The Director: “Captain Harvey, what would you do?”
Captain Harvey: “I am going back to the support in a few minutes now, so I think I would take the prisoner along with me.”
The Director: “Captain Hodges, what do you think about that?”
Captain Hodges: “I would not want to be bothered with him. Besides we may run into some more enemy scouts any time and this man would be in the way and might make his escape. I would take no chances. I would send him back to the support commander at once.”
Captain James: “Why not send him over to outguard No. 2 for the time being?”
Captain Hodges: “That might be all right. But if I were a support commander and one of my visiting patrols picked up a prisoner, like we have, I should want to see him as soon as practicable. I think it would be much better to send him directly back to the support. The support commander can question him and make his plans for finding out where the other scouts of the patrol to which he probably belongs, are.”
The Director: “That is the point that I wish to bring out. In the first place, the Outguard Commander will have no time to question the man. He will have to busy himself immediately making arrangements to send out patrols in his immediate vicinity to see if he can find any other members of the enemy’s forces. It is not likely that the man is running around in our lines alone. There are others with him. Corporal Canes would send the prisoner back to the support commander immediately in order that the Lieutenant may question him before he gets over the confusion of being captured, and in order that patrols may be sent out to find any of his comrades that may also be within the lines.
“Now, having decided to send the prisoner back, Lieutenant Baker, how would you go about it?”
Lieutenant Baker: “There are several things to be considered in this procedure. The commander of outguard No. 2 must be informed of what has happened so that he may take the necessary action. The support commander must be informed by a verbal message of the circumstances attending the capture of the prisoner. He must also be informed of the immediate future action of the visiting patrol. I would cover all of this in orders and a verbal message. Private Kline has been with me when I was questioning the prisoner. He knows the circumstances attending the capture. I would send him back with the prisoner and a verbal message to the support commander. I would say to the prisoner:
“‘Step over here and face in that direction. I am going to send you back to our support commander by this soldier (indicating Kline). I want to warn you that any attempt to escape will be disastrous for you.’