_The Director_: “Lieutenant Williams, how do you size up the situation
now?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “Our original mission was to cover this road for
a certain number of minutes. That time is about up now when we will have
completed the mission. New conditions have arisen which could not have
been provided for when Lieutenant A gave us our original orders and a
new situation confronts us. It would seem to me that our mission would
now be to ‘continue to cover the road.’
“From the firing we have heard, it is possible that our main body has
run into a considerable force of the enemy on the main road. If this is
a Cavalry force covering one of Infantry it will soon transfer its
activities to the flanks and try and cut in on the flanks of our main
body. Under those circumstances our flank guard will have a very
important role to play. The road that we are on leads directly to the
flank and rear of our main body and must be guarded for the time being.
The fact that we have already encountered the enemy indicates that he
intends to make use of it if practicable and the presence of even our
small force here will make him more cautious and delay and hamper his
operations. If our main body has run into only a small Cavalry force of
the enemy it will be quickly brushed aside and the situation will be
cleared up in a few minutes.
“After considering all of these circumstances, I think Sergeant Wilkins’
decision would be to remain here and continue covering this road.”
_The Director_: “I think you are right. Now, having arrived at that
decision, what are you going to do next, Captain Hastings?”
_Captain Hastings_: “The men would be looking to me for instructions. I
would say:
“‘It is apparent that our main body has encountered a force of the
enemy. It is possible that our flank guard has halted.
“‘We will remain here for the present.
“‘Shane, you will keep on the look out for the enemy.
“‘Take off your packs and put them on the ground behind you.
“‘Secure your intrenching tools and each man improve his firing
position.
“‘I will remain here.’”
_The Director_: “I think that order would meet the immediate
requirements.”