Solution
The Director: “Lieutenant Williams, what would you do?”
Lieutenant Williams: “I estimate that it is about time for me to be getting out with what is left of my patrol. I have accomplished my mission in so far as the main body of the enemy is concerned. His bivouac for the night has been located. He has established his outposts, which indicates that he will probably not make any more moves today. The operations of the hostile patrols will soon make my position untenable. There is little to be gained by my staying here any longer and taking a chance on being picked up. I would get on my way back to my own troops.”
The Director: “Has any member of the class any criticism of that solution?”
Captain Hastings: “It seems to me that Sergeant B would now have another mission imposed upon him by the conditions. It is that of intercepting enemy scouts from getting back with information from the patrol that passed us. How about that?”
The Director: “That is true. It is the point that I was going to bring up next. The fact that you have heard firing from the direction of our own troops indicates that contact has been gained and the enemy patrol has gotten some information of our forces. This he will endeavor to get back to his own commander. In view of the fact that the patrol leader does not know that our patrol is between him and his own troops he may not think it necessary to take the precautions to send it by two messengers, and I think it is reasonable to assume that he will direct his messenger along the main road where he can make the better time than he can in going across country. You now have two men with you, Carlin and Davis. How would you manage the withdrawal and what would be your formation on the way back? What route would you take? How would you solve all of these points, Captain Hastings?”
Captain Hastings: “I would signal Carlin, who is observer, to join me. This accomplished, I would signal Davis to move out toward the main road. I would make my withdrawal as rapidly as possible and when we get away some little distance I would signal Davis to slow down until we caught up with him. I would get on or near the main road and march with Davis as the leading man, following him at a distance of about 25 yards and have Carlin follow me at the same distance. I would keep a sharp lookout for enemy scouts with a view to intercepting them.”
The Director: “I think your solution meets the situation very well. Are there any questions?”
Reconnoitering Patrol Card No. 7
Director’s Key