_The Director_: “Captain Hall, how do you size up the situation?”
_Captain Hall_: “The mission of the advance guard now is to continue to
provide protection to the main body by establishing a march outpost.
Enemy scouts have been observed from time to time, but they have not
interfered with the march. We have no information regarding any
considerable force of the enemy.
“Our main body is halted and will remain so for at least an hour. Our
advance guard is so disposed that it will be able to take up its new
formation without confusion. The advance party can cover the main road
and, in general, the head of the column. Our patrols, of which I assume
there are two on the exposed flank, will form march outguards and
protect that flank. I would send out another patrol of one squad to
cover the other flank and prevent enemy scouts from working around there
and observing the main body.
“My decision is to form a march outpost.”
_The Director_: “What Captain Hall has said constitutes Captain A’s
‘Estimate of the Situation.’ These are the points that would flash
through his mind as soon as he gets the information that the halt is to
be made. Lieutenant Barry, what is now necessary to put the decision
into effect?”
_Lieutenant Barry_: “It is necessary to issue an order.”
_The Director_: “How would you go about this?”
_Lieutenant Barry_: “I would assemble the two platoon commanders, the
platoon sergeants and the first sergeant, and have them write down my
order in their message books. This would give me a sufficient number of
copies for all purposes.”
_The Director_: “This shows the necessity for a company commander having
some means whereby several copies of an order may be made by a
duplicating process—carbon paper. I believe the plan of having the first
sergeant or a clerk carry a duplicating book would solve the problem.
Now, Lieutenant Hunt, you may dictate Captain A’s order.”
_Lieutenant Hunt_: “In order to save a repetition and at the same time
let all of the company with the support know what is going on I would
have the men give me their attention. My order would be:
“‘There is no further information of the enemy. Our battalion halts
for one hour.
“‘The advance guard will establish march outposts.
“‘The advance party will be posted on the main road and cover the
head of the column.
“‘The two flank patrols on the —— flank will be posted as march
outguards and cover that flank.
“‘Sergeant Hamilton with the Fourth Squad, 2nd Platoon, will
establish a march outguard on the —— flank in the vicinity (point
out location) and cover the —— flank of the column. The support will
be posted here.
“‘Messages to Support.’”
_The Director_: “That seems to cover the situation. Now, how would you
get this order out to all the people to whom it should go?”
_Lieutenant Hunt_: “I would send it to Lieutenant W by a runner. I would
send it out to the flank patrols by the section guide of the 3rd Platoon
and direct him to make an inspection of the dispositions out there so as
to make sure they are in position to carry out their mission. I would
send it to the battalion commander by a runner.”
_The Director_: “So much for the distribution of the order. What would
you do now, Lieutenant Barry?”
_Lieutenant Barry_: “I would now see that Sergeant Hamilton gets started
on his mission, and then I would post sentinels at the support to watch
out for signals from the various detachments that are out.”
_The Director_: “I believe that would meet the situation very well.”