_The Director_: “Lieutenant Williams, into what parts is your flank
guard divided at this time?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “I would have an advance party and a support.
Each element would consist of one section of three squads each. From the
advance party a point consisting of one squad would be sent to the
front.”
_The Director_: “Had you thought of a formation in which the whole
platoon is kept intact as one body with only a point of one squad out in
front?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “Yes, sir. I had considered that possible
formation and abandoned the idea because we can cover more road space
with the formation that I have adopted and the more road space the flank
guard can cover without undue dispersion the more of the column of the
main body it covers and protects.”
_The Director_: “All right. Now let us assume that we adopt your
formation of an advance party with a squad as point and the second
section as a support. What is the formation of your point, Captain
Hastings?”
_Captain Hastings_: “It would be in the ‘Boni Point’ formation, the men
marching on alternate sides of the road with a distance of about 20
yards between them.”
_The Director_: “I think that formation would be just right for this
occasion. What is the next element of the flank guard?”
_Captain Hastings_: “The connecting files, sir.”
_The Director_: “How many of them?”
_Captain Hastings_: “I would have two at least.”
_The Director_: “Wouldn’t one man be sufficient as a connecting file?”
_Captain Hastings_: “At this particular point one man would, but there
are places on this road where one man would not be able to keep up the
communication, and to make sure of that being done all the time I would
detail two men. The duty is no more arduous than marching with the point
or the advance party, and I do not consider that it is any hardship.”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Wallace, what would be the distance from the
rear man of the point to the head of the advance party?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “About two hundred yards.”
_The Director_: “What would be the distance from the advance party to
the head of the support?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I would have that about 350 yards.”
_The Director_: “You will want to keep in communication with the main
body on the (_a_)-(_b_) road. How would you accomplish that?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I would send out two men to march so that they
can see the main body and the flank guard. I realize that they cannot do
this all the time but they will be able to do it at sufficiently
frequent intervals to keep both bodies informed if anything unusual
happens.”
_The Director_: “Would you have a patrol out on the exposed flank at
this time?”
(Note.—The answer to this question will depend upon the lay of the
country on the exposed flank. If it is close, a patrol will be
necessary. If it is open to the limit of effective rifle fire a
patrol would not be necessary. In any event, the Director should
bring out the principles stated below, at some point in the Terrain
Exercise.)
“No, sir; I do not see the necessity for a patrol on the exposed flank
at the present. We can see all the country to the limit of effective
rifle range from the road, and I think a patrol there would be a waste
of men. If, later on, the topography should demand it, I would send out
such patrols as may be necessary. At what distance they would march from
the column cannot be stated. It would depend entirely upon the country.
They would have to go out far enough to see something more than can be
seen from the road, if they are to be of any use.”
_The Director_: “You are exactly right. I think all the members of the
class will agree with you. There is no necessity for wearing men out on
flank patrol duty, beating their way over rough country and climbing
fences, when they accomplish no useful purpose. Never order a
disposition unless there is a sound tactical reason for it. Then when
the time comes your men are ready to put forth superhuman efforts, if
need be, to help you accomplish your mission. On the solution of these
small problems in actual service rests your success or failure as a
tactical leader of men. You must remember that it is the combination of
these small tactical situations that go to make up the big maneuvers.”
_The Director_: “What would be the march formation of the support,
Lieutenant Ralston.”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would have three squads in the support. I would
have them march with a column of files on each side of the road. I would
have two squads on this side of the road towards the enemy and one squad
on the other side.”
_The Director_: “What are the advantages of this formation?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “It makes easier marching than in a column of
squads; the column is not so vulnerable to enemy fire; if a deployment
to the front is necessary it may readily be effected by deploying the
leading squad of each column to the right and left respectively and
deploying the rear squad of the column towards the enemy in rear of
them. If a deployment to the flank towards the enemy is necessary it is
practically already made for we have two squads on that flank now, and
all the men will have to do is get a little more interval, the squad on
the side of the road away from the enemy will get their proper interval
and are in the right position for a small reserve; and deployments can
be made without any confusion in case of sudden attack.”
_The Director_: “I think we can all agree that you have the proper
formation. Now, I want each member of the class to draw a rough sketch
of the road at this point and show on it the detailed formation of the
flank guard. Make the scale large so you can show the details.”