_The Director_: “We must give the enemy’s patrol credit for being on the
alert and for having such a knowledge of tactics that he will do the
reasonably proper thing. If he sees one member of our patrol, the
difficulty of avoiding him will be doubly increased. Our task, then, is
to get to cover as quickly as possible. It is this seeming trivial
action that sometimes calls for all the ingenuity that the patrol leader
may possess. The road may be open for a considerable distance, so that
if one of the members of our patrol crosses from one side to the other
he will be seen and the position disclosed to the enemy. It may be
necessary for the patrol to fall back a short distance in order to
secure the necessary cover. It may be necessary, in order to avoid
discovery, to direct all men on one side of the road to take cover on
their side and the remainder to seek cover on the opposite side. This
means a dispersion of the patrol and the consequent danger of getting
lost and also the difficulties of assembling again. This points to the
advisability of training the men to all take cover on the same side of
the road when the enemy is encountered as in this case.”