_The Director_: “All right. We will assume that you have sent the
platoon runners back for the platoons and that one of your company
runners has gone back to the rendezvous point. What are you going to do
between now and the time the platoon commanders report to you for
orders?”
_Captain Harvey_: “I am going to make a personal reconnaissance of the
area assigned to my company, size up the situation, arrive at a decision
as to how I am going to occupy the area and dope out my orders for the
platoon commanders.”
_The Director_: “That is the proper procedure. Captain Hodges, in what
ways may the company be distributed in an area of this kind?”
_Captain Hodges_: “In the first place there are three lines included in
the area. The first is the local security or line of observation—the
outpost line; next is the firing line which is the line of defense of
the area—where the fight will take place if the enemy attacks; next is
the support line. The company must cover all three of these lines. There
are several methods of deployment available. The company may be deployed
with two platoons each covering the outpost line and firing line and one
platoon on the support line. In this case each platoon furnishes the
outguards covering its own front. The company may be deployed with two
platoons on the firing line only and one platoon on the support line; in
this case the outguards would be furnished by the support platoon. The
company may be deployed with one platoon on the outpost line; one on the
firing line and one on the support line. Again it may be deployed with
the platoons side by side each platoon covering all three of the lines.
In this case each platoon furnished the outguards covering its own
front.”
(Note.—The Director will draw these four formations out on the
ground and explain them to the class.)
_The Director_: “Considering the four methods of deployment which one
would you employ in the organization of this area, Captain James?”
_Captain James_: “I would favor the first method where we have two
platoons covering the outpost line and firing line and one platoon on
the support line. Each platoon to furnish the outguards covering its own
front.”
_The Director_: “What factors lead you to favor this deployment?”
_Captain James_: “By deploying in this manner we have two complete
combat groups each responsible for its own outguards and its firing
line. We have a third combat group on the support line located in the
interval between the two forward groups so that it is readily available
for counter-attack in case the enemy should penetrate the line on our
front. Unity of command is preserved and there will be little
intermingling of men of different units. Each platoon commander has a
definite problem to solve. I think it is by far the best method.”
_The Director_: “Do you see any objections to the second method of
deployment, Lieutenant Baker?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “I should say that it is about the same as the first
method. The thing that I do not like about it is the proposition of
taking the outguards from the support platoon. I like the idea of having
each combat group being responsible for its whole front. In addition to
dividing responsibility for the defense of the area occupied it weakens
the support platoon and makes it just that much less effective for
counter-attack work.”
_The Director_: “What objections have you to the third method—the
platoons in echelon one behind the other?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “When the outguards fall back on the firing line you
have the proposition of an intermingling of men of the two platoons.
That will cause endless confusion and destroy the unity of command.”
_The Director_: “Any objections to the fourth method?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “I can conceive of circumstances where this method
might be employed to advantage. For example: In woods or in rough,
difficult terrain. I do not think it would be employed in an area such
as we now have under consideration.”
_The Director_: “We seem to be pretty well agreed that the first method
should be employed. Now what considerations will affect your decision as
to the area to be included in each of the two combat groups, Captain
Hall?”
_Captain Hall_: “The battalion commander has assigned the elements of
the machine gun company to certain positions to cover the front. I would
build my combat groups around this distribution and take advantage of
the fire that they are able to produce.”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Barry, where would you locate the Company C.
P.?”
_Lieutenant Barry_: “The C. P. should be in such a position that it can
be easily reached and found by the runners. It should be so arranged
that the enemy will not be able to observe the runners entering and
leaving. I would say that it should be located in the area lying between
the combat groups and the support platoon.”