The Problem
The Director: “Lieutenant Baker, would you send back any message to the support commander about the enemy patrol?”
Solution
Lieutenant Baker: “I think that is a point that the patrol commander should consider. I am not clear in my own mind just what should be done under the circumstances. I would be pleased to have the Director enlighten us on the subject.”
The Director: “We assume that this is a small enemy reconnoitering patrol. It would have the same mission as our own patrol. The point to be considered is whether or not anything in the message you send back would materially assist in the defense of the outpost line, or whether it could contain any information of special value to the outpost commander. Our covering patrols sent out from the supports will keep the enemy away from the outpost line. They will soon discover that it is only a small patrol and will drive it off. We have only a few men with the patrol. If one is sent back with a message at this time it may leave the patrol leader shorthanded when there is something really important that must be sent back. The mission of the patrol is to secure information of the enemy’s main body. That is the information that is of importance to the support and outpost commander. I do not believe the patrol commander would be justified in sending back a message at this time.”
Lieutenant Baker: “I see the point.”
(Note.—Should any members of the class insist that a message should be sent back, he may be called upon to compose the message, and it should be examined to see whether it contains information that is vital to the defense of the outpost.)
Reconnoitering Patrol Card No. 5
Director’s Key
1. Conduct class to point where a view of road to front for several hundred yards is available.
2. Distribute problem.
3. Enter on solution: Signal of leading man; method of joining leading man.
4. Enemy advance guard or patrol. Question of firing on enemy.
5. Method of evading enemy patrol. Practical demonstration. Discussion of methods; difficulties.
6. Write out message. Contents; information of enemy main.
Procedure
The class is now conducted to a point where they have a view of an open field some 1,200 yards distant. It may be assumed that the patrol has marched several miles in order to arrive at this place.
The Director now distributes the sheets containing Situation No. 6.
Situation No. 6:
The patrol successfully evaded the enemy’s patrol, continued the march, and without encountering any other enemy troops has arrived at this point. The enemy patrol proceeded on down the road toward the outpost line.
On arriving here you observe a force of the enemy marching into that field. They are apparently going into bivouac. You estimate the enemy to be one regiment of Infantry.
Required:
What action do you take?
Procedure
The Director should point out the location of the enemy and should indicate the exact location of each member of the patrol, so that all members of the class will make their solutions on the same basis.
The Director: “Captain Hall, what would you do under the circumstances?”
Captain Hall: “I would send a message to the support commander telling him what I have seen.”
The Director: “Is there anything that you would do before starting to compose your message?”
Captain Hall: “I do not think so. I have located the enemy and want to get the information back as quickly as possible.”
The Director: “That is true. But there are certain things that must be done in connection with it. You have discovered what you estimate to be the enemy’s main body. You know the strength and composition of it. You know what he is doing for the time being. The members of your patrol are still in patrol formation and must be told what to do. In other words, there are several things to be done. In the first place, you want to dispose your men for observation of the enemy and to prevent surprise. Enemy patrols may be operating in the vicinity. One of these may pick you up and prevent you from getting any information back. This is the thing you must guard against. You must consider the contents of your message and you must figure out how you are going to get it back considering the fact that there is an enemy patrol of six men operating between you and the outpost line.
“When the patrol has encountered the enemy the disposition must be such as to permit the leader to observe the hostile force for the purpose of forming an estimate of its strength and composition, dispositions, and probable intentions. With this end in view, the leader must go to a vantage point from which he may obtain a good view of the enemy. The remaining members of the patrol must be so disposed as to guard all the avenues of approach from the known direction of the enemy’s forces, in order to prevent surprise.
“Lieutenant Barry, what disposition would you make of the members of the patrol?”
Solution
Lieutenant Barry: “I would select a good observation point where I can see the enemy and what he is doing. I would select two of the men to carry the message back. I would post a man to watch for enemy patrols and post a get-away man somewhat to my rear.”
The Director: “All right. Select your observation post and give the orders necessary to carry out what you have just said.”
The solution will depend upon the lay of the ground. The points to be brought out are that patrol leaders must be able to observe the enemy in security and not have to bother about being surprised by enemy patrols. The lookouts will be posted so that they can watch the approaches. The men that are to carry the message should be with Sergeant B while he is composing it so that they will be able to tell the support commander all about the situation when they get back with the message. The get-away man will be posted in such position as will make sure that he will not be included in any disaster to the patrol.
Procedure
The dispositions having been completed, the next question is that of the contents of the message.
The Director: “I want each member of the class to write out the body of the message that he would send back to the support commander.”
When the message has been completed and turned in by all the class they are distributed and various members called upon to read and comment on the one in his possession. The points that should be included in the message are:
1. Information of the strength and composition of the enemy main body. What he is doing.
2. Information of the strength and composition of the enemy patrol that was passed.
3. The future action of the patrol in so far as it can be determined.
Solution
The Director should then compose a message covering the above requirements and submit it to the class for discussion.
“Have observed a force of the enemy, estimated one regiment of Infantry at —— (give location). They are now going into bivouac. A hostile patrol of six men passed my patrol at —— (give location) at —— (time) which proceeded in the direction of the outpost line. I will remain in observation until forced to retire or darkness prevents further reconnaissance.”
The Director: “Lieutenant Hunt, how would you get the message back to the support commander?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “I have had Anderson and Bailey here with me while making my observations and composing the message. I will send it back by them, each man taking a different route. I will read the message to them. I will indicate on the map the general route that each man is to take in going back to the support and caution each of them to look out for the enemy patrol that is between us and the outpost line. By sending the message by two men going over different routes I am almost sure to get it through. If one of them runs into the enemy, it is pretty safe to say that the other will not.”
The Director: “I think your sizing up of the situation is very good. You have taken all the precautions possible for getting the message back safely to the support commander.”
Reconnoitering Patrol Card No. 6
Director’s Key
1. Conduct class to point where they can see enemy. Distribute Situation No. 6. Point out location of the enemy.
2. Disposition of the patrol for observation—observers, men to carry message, get-away man.
3. Write out message. Contents; information of enemy main body, enemy patrol, future plans of the patrol leader. Prepare message for discussion.
4. Send back message by two messengers. Chances for getting through with it.
Procedure
The Director now distributes the sheets containing Situation No. 7 to the members of the class. A few minutes are allowed to read it over, and it is explained.