_The Director_: “Captain Hastings, what would you do?”
_Captain Hastings_: “Am I to understand that the man approaching is one
of our own force or one of the enemy?”
_The Director_: “That is one of the points of the problem. You do not
know yet whether he is a friend or enemy. It is dark and impossible to
tell. You merely see the outlines of a man. He is crouching. Has his
rifle at a ‘High Port’ which places it in readiness for instant action.”
_Captain Hastings_: “I would not want to shoot one of our own men. I
guess I would halt and wait and see what he is going to do.”
_The Director_: “The moment you let the man take the lead you are just
one lap behind him in decision and action. If you do something and take
the lead yourself he will have to make his decisions rapidly and base
his action on what you do. Never lose the opportunity to put your
opponent in that hole. As far as can be seen, you now have the drop on
the man. Don’t make a blunder and lose the advantage. Of all tactical
offenses, indecision and inaction are the most to be condemned.
“Lieutenant Wallace, how do you size up the situation?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “Well, sir, I would hate to make the mistake of
killing one of our own men. But I consider that no man of this outpost
has any business running around between the lines at this time of the
night unless he is a member of a patrol. If such is the case the
sentinel at No. 2 Outguard would have known about that and told me. So,
I suppose if it came to the point of killing him, he would be paid for.
Next, I do not know whether the man is alone or whether there are others
with him. Up to this time I have only seen one man, and it is not likely
that one man of the enemy would be wandering around in our lines alone.
Considering the possibility of his being one of our men, I would give
him just one chance.”
_The Director_: “That is a very good estimate of the situation. Now
arrive at a decision as to what you are going to do and tell us about
it.”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I would halt and crouch down. The other members
of the patrol seeing me do this would follow my action without any
orders. Without making any noise I would unlock my piece and aim it at
the approaching man. As soon as he arrived at a point where I could see
him sufficiently in the dark to make sure of hitting him if it were
necessary to fire I would call out in a tone loud enough for him to hear
and understand that I meant business: ‘Halt! Drop that Rifle! Throw up
your hands!’ If there was the least hesitation on his part or any move
to use his rifle I would fire. In other words, if he did not drop his
rifle instantly and throw up his hands, I would shoot him. If he obeyed
my orders, I would call to him in a low tone, ‘I have the drop on you.
Do as I say, or I will fire. Walk five steps towards me and halt.’ I
would wait a few seconds to see if there were any more men behind him
and then call to Manley and Harrison to join me at the edge of the
clearing. While I still covered him and with my rifle, I would say:
“‘Manley, you go out and search the man. Take any arms that he may
have. Keep out of my way, so I can fire if necessary. Now get his
rifle.’