Chapter X

OUTPOSTS 170-203
DUTIES OF THE OUTPOST 170
Outpost in advance and retreat, how detailed 170
STRENGTH AND COMPOSITION 170-174
General rule for strength of outpost 170
Considerations influencing the decision as to the
strength of an outpost 170-171
Front covered by a battalion as a support 171
Outposts in close and in open country. Influence of roads 171
Cavalry and other mounted troops on outpost. Effect on
strength of infantry outpost 171-172
Proportions of cavalry and infantry on outpost 172
Apportioning the burden of outpost duty 172
Duties and assignments of mounted troops on outpost 172
Artillery, machine guns, engineers, signal and sanitary
troops on outpost 172-173
Distribution of the elements of a large command in camp 173
Outposts of small commands 174
Use of cavalry for the security of a stationary command 174
Organization of a cavalry outpost 174
INTEGRITY OF TACTICAL UNITS, how preserved 175
Strength of supports, pickets, sentry squads and cossack posts 175
Assignment of patrols 175
LOCATION OF OUTPOST 176-177
Selection of camp site and outpost line 176
Distance at which enemy must be held 176
Line of resistance. Obstacles in front of position.
Security of the flanks 176
Outpost on the line of a river 176
Influence of roads on disposition of outpost.
Rule for general guidance 176-177
Contact with enemy 177
Special mounted patrols 177
Regimental sectors of an outpost line 177
LIMITS OF FRONT OF AN OUTPOST 177-178
Line of resistance 178
Security of the flanks. Detached posts 178
Interior guards 178
DISTANCES AND INTERVALS IN AN OUTPOST 179-180
Relative positions of reserve, supports and outguards 179
Position of outpost or advance cavalry 179
Depth of the outpost 179
Intervals between adjacent groups 179-180
Bivouac in line of battle 180
Guarding the line of a stream. Bridge heads 179-180
THE RESERVE. Post. Camping arrangements. Cavalry and
mounted men. Artillery. Field trains 180-181
Field trains of the supports 181-182
THE SUPPORTS. Strength and composition 181
Patrolling. Assignment of the cavalry of an outpost 181-182
Stations of supports. Influence of roads 182
Support sectors 182
Selection and preparation of defensive positions 182-183
Machine guns. Company wagons of supports 182
Fires, tent pitching, meals, etc. 183
Number of supports from one reserve 183
Numerical designation of supports 183
OUTGUARDS AND SENTINELS 183-184
Disposition of outguards. Influence of roads 183
Classification of outguards. Numerical designation 183
Strength of outguards 183
Intrenching, meals, concealment 184
Reliefs for sentinels and patrols 184
Examining posts 184
Communications within the outpost.
Clearing and marking routes 184
OUTPOST PATROLS 184-187
The cordon and patrol systems of outpost 184
Reconnoitering patrols. Strength and composition.
Radius of action. Functions 185
Special information patrols 185
Visiting patrols. Strength. Radius of action 185-186
Reliefs for patrols 186
Patrolling during the day 186
Patrols from the reserve 186
Patrolling by supports. Mounted men 186-187
Patrolling by pickets 187
Night signals 187
DAY AND NIGHT POSITIONS AND DUTIES OF ELEMENTS
OF AN OUTPOST 187-189
Posting of reserve, supports, outguards and sentinels.
Patrolling by day and by night 187-188
Preparation of defensive positions. Reconnaissance 187
Times for assuming day and night positions 187
Time of relief of outpost 188
Position and duties of advance cavalry by day and by night 188-189
Independent cavalry 189
Standing patrols 189
Cavalry patrolling on the flanks of an outpost 189
CAVALRY OUTPOSTS. Organization. Patrolling.
Disposition of horses 189-190
MARCH OUTPOSTS. Duties of cavalry 190-191
OUTPOST ORDERS 191-192
Issue of halt order 191-192
Orders of advance guard and outpost commanders 191
ESTABLISHING THE OUTPOST 191-193
Selection of camp site 191
Use of maps 192
Inspection of terrain by advance guard and outpost commanders 192
Inspection of outpost dispositions 193
Demolitions, obstacles, etc. 193
OUTPOST SKETCHES AND TABLES 193-196
OUTLINES OF HALT AND OUTPOST ORDERS 196-199
VERBAL OUTPOST ORDER FOR A SMALL COMMAND 199-200
ADVANCE GUARD COMMANDER’S HALT AND OUTPOST ORDER 200-202
OUTPOST COMMANDER’S FIRST ORDER 202-203