The Problem
Situation No. 2:
You, Corporal Canes, have been designated to conduct the visiting patrol that is to go out at 12 o’clock midnight and at 2 o’clock a. m. You have been given your squad to form the reliefs.
Required:
What do you do?
Procedure
The Director distributes the sheets bearing Situation No. 2 to the members of the class, reads it aloud and makes such explanations as may be necessary.
Explanation
The Director: “Now I want each member of the class to consider himself as being Corporal Canes. Put yourself in his place and consider what you would do under the orders you have received from the support commander. We are going to work these situations out in detail to show you how it ought to be done. Then when you are a support commander and give an order for your visiting patrols, you will know just how each Corporal should go about his job.”
Solution
The Director: “Captain Harvey, what would you do?”
Captain Harvey: “I would get the men of my squad together and while they are assembling I would size up the situation and determine just what orders I am going to give. When the men are together I would give them their orders:
“‘Manley, Harrison and Kline will be the first visiting patrol.
“‘Oliver, Hasker and Payne will be the second visiting patrol.
“‘We go out at 12 and 2 o’clock tonight. Be ready at those hours.
“‘I am going over the route of the patrol before dark.
“‘Dismissed.’
“I do not think of anything else to say at this time.”
The Director: “Captain Hodges, have you any criticism to make of Captain Harvey’s order?”
Captain Hodges: “Yes, sir. In the first place, he has left out several things that ought to be told to the men. He has not provided any instructions for one man of the squad. He has not made it clear just which patrol each man belongs to. He has not told the men what equipment they are to carry with them.”
The Director: “To what do you attribute these omissions?”
Captain Hodges: “Well, sir, I could not say. The thing that appeals to me is that if I were one of the men I would want to know about them.”
The Director: “I think, if you will all reflect, that the underlying trouble with Captain Harvey’s order is that he has not followed our five paragraph order. Had he done so, I am sure he would not have omitted these essentials. Now I am going to have Captain Harvey give the order again and follow the five paragraph order system and see how he comes out. Your first paragraph would be ‘Information of the enemy and our supporting troops.’ All right, Captain Harvey, what would your first paragraph contain?”
Captain Harvey: “Well, sir, the men know everything that I do regarding the enemy and our own troops. They all heard the Lieutenants order when he established the support. So I would say:
“‘There is no further information of the enemy or our supporting troops.’”
The Director: “You have stated it exactly in your last sentence. Now for your plan.”
Captain Harvey: “My plan would be to have the squad furnish two of the visiting patrols—I see what you mean.
“‘Our squad will furnish two visiting patrols tonight.’”
The Director: “Now comes the disposition of troops and orders for each element.”
Captain Harvey: “I would divide up the squad as I did in my previous order and provide for that extra man that Captain Hodges spoke of. He is my Automatic Rifleman. I would say:
“‘Manley, Harrison and Kline will be visiting patrol No. 1. It will go out at 12 o’clock midnight.
“‘Oliver, Hasker and Payne will be visiting patrol No. 2. It will go out at 2 o’clock a. m.
“‘Bailey (automatic rifleman) will be supernumerary.’”
The Director: “The next is your administrative arrangements, paragraph 4 of an order. What would you include in that?”
Captain Harvey: “The equipment to be carried. I would say:
“‘Rifle and belts of ammunition only will be carried. The bayonet will be fixed. The scabbard and canteen will be left here.’
I would not want the men to carry anything that is not absolutely essential.”
The Director: “You are right. The members of the visiting patrol travel light. They do not want to be hampered with equipment that is not necessary. Above all, they do not want anything with them that will rattle and make a noise. They leave the bayonet scabbard at the post of the support because if they wear it on the belt it will be dangling between the men’s legs and interfere with their freedom of movement. They will probably not need any water on this short march so I see no objection to leaving the canteen behind, although, on the other hand, I can see no objection to carrying it. That is a mere matter of opinion. The bayonets are fixed so as to have them ready for hand to hand night fighting in case it is required. A great deal of the night work will be done with the bayonet. Rifle fire is effective only for short distances due to inability to see the target for any distance. Now, Captain Harvey, how do you conclude your order?”
Captain Harvey: “In the usual manner by telling the men where messages are to be brought, I would say:
“‘Messages will be brought back to the support, here.’”
That concludes the order. I see my error and will profit by it in the future.”
Captain James: “There is one point in the order that I did not understand. Captain Harvey detailed his automatic rifleman as ‘supernumerary.’ Just what does he mean by that.”
The Director: “He means that he is an extra man not specifically detailed with either patrol. But, if for any reason, one of the other men is unable to go on the patrol when the time comes the supernumerary will take his place. Do you see the point now?”
Captain James: “Yes, sir.”
The Director: “I hope you all now realize how far astray you can go in issuing tactical orders if you fail to follow the five paragraph system. On the other hand, I hope you have observed how simple it is to include all of the essential elements in an order if you do follow the system. You here see the system applied to the most insignificant element in the domain of tactics, the visiting patrol. You see how nicely it fits. If you were issuing an order for a division of 20,000 men you would see how well it works there. I hope you will all stick to this plan of issuing orders. You positively cannot go far wrong if you will. If there are no further questions we will proceed.”
Explanation
The Director: “Corporal Canes will now dismiss the squad and the men will go about getting ready for their night work. Corporal Canes will go over the route that he is to conduct the patrol tonight. He will proceed to the right parallel to and in rear of the line of outguards to the left outguard of Support No. 1; thence along our own line of observation to Outguard No. 1 of Support No. 3; and then back to the support. He will note the route carefully and mark it if necessary. He will especially note the approaches to the outguard posts and arrange for recognition signals with the outguard commanders.”
Procedure
The Director: “Let us assume that it is now 11.50 p. m. The obscurity is such that a man may see another at a distance of about 12 yards. Corporal Canes has been awakened by the support sentinel. He is up and getting ready to start with his patrol. Captain James, you are now Corporal Canes. What would you do?”
Captain James: “I would wake Manley, Harrison and Kline and say to them:
“‘It is time to make our 12 o’clock patrol. Get up. You have about 5 minutes to get ready.’
“At 11:55 I would have the patrol fall in for inspection. I would inspect the men to see if they had the proper equipment and make sure that each man is fully awake. I would then give the command:
“‘With ball cartridges. 2. LOAD.’
“I am now ready to start.”
The Director: “All right. It is now 12 o’clock. Give the orders for the start.”
Captain James: “I would say:
“‘Manley, you will lead; I will follow at a distance of 8 yards; Harrison, you follow me at 10 yards; Kline you follow Harrison at 12 yards. Move out.’
“I think that order would get the patrol under way.”
The Director: “Lieutenant Baker, have you any criticism of the formation proposed by Captain James?”
Lieutenant Baker: “Yes, sir. It seems to me that here is one instance where the patrol commander should actually lead the patrol himself. He knows the route that is to be taken and no other member of the patrol knows it. He is the man that knows the recognition signals with the outguard commanders. I think there is every reason why he should physically lead the patrol.”
The Director: “I think so, too, and feel that Captain James will when he considers the situation. Now then, this new disposition will change the orders somewhat. Lieutenant Baker how would you state the orders now?”
Lieutenant Baker: “I would say:
“‘I will lead. Manley, you follow me at a distance of about 8 yards. Harrison, follow Manley at a distance of about 10 yards; Kline will follow Harrison at a distance of about 10 yards.
“‘Keep the man ahead of you in sight at all times.
“‘Manley, you will be second in command.
“‘Follow me.’”
The Director: “I think this order will get our patrol under way in the proper formation. I hope you see and understand the necessity for going into the minute details of these situations. Herein lies one of the greatest values of the Terrain Exercise. It not only teaches the student of Minor Tactics the principles, but affords practice in giving the orders to meet the various situations and fixes all indelibly on the mind. When you conduct a Terrain Exercise yourself you cannot be too particular about going into the details of every situation.”
Visiting Patrol Card No. 2
Director’s Key
1. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 2. Each member of class is now Corporal Canes. Explain why this Terrain Exercise is given to officers.
2. Orders for squad. Failure to use five paragraph order. Information of enemy and own troops. Plan of commander. Tactical dispositions and order for each element; detail each patrol, time of going out, supernumerary, equipment—only rifle and belt of ammunition, no bayonets, canteen, messages.
3. Meaning of supernumerary.
4. Necessity for following five paragraph order system.
5. Men get ready for patrol duty before dark. Corporal Canes goes over route of the patrol.
6. State special situation. Now 11:50 p. m. Ready to start. Formation of patrol. Corporal leads. Load rifles.
7. Orders for patrol:—Formation, communication, second in command.
8. Explain necessity for going into details. Great value of Terrain Exercise.