The Problem
Situation No. 5:
When the point opened fire the enemy retreated under cover of the woods (or such cover as is actually available). They did not return the fire. You, Sergeant Roberts, observe two riderless horses galloping through the woods.
Required:
What action do you take?
Procedure
When the members of the class have had a chance to get their bearings the Director reads the situation aloud and points out the direction in which the enemy retreated and where the riderless horses are at this time.
Solution
The Director: “Lieutenant Williams, what is your estimate of the enemy?”
Lieutenant Williams: “I should say he forms a reconnoitering patrol sent out to secure information about our movements. He has not yet gained the information he desires or he would have given us a fight. Again, had he been the advance element of a larger body he would have engaged our point and by now we would begin to see evidences of the troops following him.”
The Director: “Is there any member of the class who does not agree with the views just expressed?”
Captain Hastings: “I agree with them in the main, but it seems to me that the enemy would have opened fire if for no other purpose than to make trouble for us and cause delay to our troops.”
The Director: “We must always give the enemy credit for being up to his job. The moment we opened fire the leader of that patrol knew that he had encountered a fighting element of our forces. If he stops to engage in a fight, he knows that every minute that passes makes it just that much more difficult for him to make his get-away. He knows that we are going to close on him right away and he will not get the information he has been sent out to secure. You must always remember that a reconnoitering patrol does not fight except when it is forced to do so in self-defense, or when it has secured all the information it wants, has sent it back, and then turns itself into a fighting patrol to delay the advance of the enemy. Are there any other points to bring up about the mission of the enemy?
“Lieutenant Wallace, you are assumed to be Sergeant Roberts. What do you do now?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “I would form up my point in the original order of march and move out along the road. We would take up the double-time until we get our proper distance.”
The Director: “Would you do anything else?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “I would send two members of the point out to the place where the enemy was to see if we could get an identification.”
The Director: “Do you agree with that procedure, Lieutenant Ralston?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “Our battalion commander would want an identification if it is possible to get one, and it seems to me that something should be done at once to secure it.”
The Director: “I agree with you entirely that an identification is desirable, but it is not the job of the point to get it. Members of the point do not go off on excursions to the flank. They keep plugging along on the line of march. If flank patrols are to be sent out, they must come from the advance party or the support. I cannot conceive of any circumstances that would warrant sending two members of the point off on patrol duty. Now, Lieutenant Ralston, assuming that it is desirable to get an identification, what would you, as point commander, do?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “I would send a message back to Lieutenant Wallace, who is with the advance party.”
The Director: “By whom would you send this message?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “By Private Bailey, the rear man of the point.”
The Director: “Now state the exact message that you would send back.”
Lieutenant Ralston: “I would fall back to where Bailey is marching. I would say to him:
“‘Bailey, you go back to Lieutenant Wallace. Tell him that we fired on an enemy reconnoitering patrol of about one squad. Show him where they were. Tell him that they did not return the fire. That when we opened fire they withdrew. That there are probably two dead or wounded men in the woods. Rejoin the point when you can.’
“I would then double-time up to the point. As I pass Corporal Smith I would say: ‘Watch for signals from the advance party.’”
Captain Harvey: “That solution seems to be all right, but don’t you think Lieutenant Wallace would come forward to the point when it halted? In that case he would know all about the situation, and it would not be necessary to send the message back to him.”
The Director: “I am very glad you brought up that point, Captain Harvey. No; I do not think Lieutenant Wallace would leave his advance party at such a critical moment. In my opinion it would be absolutely wrong if he did. In the first place, he has no business up with the point. Sergeant Roberts is either capable of handling it or he is not so. If he is, he should be let alone to solve his own problem; if he is not capable, he should be relieved. On advance guard duty the commander of each element will have plenty to do if he sticks to his own job and does not go molesting that of someone else.”
Procedure
The class should now be conducted 200 or 300 yards farther along the road. It is here halted and the Director states: The point has now gotten into formation and is continuing the advance. A message has been sent back to the advance party commander as indicated in our solution a few minutes ago. At this moment you see about six mounted men of the enemy off in that direction (points out the location toward the flank).
Solution
The Director: “Captain Hodges, how do you size up the situation now?”
Captain Hodges: “I estimate that the mounted men are the survivors of the patrol that we fired on. They are working around to the flank of the column to secure information of the strength and composition of our main body. Having this information, it is my job to get it back to the advance party commander as soon as possible in order that proper measures may be taken to beat off the enemy patrol and keep him from getting the information he wants. I would send a verbal message back by Alley, who is marching just behind me in the point.”
The Director: “Now, let us assume that I am Private Alley. Give me the message that you would send back.”
Captain Hodges: “I would fall back to where Alley is marching, and as we walk along say to him:
“‘You see those mounted men over there? They are the patrol we fired on. Go back to Lieutenant W and show him where you saw them. Tell him they are working around our flank to get in touch with the main body. Come back to the point when you can.’”
The Director: “I think that will cover the situation. Are there any questions?”
Advance Guard Card No. 5
Director’s Key
1. Hand out slips bearing situation No. 5. Read situation and point out places mentioned.
2. Estimate of situation. Reconnoitering patrol. Action of enemy.
3. Action taken by point commander. Get point in formation and on road.
4. Sending out patrol from point.
5. Message to advance party commander. State message.
6. State verbally problem re enemy on the flank. Make solution. Send message back to Lieutenant W.
Procedure
The slips bearing Special Situation No. 6 are passed out to the members of the class.