The Director: “Would you have them take off the entire pack? Tell us just what equipment they would carry.”
Lieutenant Wallace: “Only the rifle and belt.”
The Director: “Captain Hastings, do you agree with that?”
Captain Hastings: “No, sir. I would have the men take off only the rolls. I would have them carry the haversack with them. The Infantry pack is designed for this very purpose. We can relieve the men of the burdensome part of the pack and still retain the essentials. I do not believe a man should ever be without his haversack in the field.”
The Director: “You are correct. Let us assume that we have taken the rolls off and piled them here. Now, Lieutenant Wallace, what are you going to do?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “I am going to give my orders. All the men of the section have heard the platoon commander’s orders about the enemy and our own troops, so there is no necessity for repeating them. The next thing is to tell the men what our mission is to be. I would cover this by the simple statement:
“‘This section (less the first squad) will cover the posting of the outguards.’
“I will now have to decide upon the formation that I am going to take up. The front to be covered is too extensive to be covered by a line of skirmishers, and besides I do not approve of such a formation. It is too difficult to control the operations. I would use the patrol method. Divide the section up into small patrols and keep a small support.”
The Director: “Captain Hastings, do you agree with such dispositions?”
Captain Hastings: “Yes, sir. I think the patrol formation is best. It has many advantages over the line of skirmishers.”