The Director: “How is security provided for during the time that the outpost is being posted?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “By sending out some troops to cover the posting of the outguards. This is sometimes provided for by the outpost commander detailing a unit for the purpose of covering all the outguards and then withdrawing to the reserve. The alternative is to have each support cover the posting of its own outguards. The latter system has been adopted in this problem, and we will have to provide our own covering troops.”
The Director: “What troops would you detail for this duty?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “I would send out the first section (less the squad on duty as point) under the section commander. I would have the point withdraw to the support as soon as the covering troops have taken over the duty of security.”
The Director: “That seems to be a reasonable solution. Into what parts is an outpost support divided, Lieutenant Barry?”
Lieutenant Barry: “Into the support proper and the outguards. From the outguards sentinels are posted.”
The Director: “What are the duties assigned to each of the component parts of the support?”
Lieutenant Barry: “The support proper is the fighting element of the outpost. It is posted on the line where the outpost will make its stand. The outguards with their sentinels from the observation element. They are posted on the line of observation.”
Captain Hall: “That may be the usual line up for the support. But is it not a fact that sometimes the outguards are posted on the fighting line?”
The Director: “Yes. It may be that the line of observation is also the best fighting line for the supports. In that case we say ‘the line of observation and the line of resistance coincide’—that is, they are the same. When we issue the order for the support we make provision for that by stating: ‘In case of attack the outguards will be supported.’ This means that the outguards will hold their positions and the supports will come up to them in case the enemy attacks.”