The Director reads the problem aloud and calls upon one or more members
of the class to explain their understanding of it.
_The Director_: “Now, I want each member of the class to visualize this
situation—to consider himself as being Corporal V. You have arrived here
with your squad to establish outguard No. 2. Just how do you propose to
go about it? Captain Hastings, what would you do?”
_Captain Hastings_: “Well, sir, I would first decide where I am going to
post the outguard and then decide upon the number of sentinels I am to
post and where I am to post them. I have the limits of the front
assigned to me definitely pointed out. I must first find a location for
the outguard that will cover this front.”
_The Director_: “Have you decided upon such a location?”
_Captain Hastings_: “Yes, sir. My outguard posted at —— would accomplish
the desired results. In the first place, any considerable body of the
enemy must travel at night on a well defined road or trail. He cannot
strike off across country unless elaborate preparations are made for
guiding his columns. We would know about any such preparations and could
counter them. If I cover this main road and the country adjacent to it,
I will be able to accomplish my mission.”
(Note.—The Director should bring out all the elements connected with
the selection of the position of the ground in question. There will
be many small points that may be brought up for consideration such
as: Is the position selected a good one for defense? Is there a good
field of fire? Is there cover for the enemy to conceal a formation
for attack? Is the position naturally strong; if not, can it be made
so? Can obstacles be so placed as to hold the enemy under effective
fire of the outguard? Is there ground to the front or flanks within
rifle or machine gun range that commands the position? Are there
good approaches to the sentinel posts from the outguard? Is it
possible to provide for mutual supporting fire with the other
outguards? Are there good communications with the adjoining
outguards and with the support? While it is not contemplated that an
outguard position will fulfill all of these conditions, it should be
selected so as to fulfill as many of them as possible.)
_The Director_: “In your discussion a minute ago you stated that you
would determine the number of sentinels to be posted. Just what do you
mean by that?”
_Captain Hastings_: “I will want to post a sufficient number of
sentinels to keep the sector of the front allotted to me under
observation at all times. I have not yet decided how many will be
required.”
_The Director_: “That is just the point I wanted to bring out. The
number of sentinels that you can post is determined by the strength of
your outguard. You can post only one double sentinel post from a squad.
If more than one is required your outguard must be allotted additional
men for the purpose. Now, let us see how this proposition works out in
practice. You have seven men besides yourself. This will provide three
reliefs for one double sentinel post and give you one spare man. The
outguard is to be on duty until the march is resumed tomorrow morning.
You cannot expect to keep all the men on post all the time. They must
have their rest if they are expected to march tomorrow. Sentinels are
ordinarily on post for two hours, after which they are given a four-hour
period of rest before going on post again. To do otherwise is to wear
your men out and render them unfit for further service. Let us all get
this system firmly fixed in our minds. A squad furnishes three reliefs
for a double sentinel post. If only a single sentinel is required, a
cossack post will furnish three reliefs for it. I hope you will all see
the point.”
_Captain Hastings_: “I understand the system now. But, suppose I should
determine that at least two double sentinel posts are necessary, what
should I do?”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Williams, can you answer the captain’s
question?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “I would send a report to the platoon commander
setting forth my views of the situation and request that another squad
be sent to the outguard.”
_The Director_: “That would be a proper procedure. The initial
disposition of the outguard is only tentative. Soon after the outguards
are posted the support commander will be out to make his inspection of
them. At that time the situation may be represented to him, and he can
make his decision as to whether or not he deems it necessary to supply
the additional men.”
(Note.—The exact location of the outguard should be decided upon at
this time, and the tentative position of the sentinels should be
determined.)