_The Director_: “Lieutenant Hunt, how would you go about carrying out
your mission?”
_Lieutenant Hunt_: “I would first size up the situation and arrive at a
decision as to what I am going to do and how I am going to do it.”
_The Director_: “How is security provided for during the time that the
outpost is being posted?”
_Lieutenant Hunt_: “By sending out some troops to cover the posting of
the outguards. This is sometimes provided for by the outpost commander
detailing a unit for the purpose of covering all the outguards and then
withdrawing to the reserve. The alternative is to have each support
cover the posting of its own outguards. The latter system has been
adopted in this problem, and we will have to provide our own covering
troops.”
_The Director_: “What troops would you detail for this duty?”
_Lieutenant Hunt_: “I would send out the first section (less the squad
on duty as point) under the section commander. I would have the point
withdraw to the support as soon as the covering troops have taken over
the duty of security.”
_The Director_: “That seems to be a reasonable solution. Into what parts
is an outpost support divided, Lieutenant Barry?”
_Lieutenant Barry_: “Into the support proper and the outguards. From the
outguards sentinels are posted.”
_The Director_: “What are the duties assigned to each of the component
parts of the support?”
_Lieutenant Barry_: “The support proper is the fighting element of the
outpost. It is posted on the line where the outpost will make its stand.
The outguards with their sentinels from the observation element. They
are posted on the line of observation.”
_Captain Hall_: “That may be the usual line up for the support. But is
it not a fact that sometimes the outguards are posted on the fighting
line?”
_The Director_: “Yes. It may be that the line of observation is also the
best fighting line for the supports. In that case we say ‘the line of
observation and the line of resistance coincide’—that is, they are the
same. When we issue the order for the support we make provision for that
by stating: ‘In case of attack the outguards will be supported.’ This
means that the outguards will hold their positions and the supports will
come up to them in case the enemy attacks.”
_Captain Hall_: “In that case, why not place the support right up on the
line of resistance in the first place?”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Baker, can you answer Captain Hall’s
question?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “I believe I can give a reason for it. If we should
place the support right up on the line of outguards we would commit it
to one position, and in case of attack it would be difficult to move it
to meet the enemy’s main effort. If we keep it at a central point to the
rear of the line, we can readily move it to any point where it may be
most needed.”
_The Director_: “You are right. We do not want to commit our support to
action until we find out the direction of the enemy’s attack. The
shifting of troops along a front line is a most difficult and hazardous
operation. I hope you see the point, Captain Hall.”
_Captain Hall_: “Yes, sir. I do.”[12]
_The Director_: “How many outguards do you think are required on the
front assigned to the support, Captain Jones?”
_Captain Jones_: “I should have one on the main road leading toward the
enemy; another on the right of the road in the vicinity of ——
(indicating); and another to the left of the road in the vicinity of ——
(indicating). I think this would be sufficient for observation
purposes.”
_The Director_: “Upon what main elements do you base the strength of
these outguards?”
_Captain Jones_: “On the number of sentinel posts they must maintain. If
a double sentinel post is required, a sentry squad should be allotted to
the outguard. If only a single sentinel is required, the outguard should
be a cossack post.”
_The Director_: “That is exactly the point I wanted to bring out. We
will take it up in detail later on in the problem. Let us assume that
three outguards will be required to cover the front. No. 1, on the right
of the road, is to be a sentry squad; No. 2, posted on the road, is also
to be a sentry squad; and No. 3, posted on the left of the road, is to
be a cossack post. How many men in a cossack post, Captain Hodges?”
_Captain Hodges_: “A non-commissioned officer and three men. This number
furnishes a commander for the post and three reliefs for a single
sentinel post.”
_The Director_: “That is correct. Are there any questions on the points
that we have been discussing?”[13]