_Captain Hodges_: “I would first send a runner to Lieutenant M,
commanding the advance party, telling him to report to me here. While
waiting for Lieutenant M to come back I would size up the situation and
decide upon my tactical dispositions.”
_The Director_: “What would be your primary dispositions?”
_Captain Hodges_: “I would have a line of supports on which I would
employ one platoon and one section and a reserve consisting of the rest
of the company.”
_The Director_: “That would be a reasonable disposition. How many
supports would you have Captain Harvey?”
_Captain Harvey_: “I would have three supports—one on the main road and
one at a suitable interval on each side of the road. There would be a
section in each support.”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Ralston, do you agree with that
disposition?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “No, sir. It seems to me that two supports would
meet the situation better. In the first place, this main road is the
route on which any considerable force of the enemy must advance after
dark, and I would want to cover it with a relatively strong force. I
would put one support on the road and have it extend over to the right
for a sufficient distance to cover the front and the immediate right
flank. It would extend its front to the left of the main road. I would
have support No. 2 off to the left to cover that flank.[10]
“Support No. 1 would consist of one platoon and No. 2 of one section.”
_The Director_: “Explain why you extend the front of your support No. 1
to the left of the road?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “So that the boundary line between supports will
not fall on the road. One man must be made responsible for the covering
of this main road, and if I make it the boundary line between supports,
even if I include it in the front of one of them, it will be more or
less neglected. But if I extend the front of support No. 1 beyond the
road to the left, I am reasonably sure that it will be taken care of
properly.”
_The Director_: “That is the point I wanted to bring out. I hope that
all the members of the class see it. We have now to decide upon the
troops to be designated for each of the supports. What would be your
decision as to that, Lieutenant Wallace?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I would have the first platoon, which now forms
the advance party, form support No. 1 which will be posted on this main
and cover the front from that —— (indicating right boundary of front) to
that —— (indicating left boundary of front). The first section of the
second platoon would form support No. 2. It would be posted at —— and
cover the front from —— to ——.”
_The Director_: “That seems to be a reasonable disposition. Where would
you have your reserve?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would have it posted at ——.”
_The Director_: “There is one point on which we have not yet touched.
That is the matter of the covering of the posting of the outguards. What
would you do about that, Captain Hastings?”
_Captain Hastings_: “I would let each support cover the posting of its
own outguards. I believe they can do it better and more efficiently than
any detachment that may be made from the rest of the company for the
purpose.”
_The Director_: “Let us now assume that Lieutenant M has arrived and you
are all ready to issue your orders. Just how would you go about it,
Lieutenant Williams?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “I would assemble the officers, platoon sergeants
and section leaders in front of the company. I would give the command:
1. Company, 2. ATTENTION, and follow with AT EASE. I would then say:
‘Let me have your attention.’ I would issue my orders as follows:
“‘Small detachments of the enemy have been reported at (_h_) and
(_i_) (indicating where the places are). Our 3rd Battalion is halted
for the night at (_k_). Our regiment (less 2nd and 3rd Battalions)
is halted for the night at (_l_). Our battalion halts for the night
at (_m_) (point out location). March conditions have ceased.[11]
“‘This company furnishes the outpost along the (_n_) (point out
general line).
“‘Lieutenant M, with the first platoon, will form support No. 1,
which, posted on the road at ——, will cover the front from ——
(inclusive) to —— (inclusive).
“‘Lieutenant N, with the second platoon (less one section), will
form support No. 2, which, posted at ——, will cover the front from
—— (exclusive) to —— (inclusive).
“‘The remainder of the company will be posted at —— as reserve.
“‘The rolling kitchen will be with the reserve. Meals will be cooked
and distributed to the supports.
“‘Messages to the reserve.’”