“4. To check the advance of the enemy in force long enough for the main body to prepare for action. When the enemy is met in sufficient force to warrant the employment of troops of the main body there is a certain process that the commander has to go through before he can get his troops in action. A reconnaissance must be made to determine the strength and disposition of the enemy, for it would be folly to commit a force to action without knowing something of these elements. Then, too, the orders for the deployment have to be issued and the deployment has to be effected. All of this takes a certain amount of time during which period the advance guard holds off the enemy.
“5. To remove obstacles, repair the roads, and favor in every way the uninterrupted progress of the main body.
“These are the duties of the advance guard. These are the things that platoon, section and squad leaders must ever keep in mind when they are on advance guard duty. These are the things that we officers must learn about in time of peace in order that we may do them as a matter of habit in time of actual service.
“Distances.—The distances between the several elements of the advance guard are fixed by the general rule that ‘the element in front must be at such a distance that the next succeeding element will not be involved in a disaster to the former.’
Formation of Advance Guard of One Company for a Battalion
“The point will be from 150 to 200 yards in advance of the advance party. The latter will be from 300 to 400 yards in front of the support and the main body will follow at a distance of from 400 to 500 yards. It will thus be seen that the head of a battalion with one company as advance guard will be about 1,400 yards away from the enemy. This allows a minimum distance of 400 yards from the leading man of the point to the enemy. If a deployment becomes necessary, it can be made in comparative security. These distances are not fixed. They are flexible. They may be increased or diminished to meet the situation. When the advance guard commander prescribes distances between the several elements it is not to be taken that the exact distance will be maintained at all times. It is merely an indication of the approximate distances desired.
“Communication.—Communication between the several elements of the advance guard and with the main body is kept up by means of connecting files which march between them. They employ signals and act as runners when necessary.
“Are there any questions?”