The Problem
Situation No. 4:
The Visiting Patrol has arrived at this point. You, Corporal Canes, are right here (indicate). You hear a slight noise in that direction (indicate). In a moment you see the dim outline of a man. He is armed with a rifle which he seems to be carrying at the position of “High Port.” He is stooping forward and moving very cautiously towards you. Apparently he has not seen you.
Required:
What action do you take?
Procedure
The Director will read the situation aloud and indicate where Corporal Canes is and where the man is.
(Note.—The place selected for this situation should be chosen with great care. It should preferably be in a woods with some underbrush and some cleared places. The place where the patrol is located when the situation is given out should preferably be at the near edge of one of these clearings.)
Explanation
The Director: “Now I want each member of the class to visualize the situation as it exists. You are reminded that it is supposed to be night and you should base your decisions and actions on that assumption.”
Solution
The Director: “Captain Hastings, what would you do?”
Captain Hastings: “Am I to understand that the man approaching is one of our own force or one of the enemy?”
The Director: “That is one of the points of the problem. You do not know yet whether he is a friend or enemy. It is dark and impossible to tell. You merely see the outlines of a man. He is crouching. Has his rifle at a ‘High Port’ which places it in readiness for instant action.”
Captain Hastings: “I would not want to shoot one of our own men. I guess I would halt and wait and see what he is going to do.”
The Director: “The moment you let the man take the lead you are just one lap behind him in decision and action. If you do something and take the lead yourself he will have to make his decisions rapidly and base his action on what you do. Never lose the opportunity to put your opponent in that hole. As far as can be seen, you now have the drop on the man. Don’t make a blunder and lose the advantage. Of all tactical offenses, indecision and inaction are the most to be condemned.
“Lieutenant Wallace, how do you size up the situation?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “Well, sir, I would hate to make the mistake of killing one of our own men. But I consider that no man of this outpost has any business running around between the lines at this time of the night unless he is a member of a patrol. If such is the case the sentinel at No. 2 Outguard would have known about that and told me. So, I suppose if it came to the point of killing him, he would be paid for. Next, I do not know whether the man is alone or whether there are others with him. Up to this time I have only seen one man, and it is not likely that one man of the enemy would be wandering around in our lines alone. Considering the possibility of his being one of our men, I would give him just one chance.”
The Director: “That is a very good estimate of the situation. Now arrive at a decision as to what you are going to do and tell us about it.”
Lieutenant Wallace: “I would halt and crouch down. The other members of the patrol seeing me do this would follow my action without any orders. Without making any noise I would unlock my piece and aim it at the approaching man. As soon as he arrived at a point where I could see him sufficiently in the dark to make sure of hitting him if it were necessary to fire I would call out in a tone loud enough for him to hear and understand that I meant business: ‘Halt! Drop that Rifle! Throw up your hands!’ If there was the least hesitation on his part or any move to use his rifle I would fire. In other words, if he did not drop his rifle instantly and throw up his hands, I would shoot him. If he obeyed my orders, I would call to him in a low tone, ‘I have the drop on you. Do as I say, or I will fire. Walk five steps towards me and halt.’ I would wait a few seconds to see if there were any more men behind him and then call to Manley and Harrison to join me at the edge of the clearing. While I still covered him and with my rifle, I would say:
“‘Manley, you go out and search the man. Take any arms that he may have. Keep out of my way, so I can fire if necessary. Now get his rifle.’
I now have the man a prisoner, and....”
The Director: “Wait a moment. That is as far as I want you to go at this time. I think you have covered the situation very well.
“Lieutenant Ralston, it develops that the man is one of the enemy. You have him a prisoner. What are you going to do now?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “I would post Manley and Harrison to guard against surprise. I would have Kline join me. Before the prisoner had a chance to get over his confusion and collect his thoughts I would try to get some information from him.”
The Director: “What questions would you ask him?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “I would ask him:
“‘What outfit do you belong to?
“‘What are you doing in our lines?
“‘Are there any other men of your outfit around here?
“‘What is your name and rank?’”
Explanation
The Director: “I hope you have all noted the dispositions that Lieutenant Ralston made. He posted two men to guard against surprise, for there may be more of the enemy in the vicinity. It is fair to assume that this man is not out alone at this time of the night. The remaining man of the patrol is right here with Corporal Canes while he is questioning the prisoner. He has him here for a purpose. Kline will take the prisoner back to the support and having been present at the examination, if he does give any information Kline will know all about it and can tell the support commander in case the man changes his statements after recovering his composure.
“It is one of the duties of a visiting patrol to pick up persons found in the lines. It is of importance that they be captured and every precaution towards that end should be taken. Make it a rule that persons wandering about in the outpost line have no business to be there and take no chances on them getting away.”
Visiting Patrol Card No. 4
Director’s Key
1. Conduct class to a point between outguard No. 2 and No. 3.
2. Distribute Situation No. 4, read and explain.
3. Remind class that it is supposed to be night.
4. Enemy or friend. Size up the situation.
5. Action. Halt. Cover man with rifle. Call on him to Halt. Drop rifle. Hold up hands. Effect capture.
6. Disposition of Patrol of guard against surprise.
7. Question prisoner.
8. Explain dispositions. Kline to take prisoner back. Duty of visiting patrol to pick up strangers on outpost line.