_The Director_: “Captain Hastings, let us assume that you are Captain B.
How do you size up the situation?”
_Captain Hastings_: “My immediate mission is to get my company ready to
march at the appointed hour.
“I have little information of the detailed dispositions of the enemy
that is opposing our 1st battalion but my reconnaissance officer whom I
will send forward right away will secure it and have it available for me
before the orders for the actual relief are to be issued.
“We are to relieve the right (left) assault company of the 1st battalion
which is now in close contact with the enemy along the front lines. Due
to casualties and the progress of the day’s action it is probable that
each of his assault platoons have both waves in the firing line and it
is highly probable that some or all of the support platoon has also been
absorbed in the firing line. It is necessary for Company B in making the
relief to get the assault troops in the proper formation to make the
attack tomorrow morning.
“The present formation of the company is suitable for the purpose and
will need no change. We can march straight to the front in our present
general formation. We will change from a line of skirmishers into a line
of squad columns for each of the waves of the 1st and 2nd platoons and
the 3rd platoon will march in a column of section columns with the
second section staggered to the right of the first.”
(Note.—Discuss features of the terrain as they actually exist.)
_The Director_: “Your decision will be to march to the front in the
general formation you are now in.”
_Captain Hastings_: “Yes, sir.”
_The Director_: “Now let us go into details a little. Lieutenant
Wallace, what do you understand to be the purpose of the ‘Directing
line’ assigned to the company by the Major?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “The directing line was assigned in addition to
the compass bearing to make doubly sure that the company would keep the
right direction and that there would be little chance for getting lost.
It is a well defined topographical feature and will serve the purpose
very well.”
_The Director_: “You note that the company has been designated as ‘base
company.’ What do you understand by that?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “It is the company on which all the units of the
battalion will guide during the approach march.”