_The Director_: “The section leader will return to the company and get
the section ready to come to the front. He will go himself rather than
send one of the guides. There may be some new orders or instructions
from the company or platoon commander, and he will want to get them
first hand. He will want to be sure that the section is supplied with
the intrenching tools that are necessary for the rapid prosecution of
the mark.
“The section guides will each mark the cutting lines for the section of
trench that he is responsible for and those of the communication
parallel. They will have everything in readiness to start work as soon
as the men get up to the position.
“We have gone into considerable detail in the solution of the problem,
but I am sure every member of the class now realizes the necessity for
it and how simple the final solution is. When we started out with the
problem I am sure you all felt like we were entering upon a hopeless
task but when you finally get down to the last analysis of it and find
that the pressing problem is the digging of four short sections of
trench capable of sheltering four men each and getting started on the
communication parallel you realize that it is not such a big proposition
after all.
“All of this shows the necessity for the systematic training of officers
and men in these things. I am sure you can see what would happen to an
untrained outfit blundering into a proposition of this kind. You can
readily imagine a company rushing madly to the front with no one to tell
the men where to go or what to do. These tactical situations that
confront troops in time of war require time and forethought for their
solution. Unless the proposition is gone about in a systematic and
orderly manner the task is hopeless. I feel sure that if any of you were
confronted with the task of organizing a defensive position in the face
of the enemy you are better equipped for the solution of the task for
having had this Terrain Exercise.”
* * * * *
=Defensive Position= =Card No. 3=
=Director’s Key=