OBSERVATION—ATTENTION—EXPOSITION
There are occasions when it becomes proper not to write the field message, but to speak it. If the enemy is strong and active, so that a bearer of information runs grave risk of capture, the message is safer as a verbal one. In the case of the written one, both message and messenger are lost; in the case of the verbal one, only the messenger. Therefore, it is best to entrust the information to the care of the messenger’s mind. The facts deposited there should remain in readiness for the first opportunity of delivery.
There are times, too, when no chance is offered to write a message on account of the pressure of the enemy. The attention of a leader may be so occupied with warding off, or moving away from, strong hostile bodies, that work with pencil and paper becomes an impossibility.
The form of the written field message must be abbreviated. The gist of the Heading and Ending must be stated by the messenger upon his arrival at his destination; and the Body must be contracted into one or two sentences depending upon the accuracy and intelligence of the messenger. Where officers are messengers the message may be lengthened. For our purpose and practice we must attempt the shorter form.
The usual procedure in sending off a verbal message may be represented by the following dialogue:
Patrol Leader (or Commander): “Swinton, go back at once to the Commanding Officer of our Outpost and say,—
Twelve enemy’s cavalry marching north on Carlisle Road at Hamilton 11:45 a. m. Repeat.”
Swinton: “I am going back to the Commanding Officer of our Outpost and say,—
Twelve of enemy marching north on Carlisle Road at 11:45 a. m.”
P. L.: “No, Swinton, twelve enemy’s cavalry marching north on Carlisle Road at Hamilton 11:45 a. m. Repeat again.”
Swinton: “I am to go back right away and say to Commanding Officer,—
Twelve enemy’s cavalry marching north on Carlisle Road at Hamilton 11:45 a. m. Repeat.”
P. L.: “Not quite; you are to go back to Commanding Officer of Outpost. Repeat again.”
Swinton: “I am to go back and say to Commanding Officer of the Outpost,—
Twelve enemy’s cavalry marching north on Carlisle Road at Hamilton at 11:45 a. m.”
P. L.: “That’s right. It is now 12 o’clock. Notice where we are located. I am going to continue on my mission toward the southwest. Do you understand?”
Swinton: “Yes, sir.”
When Swinton arrives at headquarters he ought thus to be able to give to his commanding officer not only the accurate Body of the verbal message, but the contents of the Heading and Ending of a similar written one.
The above conversation is not exaggerated. It is not only what does happen, but what should happen. It does happen because the average American has rarely developed his powers of attention to things outside of his interest. It should happen because every word in every good message is a vital word. Any omission or substitution is a loss.