_The Director_: “The Major has made arrangements with the Commanding
Officer 2nd battalion as to when the command of the sector is to pass to
the 1st battalion. He will now have to tell his company commanders when
their full responsibility is to devolve upon them for their respective
sectors within the battalion. What would you do about that, Lieutenant
Baker?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “When a relief is made in larger commands the orders
state the hour when the command is to pass to the relieving troops. But
in a case like this I judge that it passes when the relief is completed.
In order to make sure that the point is understood I would specify:
“‘Command of company sectors will pass when reliefs have been
completed.’”
_The Director_: “I think that would be a good idea.”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “There is another point that should be included in
the order. Let us say I am Captain B. My company is relieving Company F
on the lines. The Captain of Company F either has not received definite
orders as to what he is to do on being relieved or has overlooked the
instructions in the confusion. It seems to me that it might be well for
the Major to tell us just what Major B’s instructions are as to that
point. It might save a lot of confusion in getting the 2nd battalion
troops disengaged and out of the battalion sector. It might save a lot
of casualties from men wandering around in the darkness for my section
and squad leaders to be able to tell the men they are relieving just
where to go.”
_The Director_: “I do not know that such instructions have a place in
the regular order form. But I see no objection to putting it in. It can
do no harm I am sure.
“Now, the Major will want to know when the reliefs have been completed
and he will give instructions to that effect. He will then announce the
location of the battalion command post and this will complete the
details of the order.
“Now, I want each member of the class to write out Major A’s orders for
the relief of the 2nd battalion.”
The necessary time is allowed for this. When completed the Director will
call upon one or more of the members of the class to read his orders
aloud and comments are invited from other members of the class.
The Director will then distribute the mimeograph sheets containing the
Major’s order and an opportunity will be given the members of the class
to compare the work with the solution presented.
The Major’s order will be as follows: