Captain Hastings: “Am I to understand that the man approaching is one of our own force or one of the enemy?”
The Director: “That is one of the points of the problem. You do not know yet whether he is a friend or enemy. It is dark and impossible to tell. You merely see the outlines of a man. He is crouching. Has his rifle at a ‘High Port’ which places it in readiness for instant action.”
Captain Hastings: “I would not want to shoot one of our own men. I guess I would halt and wait and see what he is going to do.”
The Director: “The moment you let the man take the lead you are just one lap behind him in decision and action. If you do something and take the lead yourself he will have to make his decisions rapidly and base his action on what you do. Never lose the opportunity to put your opponent in that hole. As far as can be seen, you now have the drop on the man. Don’t make a blunder and lose the advantage. Of all tactical offenses, indecision and inaction are the most to be condemned.
“Lieutenant Wallace, how do you size up the situation?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “Well, sir, I would hate to make the mistake of killing one of our own men. But I consider that no man of this outpost has any business running around between the lines at this time of the night unless he is a member of a patrol. If such is the case the sentinel at No. 2 Outguard would have known about that and told me. So, I suppose if it came to the point of killing him, he would be paid for. Next, I do not know whether the man is alone or whether there are others with him. Up to this time I have only seen one man, and it is not likely that one man of the enemy would be wandering around in our lines alone. Considering the possibility of his being one of our men, I would give him just one chance.”
The Director: “That is a very good estimate of the situation. Now arrive at a decision as to what you are going to do and tell us about it.”
Lieutenant Wallace: “I would halt and crouch down. The other members of the patrol seeing me do this would follow my action without any orders. Without making any noise I would unlock my piece and aim it at the approaching man. As soon as he arrived at a point where I could see him sufficiently in the dark to make sure of hitting him if it were necessary to fire I would call out in a tone loud enough for him to hear and understand that I meant business: ‘Halt! Drop that Rifle! Throw up your hands!’ If there was the least hesitation on his part or any move to use his rifle I would fire. In other words, if he did not drop his rifle instantly and throw up his hands, I would shoot him. If he obeyed my orders, I would call to him in a low tone, ‘I have the drop on you. Do as I say, or I will fire. Walk five steps towards me and halt.’ I would wait a few seconds to see if there were any more men behind him and then call to Manley and Harrison to join me at the edge of the clearing. While I still covered him and with my rifle, I would say:
“‘Manley, you go out and search the man. Take any arms that he may have. Keep out of my way, so I can fire if necessary. Now get his rifle.’
I now have the man a prisoner, and....”