9. Explain necessity for estimate of situation.
10. Solution. Orders to platoon sergeant. Order for patrol leader. Runner to adjoining supports. Send citizen to outpost commander.
Procedure
The Director: “Each member of the class will now consider himself to be Sergeant B. who has been designated as the patrol leader. Lieutenant Hunt, what equipment would you carry?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “I would not want to be encumbered with a rifle, so I would not carry one. I would want a pair of field glasses, a compass, a watch, a wire cutter, pencils and a book of field message blanks. If one were available I would want a map of the country over which the patrol is to operate. Each member of the patrol should be provided with a compass and a wire cutter. At least one man should carry a combination flag kit for wigwag and semaphore signaling——”
Lieutenant Williams: “I have understood that visual signaling is about to be discarded in the service. Can the Director give us some information on that point?”
The Director: “There is a tendency to throw it into the discard, but I am not so sure that it is right. There are times when visual signaling has its place and will save a lot of time and trouble. The codes are easily learned and any intelligent man can master the process within a comparatively short time. I think there should be a few men in every rifle platoon who are good signalers. Going back to the equipment of the patrol, I think Lieutenant Hunt has enumerated the essential items of equipment.
“Lieutenant Williams, suppose you were out on patrol duty and captured one of the enemy scouts, what is the first thing you would look for on him?”
Lieutenant Williams: “I would look for some marking that would give me an identification—that would give me information as to the outfit to which he belongs.”
The Director: “That is right. During the war both sides took exceptional measures to secure identification of units that were opposed to them. Of course, much of this work was done during the period of so-called trench warfare, but the same idea holds good in open warfare. Identification of the units to which prisoners belong is always sought after by the intelligence service. Now, Lieutenant Williams, what does all of this point to with respect to our own patrol?”