A few minutes are allowed the members of the class to look over the
situation. It is then read aloud and the necessary explanations made.
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Williams, what is the formation of Company
C, at the time the battalion commander’s order is received by Captain
C?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “The formation would depend upon the cover
available, the distance from the front line and the class of fire it is
being subjected to. In this case I should say that the company will be
in dispersed formation either in squad columns or platoon columns. I
would prefer the platoon columns because they are more easily
controlled. I think I would have each platoon in a platoon column. The
first and second platoons would march abreast with an interval of at
least 40 yards with the third platoon marching about 50 yards to the
rear and opposite the interval between the first and second. Company
headquarters would be in the lead.”
_The Director_: “That seems to be a very good formation under the
circumstances.”
(Note.—The Director should prepare an answer to this question based
on the lay of the ground.)
“How do you arrive at the interval of 40 yards between the two leading
platoons?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “That is about the minimum distance to avoid
casualties in more than one column from the burst of one shell and it is
about the maximum distance for control and visibility in the woods.”