The English of military communications

by William Addleman Ganoe

For defense positions.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
2. [Plan of commander—to take up a defensive position at or along ——, for the purpose of ——]
3. (a) [Instructions for artillery—position, target, intrenching, etc.]
(b) [Instructions for fighting line—division of front into sections and assignment of troops thereto, intrenching, etc.]
(c) [Instructions for reserve—troops and position]
(d) [Instructions for cavalry—usually to cover with its main force the more exposed flank, a detachment being sent to patrol the other; reconnaissance]
(e) [Instructions for engineer—defensive work, clearing field of fire, preparation of obstacles, opening roads, etc.]
(f) [Instructions for signal troops—to establish lines of information]
4. [Instructions for sanitary train—location of dressing stations and station for slightly wounded]
[Instructions for ammunition train—location of ammunition distributing stations]
[Instructions for field and supply trains, if not previously covered in orders]
5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]

For an attack.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
2. [Plan of commander—indicating the general plan of attack, usually to envelop a flank]
3. (a) [Information for artillery—position, first target, generally hostile artillery]
(b) [Instructions for holding attack[32]—commander, troops, direction and objective]
(c) [Instructions for main attack—commander, troops, direction and objective]
(d) [Instructions for reserve—commander, troops, position]
(e) [Instructions for cavalry—generally to operate on one or both flanks, or to execute some special mission]
(f) [Instructions for engineers—any special mission]
(g) [Instructions for signal troops—to establish lines of information between the commander and the main and secondary attacks, artillery, reserves, etc.]
4. [Instructions for sanitary train—location of dressing stations and stations for slightly wounded when practicable]
[Instructions for ammunition train—location of ammunition distributing stations]
[Instructions for field and supply trains, if not previously covered in orders]
5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]
Note.—In war it is not always possible to issue a complete attackorder like the above, disposing of an entire command. In unexpectedencounters, for instance, orders must be given as the situation develops.

For a retreat.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
Troops	1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
	2. [Plan of commander—to retire in direction of ——]
(a) Leading Troops:	3. (a) [Instructions for leading troops—place and time of departure, route, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(b) Main Body—in	(b) [Instructions for main body—place and time of departure, route]
order of march:
[Troops]
(c) Rear Guard:	(c) [Instructions for rear guard—distance from the main body or place and time of departure, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(d) Right [left] Flank Guard:	(d) [Instructions for flank guard—place and time of departure, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(e) Signal Troops:	(e) [Instructions for signal troops—lines of information]
[Commander]
[Troops]
	(x) [Instructions for outposts—when relieved, subsequent duties—usually forming the rear guard]
	4. [Instructions for field and divisional trains—place and time of departure, route, escort; these trains are generally some distance ahead of the column]
	5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]

For rear guards.
Field Orders	[Title]
No. —	[Place]
[Reference to map used]	[Date and hour]
Troops	1. [Information of enemy and of our supporting troops]
	2. [Plan of commander—mission of rear guard]
(a) Reserve—in order	3. (a) [Instructions for reserve—place and time of departure, or approximate distance from main body, reconnaissance]
of march:
[Troops]
(b) Support:	(b) [Instructions for support—place and time of departure or distance from reserve, any special reconnaissance]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(c) Rear Cavalry:	(c) [Instructions for rear cavalry—place and time of departure, road or country to be covered, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
(d) Right [left] Flank Guard:	(d) [Instructions for flank guard—place and time of departure, route, special mission]
[Commander]
[Troops]
	4. [Instructions for field train when necessary—usually to join the train of main body]
	5. [Place of commander or where messages may be sent—location of lines of information]
	[Authentication]
[How and to whom issued]

March Table

In movements of large forces on several roads, it is sometimes desirable to prescribe the daily marches of the various columns for two or more days. In such cases the order may often be simplified by appending or incorporating a march table usually in the following form, each column providing its own security.

March Table.
—— Army, from —— [date], to —— [date].
[Reference to map used.]
Date	—— Division	—— Division	Army Hq.
	Location of main body or of advance guard at end of each day’s march, and line of march, if necessary.	Location of main body or of advance guard at end of each day’s march, and line of march, if necessary.	Location at end of each day’s march.

APPENDIX 2
Abbreviations