_The Director_: “Captain Hastings, let us assume that you are Captain C.
You have received the orders of the battalion commander. What is your
mission?”
_Captain Hastings_: “To attack the enemy’s strong point enveloping its
left.”
_The Director_: “In sizing up the situation what points would you
consider?”
_Captain Hastings_: “I would consider the enemy’s position, and if
possible, go to a point where I can make a personal reconnaissance of
it. I would consider the route by which I can get my company up to the
point where I can make the attack and select the line of departure for
the company. I will then decide upon my plan of maneuver and the
formation of the company for attack.”
_The Director_: “In other words, you will make an Estimate of the
Situation and upon this you will base your decision and in turn your
orders?”
_Captain Hastings_: “Yes, sir. That is the idea.”
_The Director_: “I want to emphasize the necessity for this process of
sizing up the situation on the part of all officers charged with a
tactical operation. If you come to a decision without doing so you may
be right and you may be wrong. The chances are greatly in favor of the
latter. If you stop and consider the elements of the problem as outlined
by Captain Hastings the chances are that you will be right. In any event
you have the odds on your side. Lieutenant Wallace, what troops have
been designated to support your company?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “A part of the machine gun company and a howitzer
platoon.”
_The Director_: “You will note that these two units have been ordered to
support your attack. They are not attached to your company. What do you
understand to be the difference between a supporting unit and an
attached unit?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “An attached unit becomes an integral part of the
force and is subject to its commander’s orders. A supporting unit
receives its orders, not from the commander of the force being
supported, but from another source, usually a common superior.”
_The Director_: “That is right. I hope you all note the distinction. It
is the rule, however, that the supporting unit must work with the unit
that it is supporting in every way possible so as to insure teamwork in
the accomplishment of the common mission.”
“Lieutenant Ralston, how would you get your instructions to your platoon
leaders, who are back with the company?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I have a runner with me from each of the three
platoons. I would send these runners back to their respective platoons
to tell the platoon commanders to report to me at ___________”
(Lieutenant Ralston would indicate where the platoon commanders are to
report.)
_The Director_: “Let us assume that you are Captain C. Just what would
you say to the runners?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would call the platoon runners to me and say:
“‘Do you see that ___________?’ (Designating a tree or other well
defined object.) ‘Each platoon runner will deliver this message to
his platoon leader—Platoon leaders will join Captain C at once at
___________ (Place). Repeat the message.’”
_The Director_: “All right. Now let us assume that the platoon runners
have started back to their platoons, what would you do now?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would go over to the right to make a personal
reconnaissance of the enemy strong point, select my line of departure
for the attack and get the ‘line-up’ of the supporting weapons.”
_The Director_: “That would seem to be the reasonable thing to do.”
The Class is now conducted over to the right, to a point about the
center of the line of departure for the attack.
_The Director_: “Captain Harvey, let us assume that you have come to
this point. You have with you the commanders of the machine gun company,
Captain D, and the Howitzer platoon, Lieutenant Z. You decide that the
line of departure for your attack shall be along here (indicating). What
instructions would you give to Captain D and Lieutenant Z?”
_Captain Harvey_: “I would indicate to them where I want the machine
guns, light mortars, and one-pounders to be located to support the
attack.”
_The Director_: “You would tell exactly where to place the weapons,
would you?”
_Captain Harvey_: “Yes, sir.”
_The Director_: “Captain Hodges, do you agree with that solution to the
problem?”
_Captain Hodges_: “No, sir, I do not. It seems to me that it would be
better for Captain C to indicate to Captain D and Lieutenant Z the
dispositions that he proposes to make—where the line of departure is to
be and the direction of the attack. Then to leave it up to those
officers to select the firing positions for the weapons. I think Captain
C would verify the positions selected, but he would at least give the
men who are supposed to be the experts an opportunity to use their
knowledge of the subject.”
_The Director_: “I think you are right. I believe in requiring every man
to do his job. These officers have been ordered to support the attack.
It is up to them to select the position where they can get the best fire
effect with their weapons and to get them into position ready to do
business.”
“What precautions would you take to indicate the place where the platoon
leaders are to assemble, Captain James?”
_Captain James_: “I would send one of my company runners to the assembly
point and order him to tell the platoon leaders to wait there for me.”
_The Director_: “I think that is a wise precaution. You do not want to
take a chance on anything going wrong and failing to effect an assembly
of the platoon leaders.”
“Now, let us consider how the attack is to be made. What would be your
tactical dispositions, Captain James?”
_Captain James_: “I would attack with one Platoon (the first), advancing
directly against the enemy strong point, and another (the second)
working around the enemy’s left flank and enveloping it. I would hold
the remaining platoon (the third) as company support.”
_The Director_: “Where is your line of departure?”
_Captain James_: “My line of departure would be along here. The right of
the first platoon would be (indicate). The left of the second platoon
will be (indicate). Each platoon will cover about 150 yards of front.
The third platoon will follow in rear of the second platoon as company
support.”
_The Director_: “That seems to be a logical disposition. Now having
decided all of this you should give the information to Captain D and
Lieutenant X so they can go about the task of selecting positions for
their weapons. How would you do this, Lieutenant Baker?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “Assuming that Lieutenant Z and Captain D have been
with me all the while, I would say:
“‘My first platoon will attack with its right about (indicate). The
second platoon with its left about (indicate). Each will cover a
front of about 150 yards. Select your firing positions to cover the
attack.’
“That is all that should be required. Before issuing final orders for
the attack I would verify the positions selected.”