plan of commander—to retire in direction of ——]
(a) Leading Troops:	3. (a) [Instructions for leading troops—place and time of departure, route, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(b) Main Body—in	(b) [Instructions for main body—place and time of departure, route]
order of march:
[Troops]
(c) Rear Guard:	(c) [Instructions for rear guard—distance from the main body or place and time of departure, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(d) Right [left] Flank Guard:	(d) [Instructions for flank guard—place and time of departure, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(e) Signal Troops:	(e) [Instructions for signal troops—lines of information]
[Commander]
[Troops]
	(x) [Instructions for outposts—when relieved, subsequent duties—usually forming the rear guard]
	4. [Instructions for field and divisional trains—place and time of departure, route, escort; these trains are generally some distance ahead of the column]
	5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]

For rear guards.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
Troops	1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
	2. [Plan of commander—mission of rear guard]
(a) Reserve—in order	3. (a) [Instructions for reserve—place and time of departure, or approximate distance from main body, reconnaissance]
of march:
[Troops]
(b) Support:	(b) [Instructions for support—place and time of departure or distance from reserve, any special reconnaissance]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(c) Rear Cavalry:	(c) [Instructions for rear cavalry—place and time of departure, road or country to be covered, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(d) Right [left] Flank Guard:	(d) [Instructions for flank guard—place and time of departure, route, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
	4. [Instructions for field train when necessary—usually to join the train of main body]
	5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent—location of lines of information]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]

March Table

In movements of large forces on several roads, it is sometimes desirable to prescribe the daily marches of the various columns for two or more days. In such cases the order may often be simplified by appending or incorporating a march table usually in the following form, each column providing its own security.

March Table.
—— Army, from —— [date], to —— [date].
[Reference to map used.]
Date	—— Division	—— Division	Army Hq.
	Location of main body or of advance guard at end of each day’s march, and line of march, if necessary.	Location of main body or of advance guard at end of each day’s march, and line of march, if necessary.	Location at end of each day’s march.

APPENDIX 2
Abbreviations

Field Maps and Sketches

The following abbreviations and signs are authorized for use on field maps and sketches. For more elaborate map work the authorized conventional signs as given in the manual of “Conventional Signs, United States Army Maps,” are used.

Abbreviations other than those given should not be used.

Abbreviations.
A.	Arroyo.	L. S. S.	Life-Saving Station.
abut.	Abutment.	L. H.	Lighthouse.
Ar.	Arch.	Long.	Longitude.
b.	Brick.	Mt.	Mountain.
B. S.	Blacksmith Shop.	Mts.	Mountains.
bot.	Bottom.	N.	North.
Br.	Branch.	n. f.	Not fordable.
br.	Bridge.	P.	Pier.
C.	Cape.	pk.	Plank.
cem.	Cemetery.	P. O.	Post Office.
con.	Concrete.	Pt.	Point.
cov.	Covered.	q.p.	Queen-post.
Cr.	Creek.	R.	River.
cul.	Culvert.	R. H.	Roundhouse.
d.	Deep.	R. R.	Railroad.
D. S.	Drug Store.	S.	South.
E.	East.	s.	Steel.
Est.	Estuary.	S. H.	Schoolhouse.
f.	Fordable.	S. M.	Sawmill.
Ft.	Fort.	Sta.	Station.
G. S.	General Store.	st.	Stone.
gir.	Girder.	str.	Stream.
G. M.	Gristmill.	T. G.	Tollgate.
i.	Iron.	Tres.	Trestle
I.	Island.	tr.	Truss.
Jc.	Junction.	W. T.	Water Tank.
k.p.	King-post.	W. W.	Water Works.
L.	Lake.	W.	West.
Lat.	Latitude.	w.	Wood.
Ldg.	Landing.	wd.	Wide.

Tactical organizations:
3d Div.	Third Infantry Division.
1st Cav. Div.	First Cavalry Division.
1st Sep. Brig.	First Separate Brigade.
8th Brig. 3d Div.	Eighth Infantry Brigade of Third Infantry Division.
2d Brig. 1st Cav.	Div. Second Cavalry Brigade of First Cavalry Division.
4th Brig. F. A.	Fourth Brigade of Field Artillery.
5th Hv. A.	Fifth Regiment of Heavy Artillery.
4th M. A.	Fourth Regiment of Mountain Artillery.
1st Pon. Bn.	First Ponton Battalion.
1st Aero Sq.	First Aero Squadron.
3d Inf.	Third Regiment of Infantry.
2d Cav.	Second Regiment of Cavalry.
3d L. A.	Third Regiment of Light Artillery.
6th H. A.	Sixth Regiment of Horse Artillery.
1st Bn. Engrs.	First Pioneer Battalion of Engineers.
1st Bn. mtd. Engrs.	First Pioneer Battalion of Engineers, Mounted.
1st Bn. Sig.	First Field Battalion Signal Troops.
1st Bn. Sig. cav.	First Field Battalion Signal Troops, Cavalry.
1st Tel. Bn.	First Telegraph Battalion.

Trains:
C. Tn.	Combat train.
F. Tn.	Field train.
B. Sec. F. Tn.	Baggage section field train.
R. Sec. F. Tn.	Ration section field train.
Am. Tn.	Ammunition train.
Sp. Tn.	Supply train.
Sn. Tn.	Sanitary train.
1st Amb. Co.	First Ambulance Company.
2d F. Hosp. Co.	Second Field Hospital Company.
1st Med. Res. Co.	First Medical Reserve Company.
Engr. Tn.	Engineer train.

Columns (1 of c):
Am. Col.	Ammunition column.
Sp. Col.	Supply column.
Sn. Col.	Sanitary column.
Engr. Col.	Engineer column.

Fractional Organization.

Infantry:

3d Div. (less cav. and 1 bn. F. A.)
2d Brig. (less 1 regt.)
1st Inf. (less 6 cos. and M. G. Co.)
1 bn. 6th Inf.
1st Bn. 6th Inf. (less 1 co.)
Co. A 1st Inf. (less 1 plat.)

Cavalry:

1st Cav. Div. (less 1 brig.)
2d Brig. (less 1 regt.)
3d Cav. (less 1 sq. and M. G. detch.)
1 Sq. 4th Cav.
1st Sq. 4th Cav. (less 1 tr.)
Tr. C 4th Cav. (less 2 plats.)

Artillery:

4th Brig. F. A. ( less 1 bn.)
3d L. (less 1 bn.)
1 bn. 1st L. A. (less 1 btry.)
1st L. A. (less 2 btries.)
Btry A 6th H. A.
5th Hv. A. (less 1 bn. 6″ How.)
1 Bn. 4.7″ How., 5th Hv. A.
1 Btry. 4.7″ gun, 5th Hv. A.

Engineers:

1st Bn. Engrs. (less 1 co.)
Co. A Engrs. (less 1 sec.)
2 Secs. Engrs.
1st Pon. Bn. (less 1 co. heavy equip.)
1 pon. co. light equip. (less 2 bridge div.)

Signal:

1st Bn. Sig. (less 1 wire plat.)
1 rad. Co. Sig.
1 wire Co. Sig.
1 rad. sec. pack, Sig.
1 rad. plat. wagon, Sig.
1 wire Sec. Sig.
1 wire plat. Sig.

Miscellaneous:

Adj.	adjutant.
Adm. Sec. G. S.	administrative section, general staff.
A. D. of Ry.	assistant director of railways.
Am.	ammunition.
Adv. Gd.	advance guard.
Adv. Sec. L. of C.	advance section, line of communications.
Asst. C. of S.	assistant chief of staff.
Base Sec. L. of C.	base section, line of communications.
Brig. Gen.	brigadier general.
Capt.	captain.
C. G.	commanding general.
C. G. L. of C.	commanding general, line of communications.
C. O.	commanding officer.
Col.	colonel.
C. of S.	chief of staff.
Comdg.	commanding.
Comb. Sec. G. S.	combat section, general staff.
Detch.	detachment.
D. of Ry.	director of railways.
E. O.	engineer officer.
F. O.	field order.
F. S. R.	field service regulations.
Gd.	guard.
Gen.	general.
G. O.	general order.
Insp.	inspector.
Int. Sec. G. S.	intelligence section, general staff.
Inter. Sec. L. of C.	intermediate section, line of communications.
J. A.	judge advocate.
L. of C.	line of communications.
Lt.	lieutenant.
Lt. Col.	lieutenant colonel.
Lt. Gen.	lieutenant general.
Maj.	major.
Maj. Gen.	major general.
M. P.	military police.
N. C. O.	non-commissioned officer.
O. O.	ordnance officer.
Q. M.	quartermaster.
S. A. Am.	small arms ammunition.
Sig. O.	signal officer.
S. O.	special order.
Surg.	surgeon.

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