“The battalion commander will want to know what has happened on our front and I would send him a message telling him about it.
“My decision would be to withdraw and reorganize the 1st and 2nd platoons. Have the 3rd platoon take over the duty of security, mop up the position and take charge of the prisoners. Send a message to the battalion commander.
“All of this would constitute my hurried estimate of the situation. When the platoon commanders assemble I will give the necessary orders to put my decision into effect.”
The Director: “That is very good. Now, Lieutenant Ralston, let us assume that the platoon commanders are assembled and you are ready to give them their orders. What is the first thing you would do?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “I would want to get my report off to the battalion commander as soon as possible.”
The Director: “Just how would you do this?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “I would write it out and send it by a runner.”
The Director: “Do you think you would take the time to do that? You have your first sergeant with you. He should be able to write out the message and I think you would have him do it. That leaves you free to go ahead with your orders to the platoon commanders. You would indicate roughly what you want to go into the message to the battalion commander and leave the rest to the first sergeant. Now, tell us what you would include in the orders to the platoon commanders, Captain Harvey?”
Captain Harvey: “I would give the orders about as follows:
“The other companies of our battalion are advancing on our left.