Captain Hastings: “No, sir.”
The Director: “Don’t you think that if there had been very much enemy activity along our lines that there would have been firing somewhere? I think it is fair to assume that. I believe we would be pretty well justified in assuming that the enemy activity is limited to perhaps a patrol from which our prisoner became lost.
“The question now before us is what are we going to do? Lieutenant Wallace, what would you do?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “I would get this horse back as quickly as possible and then I would extend my reconnaissance farther to the front.”
The Director: “Where would you send the horse?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “I would send him back to the support commander.”
The Director: “Where would you send him, Lieutenant Ralston?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “I am not so sure I would send him anywhere for the present. If we are to continue our reconnaissance to the front I do not figure that I would spare a man to send the horse back. In any event I would send him no farther than outguard No. 3. And I am not so sure that I would go any farther on the reconnaissance. I do not think a visiting patrol—so few men—should go very far in front of the line of observation at night.”
The Director: “Captain Harvey, what do you think about all of this?”
Captain Harvey: “I agree with Lieutenant Ralston. Another point that presents itself to me is this: When the support commander gets the prisoner we sent back he will probably send our section leader out with a patrol to reconnoiter the front and the sergeant will want to see me and get what information I have. The natural place for him to come first to find me will be outguard No. 3. I think I should get back there at least by the time the patrol from the support reaches there. I estimate that I could stay around here for a few minutes yet, but I would have to be getting back pretty soon.”