_The Director_: “Lieutenant Wallace, one of the first questions that
will present itself to the support commander is the selection of a
patrol leader. What factors would you consider in this matter?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “In the first place I would want a
non-commissioned officer for patrol leader; further, I would want to
send out the best qualified one in the platoon. To meet this requirement
I would select the platoon sergeant to lead this patrol. The importance
of the mission is such as to warrant sending him.”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Ralston, do you agree with this solution?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “No, sir. I realize the importance of the mission
of the patrol. I know we should have a qualified man to lead it, but I
should hesitate to send my platoon sergeant out.”
_The Director_: “I think you are right and when Lieutenant Wallace
reflects on the matter I think he will agree with you. The platoon
sergeant has a multitude of duties to perform in connection with the
interior administration of the platoon. In his administrative capacity
he is to the platoon what the first sergeant is to the company. In
addition, he has his tactical duties to perform. He is the second in
command, and should anything happen to the platoon leader he
automatically assumes charge. There is no other man in the platoon who
is so familiar with all the details of the dispositions of the support
and the orders under which it is operating. I do not believe it would be
good policy to send the platoon sergeant out on a reconnoitering mission
which may well extend into the night.
“Now, having rejected the idea of sending the platoon sergeant, what man
would you send in charge of the patrol, Captain Harvey?”
_Captain Harvey_: “I would send a section leader. The one whose section
is on the line of outguards. He seems to me to be the most available man
for the duty.”
_The Director_: “I agree with you. Ordinarily in an outpost support of
this kind we take the outguards from one of the sections of the platoon
and hold the other section to form the main body of the support. This
leaves the commander of the outguard section surplus in a way, and makes
him available for important patrol duty, such as that we have under
consideration.
“The next question that comes up is the strength of the patrol. This is
a reconnoitering patrol. Its mission is to gain information of the
enemy. It need not be made strong to give it fighting power, for it will
not engage the enemy in combat except as the last resort. It must not
have any more men than are absolutely necessary to carry out its
mission, for every additional man is a drag on the patrol leader and
subject the patrol to just that much more danger of detection by the
enemy. There will be messages to be sent back, at least one and possibly
two or three. The patrol must be sufficiently strong to provide these
messengers without reducing it below two men.
“Having all of these points in mind, what would be the strength of the
patrol, Captain Harvey?”
_Captain Harvey_: “I should say there would be at least two messages to
be sent back, and it may be necessary to send one of them by two
messengers. I would not want the patrol leader to be left out alone.
These factors would indicate a strength of 5 men. The patrol leader and
4 men.”
_The Director_: “Has any member of the class a different idea than
this?”
_Captain Hodges_: “In my own mind I had tentatively decided to send a
complete squad. It seems to me that we should send enough men so that if
they have to fight their way through to get the information desired they
could do it. Four men would not be sufficient for the purpose. I should
like some enlightenment on this phase of the subject.”
_The Director_: “Captain James, can you answer Captain Hodges?”
_Captain James_: “In the first place, a reconnoitering patrol does not
fight except as a last resort to escape capture or to give warning of
the approach of the enemy and to delay him by firing on him. In the next
place, I do not see how this patrol will ever get close enough to the
enemy to get any really important information if it starts to fight its
way through the Red covering troops. Once a shot is fired the Red
commander will send out sufficient patrols to keep your patrol at a
distance, and it will get no information whatever. My idea is that any
information this patrol gets will be by avoiding the Red covering troops
and not by fighting.”
_The Director_: “I think you are correct. The smaller the patrol, within
limitations, the better. I think a leader and four men is about right.
Lieutenant Baker, tell us what you would include in your order to the
patrol leader.”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “I would first tell the patrol leader all the
information I have about the enemy and our troops. I would give him
general direction as to where I want the patrol to go. I would tell him
what information I want regarding the enemy. Tell him in general terms
where to return and where to send messages.”
_The Director_: “The final question that comes up is that of the
equipment of the men. How would you have them equipped, Captain Hall?”
_Captain Hall_: “I would want them to go lightly equipped. They should
have a ration in their haversack; not over 40 rounds of ammunition and
their rifle. I would have them leave the bayonets with their packs. They
will not need them.”