The Director: “Very good. Now all of what we have said is termed the ‘Estimate of the Situation.’ I hope you all appreciate the necessity for the battalion commander going through this process of thought before arriving at his decision and framing up his order based on it.
“We are now ready to proceed with a discussion of the Major’s order. Lieutenant Baker, what would you include in the first paragraph?”
Lieutenant Baker: “The information of the enemy and our own troops. This would include information about the enemy’s retreat all along the line during the day; of the point reached by the front lines of our 2nd battalion; of the proposed attack tomorrow morning; of the fact that the 3rd battalion will relieve our battalion tonight; of the action to be taken by the 2nd battalion after we relieve it. This is all that it would be necessary for the troops to know at this time.”
The Director: “I think you have covered the essential points. Captain Hall, what would you include in the second paragraph of the order?”
Captain Hall: “I would state my plan, to the effect that we are to relieve the 2nd battalion tonight.”
The Director: “What is the next part of the order, Lieutenant Barry?”
Lieutenant Barry: “The disposition of the troops and the orders for each element of the battalion: I would want the intelligence section of my headquarters’ company to get to the front at the earliest possible moment, secure the intelligence ‘dope’ and be prepared to take over the intelligence functions as soon as the relief is effected. I would order the section to proceed up to the C. P. of the 2nd battalion right away and instruct them to get on the job. I would also want my communications platoon to get up to the front and make arrangements to take over the communication net and the message center of the 2nd battalion. If these outfits get an early start they will be able to accomplish much before it gets dark. They should lose no time in getting to the front.”
The Director: “Lieutenant Hunt, what would you include in the orders for the companies of the Battalion?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “The Major has decided upon the formation already. There only remains the task of putting the decision into an order. I would preserve the present dispositions of the units and direct: Company A to march at —— (time), in approach march formation; designate the sector of the company; announce the guide (right or left) towards the base company; give the compass bearing of the direction of the march and to make sure that contact will not be lost with the base company will caution to that effect. I would also include in this part of the order the fact that Company A is to relieve the Assault Company of the 2nd battalion which is immediately in its front. The orders for Company B, which is to be the other Assault Company, would contain the same instructions as Company A with the addition of a sentence giving the Company a directing line in addition to the compass bearing of the line of march.
“I would include in the orders for Company C the same line of instructions as for Company A except that I would tell them the distance they are to follow Company A and the fact that they are to relieve the local support company of the 2nd battalion.