Chapter XI: Part 11

_The Director_: “Captain Harvey, let us assume that you are Sergeant B. You have joined your leading man here and he points out to you what he has seen. You observe six enemy infantrymen marching down the road in a formation similar to the one your patrol is now in. The leading man is at ——. (The Director points out the exact location of the enemy’s leading man, which should be at least 500 yards distant.) Apparently they have not observed you. What is your reaction to this situation?”

_Captain Harvey_: “At this moment I would have no means of telling whether these men are an enemy patrol or the point of an advance guard. The formation would be about the same. Can the Director give us definite information on that point?”

_The Director_: “All right. Let us assume for the moment that it is an enemy patrol. What would you do?”

_Captain Harvey_: “Under those circumstances, I would have my patrol take cover and let the enemy patrol go on by.”

_The Director_: “That would be the logical thing to do. Now, let us assume that the enemy are the point of an advance guard. What would you do?”

_Captain Harvey_: “In that event I would open fire on them immediately.”

_The Director_: “What would be your object in doing that?”

_Captain Harvey_: “By opening fire I give warning to our outpost that the enemy is advancing and I delay him because he will have to stop and make more or less reconnaissance before proceeding.”

_The Director_: “Captain Hodges, do you agree with that solution?”

_Captain Hodges_: “No, sir. This is a reconnoitering patrol. Its mission is to get information of the enemy’s strength and composition. If we fire on the point of this advance guard, all hope of getting any information of what is behind it is gone. It will not take the advance party commander very long to discover that we are only a patrol and he will simply run over us. Sufficient patrols will be sent out to the flanks to keep us away and we will get no information of any value to our own commander. I most certainly would not fire on the enemy at this time.”

_The Director_: “What action would you take?”

_Captain Hodges_: “I would wait a few minutes to try and determine the strength of the enemy’s advance party. This would give me a general line on his strength. I would then send my leading man, who has seen the enemy himself, back to the support commander as fast as he could go with the information we have. This would be a verbal message. I would have no chance to write it out. I would then conduct the rest of my patrol off to the —— flank under cover with a view to working around abreast of the enemy’s main body to secure information of his strength and composition. I would keep in contact with him to try and discover the direction of his deployment and what his intentions are. I would make strenuous efforts to get all of this information back to my support commander.”

_The Director_: “Those are the points I wanted to bring out. I do not think our patrol would be justified in opening fire on the enemy under the circumstances. We will assume that the enemy troops are a patrol, and that we have decided to avoid them and let them go on by. Just how would you go about that task, Captain James?”

(Note.—Captain James’ solution will depend upon the Terrain and the
cover available.)

Procedure

The Director will point out to the class and dwell upon the principle that, having decided to avoid the enemy’s patrol, the all-absorbing duty of the patrol leader is to conceal his patrol so that the enemy will have no information that it is anywhere in the vicinity. The measures to accomplish this will then be worked out in the minutest detail. It may be well to have members of the class take post to represent the members of the patrol and have other members of the class to go out and represent the enemy’s patrol and advance just as they would under service conditions. Then have Captain James solve the problem of getting his patrol under cover without being discovered by the enemy.

Explanation

_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.”

Procedure

When members of the class are in place to represent the enemy and our own patrol, the Director will give a signal and the movement starts. The enemy patrol moves along as it would naturally and Captain James proceeds to get the members of his patrol under cover. His method should be discussed by the class and the defects of it pointed out. It may be necessary to enact the solution several times before a satisfactory one is found.

The demonstration completed and the class again assembled, the Director proceeds with the problem.

The Problem

_The Director_: “Lieutenant Baker, would you send back any message to the support commander about the enemy patrol?”

Solution

_Lieutenant Baker_: “I think that is a point that the patrol commander should consider. I am not clear in my own mind just what should be done under the circumstances. I would be pleased to have the Director enlighten us on the subject.”

_The Director_: “We assume that this is a small enemy reconnoitering patrol. It would have the same mission as our own patrol. The point to be considered is whether or not anything in the message you send back would materially assist in the defense of the outpost line, or whether it could contain any information of special value to the outpost commander. Our covering patrols sent out from the supports will keep the enemy away from the outpost line. They will soon discover that it is only a small patrol and will drive it off. We have only a few men with the patrol. If one is sent back with a message at this time it may leave the patrol leader shorthanded when there is something really important that must be sent back. The mission of the patrol is to secure information of the enemy’s main body. That is the information that is of importance to the support and outpost commander. I do not believe the patrol commander would be justified in sending back a message at this time.”

_Lieutenant Baker_: “I see the point.”

(Note.—Should any members of the class insist that a message should
be sent back, he may be called upon to compose the message, and it
should be examined to see whether it contains information that is
vital to the defense of the outpost.)

* * * * *

=Reconnoitering Patrol= =Card No. 5=

=Director’s Key=

1. Conduct class to point where a view of road to front for several
hundred yards is available.

2. Distribute problem.

3. Enter on solution: Signal of leading man; method of joining leading
man.

4. Enemy advance guard or patrol. Question of firing on enemy.

5. Method of evading enemy patrol. Practical demonstration. Discussion
of methods; difficulties.

6. Write out message. Contents; information of enemy main.

* * * * *

Procedure

The class is now conducted to a point where they have a view of an open field some 1,200 yards distant. It may be assumed that the patrol has marched several miles in order to arrive at this place.

The Director now distributes the sheets containing Situation No. 6.

=Situation No. 6=:

The patrol successfully evaded the enemy’s patrol, continued the march, and without encountering any other enemy troops has arrived at this point. The enemy patrol proceeded on down the road toward the outpost line.

On arriving here you observe a force of the enemy marching into that field. They are apparently going into bivouac. You estimate the enemy to be one regiment of Infantry.

_Required_:

What action do you take?

Procedure

The Director should point out the location of the enemy and should indicate the exact location of each member of the patrol, so that all members of the class will make their solutions on the same basis.

_The Director_: “Captain Hall, what would you do under the circumstances?”

_Captain Hall_: “I would send a message to the support commander telling him what I have seen.”

_The Director_: “Is there anything that you would do before starting to compose your message?”

_Captain Hall_: “I do not think so. I have located the enemy and want to get the information back as quickly as possible.”

_The Director_: “That is true. But there are certain things that must be done in connection with it. You have discovered what you estimate to be the enemy’s main body. You know the strength and composition of it. You know what he is doing for the time being. The members of your patrol are still in patrol formation and must be told what to do. In other words, there are several things to be done. In the first place, you want to dispose your men for observation of the enemy and to prevent surprise. Enemy patrols may be operating in the vicinity. One of these may pick you up and prevent you from getting any information back. This is the thing you must guard against. You must consider the contents of your message and you must figure out how you are going to get it back considering the fact that there is an enemy patrol of six men operating between you and the outpost line.

“When the patrol has encountered the enemy the disposition must be such as to permit the leader to observe the hostile force for the purpose of forming an estimate of its strength and composition, dispositions, and probable intentions. With this end in view, the leader must go to a vantage point from which he may obtain a good view of the enemy. The remaining members of the patrol must be so disposed as to guard all the avenues of approach from the known direction of the enemy’s forces, in order to prevent surprise.

“Lieutenant Barry, what disposition would you make of the members of the patrol?”

Solution

_Lieutenant Barry_: “I would select a good observation point where I can see the enemy and what he is doing. I would select two of the men to carry the message back. I would post a man to watch for enemy patrols and post a get-away man somewhat to my rear.”

_The Director_: “All right. Select your observation post and give the orders necessary to carry out what you have just said.”

The solution will depend upon the lay of the ground. The points to be brought out are that patrol leaders must be able to observe the enemy in security and not have to bother about being surprised by enemy patrols. The lookouts will be posted so that they can watch the approaches. The men that are to carry the message should be with Sergeant B while he is composing it so that they will be able to tell the support commander all about the situation when they get back with the message. The get-away man will be posted in such position as will make sure that he will not be included in any disaster to the patrol.

Procedure

The dispositions having been completed, the next question is that of the contents of the message.

_The Director_: “I want each member of the class to write out the body of the message that he would send back to the support commander.”

When the message has been completed and turned in by all the class they are distributed and various members called upon to read and comment on the one in his possession. The points that should be included in the message are:

1. Information of the strength and composition of the enemy main body. What he is doing.

2. Information of the strength and composition of the enemy patrol that was passed.

3. The future action of the patrol in so far as it can be determined.

Solution

The Director should then compose a message covering the above requirements and submit it to the class for discussion.

“Have observed a force of the enemy, estimated one regiment of
Infantry at —— (give location). They are now going into bivouac. A
hostile patrol of six men passed my patrol at —— (give location) at
—— (time) which proceeded in the direction of the outpost line. I
will remain in observation until forced to retire or darkness
prevents further reconnaissance.”

_The Director_: “Lieutenant Hunt, how would you get the message back to the support commander?”

_Lieutenant Hunt_: “I have had Anderson and Bailey here with me while making my observations and composing the message. I will send it back by them, each man taking a different route. I will read the message to them. I will indicate on the map the general route that each man is to take in going back to the support and caution each of them to look out for the enemy patrol that is between us and the outpost line. By sending the message by two men going over different routes I am almost sure to get it through. If one of them runs into the enemy, it is pretty safe to say that the other will not.”

_The Director_: “I think your sizing up of the situation is very good. You have taken all the precautions possible for getting the message back safely to the support commander.”

* * * * *

=Reconnoitering Patrol= =Card No. 6=

=Director’s Key=

1. Conduct class to point where they can see enemy. Distribute
Situation No. 6. Point out location of the enemy.

2. Disposition of the patrol for observation—observers, men to carry
message, get-away man.

3. Write out message. Contents; information of enemy main body, enemy
patrol, future plans of the patrol leader. Prepare message for
discussion.

4. Send back message by two messengers. Chances for getting through
with it.

* * * * *

Procedure

The Director now distributes the sheets containing Situation No. 7 to the members of the class. A few minutes are allowed to read it over, and it is explained.

The Problem

=Situation No. 7=:

You are still observing the enemy. Nothing has happened to cause you to change your estimate of his strength and composition. His outposts are being established and they are pushing out patrols to the front and flanks. Your position is becoming untenable. You have heard distant firing in the direction of the Blue troops.

_Required_:

What action do you, Sergeant B, take?

Solution

_The Director_: “Lieutenant Williams, what would you do?”

_Lieutenant Williams_: “I estimate that it is about time for me to be getting out with what is left of my patrol. I have accomplished my mission in so far as the main body of the enemy is concerned. His bivouac for the night has been located. He has established his outposts, which indicates that he will probably not make any more moves today. The operations of the hostile patrols will soon make my position untenable. There is little to be gained by my staying here any longer and taking a chance on being picked up. I would get on my way back to my own troops.”

_The Director_: “Has any member of the class any criticism of that solution?”

_Captain Hastings_: “It seems to me that Sergeant B would now have another mission imposed upon him by the conditions. It is that of intercepting enemy scouts from getting back with information from the patrol that passed us. How about that?”

_The Director_: “That is true. It is the point that I was going to bring up next. The fact that you have heard firing from the direction of our own troops indicates that contact has been gained and the enemy patrol has gotten some information of our forces. This he will endeavor to get back to his own commander. In view of the fact that the patrol leader does not know that our patrol is between him and his own troops he may not think it necessary to take the precautions to send it by two messengers, and I think it is reasonable to assume that he will direct his messenger along the main road where he can make the better time than he can in going across country. You now have two men with you, Carlin and Davis. How would you manage the withdrawal and what would be your formation on the way back? What route would you take? How would you solve all of these points, Captain Hastings?”

_Captain Hastings_: “I would signal Carlin, who is observer, to join me. This accomplished, I would signal Davis to move out toward the main road. I would make my withdrawal as rapidly as possible and when we get away some little distance I would signal Davis to slow down until we caught up with him. I would get on or near the main road and march with Davis as the leading man, following him at a distance of about 25 yards and have Carlin follow me at the same distance. I would keep a sharp lookout for enemy scouts with a view to intercepting them.”

_The Director_: “I think your solution meets the situation very well. Are there any questions?”

* * * * *

=Reconnoitering Patrol= =Card No. 7=

=Director’s Key=

1. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 7. Read and explain.

2. Withdrawal of patrol. Accomplished mission.

3. New mission to intercept messengers from enemy patrol.

4. Formation for withdrawal.

* * * * *

Procedure

The class is now conducted back along the main road to a point selected for Situation No. 8.

The Problem

=Situation No. 8=:

When you arrive at this point you observe an enemy scout coming down the road in your direction at a walk. You can see some distance beyond him and he appears to be alone. (The Director will point out the location of the enemy scout.)

_Required_:

What do you do?

Solution

_The Director_: “Lieutenant Ralston, how do you size up the situation?”

_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I estimate that the man is carrying a message from his patrol leader to the commander of the Red forces. My mission is to capture him and prevent the message going back. If practicable the capture must be effected without resorting to firing. If we have to fire it will give warning to the enemy’s patrol operating toward our outpost and the patrol commander would assume that his messenger is in trouble and would send another message by another route. Furthermore, firing at this time would give the alarm to the patrols operating from the hostile outpost, and they would rush to the rescue of their comrades.”

_The Director_: “Tell us just how you would go about the capture of the messenger?”

_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would form an ambuscade here with Davis and myself on one side of the road and Carlin on the other side about 25 yards in rear of us. When the messenger arrives at about 10 yards from us, Davis and myself will jump out into the road and order him to surrender. We will endeavor to surprise him and take him without firing a shot. If by any chance he should get by us, Carlin would be in position to intercept him.”

_The Director_: “Just what would you say when you order him to surrender?”

_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would jump out on the side of the road, level my rifle at him and yell at him as loud as I could, ‘Drop your rifle—throw up your hands.’ If he did as ordered I would explain to him that he is now a prisoner of war and that resistance is useless. If he did not do as I told him on the instant or if he made any attempt to escape or move to fire on me I would open fire on him at once. I would take no chances with him.”

_The Director_: “That seems to be a reasonable solution. This is a very simple proposition and presents little difficulty. It is brought before you at this time merely to show you the procedure that makes for reasonable chances for success. The capture of several scouts or a patrol is a much more difficult undertaking.

“It is a general rule in the attempt to capture members of a patrol that the situation we desire to produce when we meet them is that they should be marching and that we should be halted. By adopting this method, we form an ambuscade.”

* * * * *

=Reconnoitering Patrol= =Card No. 8=

=Director’s Key=

1. Conduct class to point where ambush may be arranged for.

2. Distribute Situation No. 8 and explain it.

3. Size up situation. Enemy messenger.

4. Details of ambush and method of capture.

* * * * *

TABLE 28-W.—RIFLE COMPANY, INFANTRY REGIMENT.
(War Strength)

══╤══════════════╤═══════╤════════╤════════╤═════╤═════════╤════════╤═════════
│ 1 │ 2 │ 3 │ 4 │ 5 │ 6 │ 7 │ 8
──┼──────────────┼───────┼────────┼────────┴─────┴─────────┴────────┼─────────
│ │ │ │ │ Total
│ │ │ │ │ Company
│ │ Spe- │Company │ │ (3
1 │ Units │cialist│ Head- │ One Platoon │Platoons)
│ │Rating │quarters│ │ and
│ │(Class)│ │ │ Company
│ │ │ │ │ Head-
│ │ │ │ │quarters
──┼──────────────┼───────┼────────┼────────┬─────┬─────────┬────────┼─────────
│ │ │ │ │ │1 Section│ Total │
│ │ │ │ │ │(3 Squads│Platoon │
│ │ │ │Platoon │ │ and │ (2 │
│ │ │ │ Head- │ 1 │ Section │Sections│
│ │ │ │quarters│Squad│ Head- │ and │
│ │ │ │ │ │quarters)│Platoon │
│ │ │ │ │ │ [16] │ Head- │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │quarters│
──┼──────────────┼───────┼────────┼────────┼─────┼─────────┼────────┼─────────
2│Captain │ │ 1│ │ │ │ │ 1
3│First │ │ 1[17]│ {1}│ │ │ {1}│ 2(1[17])
│ Lieutenants │ │ │ │ │ │ │
4│Second │ │ │ {„}│ │ │ {„}│ 2
│ Lieutenants │ │ │ │ │ │ │
5│ Total │ │2(1[17])│ 1│ │ │ 1│ 5(1[17])
│ Commissioned│ │ │ │ │ │ │
──┼──────────────┼───────┼────────┼────────┼─────┼─────────┼────────┼─────────
6│First Sergeant│ │ 1│ │ │ │ │ 1
7│Sergeants, │ │ 3│ 1│ │ 1│ 3│ 12
│ incl. │ │ │ │ │ │ │
8│ Mess │ │ (1)│ │ │ │ │
9│ Platoon │ │ │ (1)│ │ │ │
│ Sergeants │ │ │ │ │ │ │
10│ Section │ │ │ │ │ (1)│ │
│ Leaders │ │ │ │ │ │ │
11│ Signal │ │ (1)│ │ │ │ │
12│ Supply │ │ (1)│ │ │ │ │
13│Corporals, │ │ 2│ │ 1│ 4│ 8│ 26
│ incl. │ │ │ │ │ │ │
14│ Company │ │ (1)│ │ │ │ │
│ Clerk │ │ │ │ │ │ │
15│ Section │ │ │ │ │ (1)│ │
│ Guides │ │ │ │ │ │ │
16│ Signal │ │ (1)│ │ │ │ │
17│ Squad │ │ │ │ (1)│ (3)│ │
│ Leaders │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Pvts. 1st Cl. │ │ │ │ │ │ │
18│ & Pvts., │ │ 17│ 4│ 7│ 21│ 46│161[18][19]
│ incl. │ │ │ │ │ │ │
19│ Barber │ │ (1)│ │ │ │ │
20│ Buglers │ │ (2)│ │ │ │ │
21│ Cobbler │ │ (1)│ │ │ │ │
22│ Cooks │ 4th│ (2)│ │ │ │ │
│ (First) │ │ │ │ │ │ │
23│ Cooks │ 5th│ (2)│ │ │ │ │
│ (Asst.) │ │ │ │ │ │ │
24│ Mechanics │ 6th│ (2)│ │ │ │ │
25│ Riflemen │ │ │ │ (5)│ │ │
26│ Riflemen, │ 6th│ │ │ (1)│ (1)│ (2)│ (6)
│ automatic │ │ │ │ │ │ │
27│ Riflemen, │ │ │ │ │ (2)│ (4)│ (12)
│ automatic │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ Riflemen, │ │ │ │ │ │ │
28│ with grenade│ │ │ │ (1)│ │ │
│ disch. │ │ │ │ │ │ │
29│ Runners and │ │ (6)│ (4)│ │ │ │
│ Agents │ │ │ │ │ │ │
30│ Tailor │ │ (1)│ │ │ │ │
31│ Total │ │ 23│ 5│ 8│ 26│ 57│ 200[19]
│ Enlisted │ │ │ │ │ │ │
──┼──────────────┼───────┼────────┼────────┼─────┼─────────┼────────┼─────────
32│ AGGREGATE │ │ 25│ 6│ 8│ 26[16]│ 58│ 205
──┼──────────────┼───────┼────────┼────────┼─────┼─────────┼────────┼─────────
33│Pistols │ │ 9│ 2│ 1│ 3│ 8│ 33
34│Rifles │ │ 16│ 4│ 6│ 20│ 44│ 148
35│Rifles, │ │ │ │ 1│ 3│ 6│ 18
│ automatic │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│Rifles, with │ │ │ │ │ │ │
36│ grenade │ │ │ │ 1│ 3│ 6│ 18
│ discharger │ │ │ │ │ │ │
══╧══════════════╧═══════╧════════╧════════╧═════╧═════════╧════════╧═════════

Footnote 16:

Includes Section Headquarters (1 Sergeant and 1 Corporal).

Footnote 17:

Second in Command. Not authorized for War Strength Companies organized
in time of peace.

Footnote 18:

Includes: 53 Privates 1st Class, 108 Privates. Summary of Specialist
Ratings: Fourth Class, 2; Fifth Class, 2; Sixth Class, 8.

Footnote 19:

Includes 6 extra privates.

TABLE 29-W.—MACHINE GUN COMPANY, INFANTRY REGIMENT
(War Strength)

══╤════════════════╤══════════╤════════════╤═══════ │ 1 │ 2 │ 3 │ 4 ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Specialist│ │ 1 │ Units │ Rating │ Company │Company │ │ (Class) │Headquarters│ Train │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── 2│Captain │ │ 1h│ 3│First │ │ 1hx│ │ Lieutenants │ │ │ 4│Second │ │ 1hc│ │ Lieutenants │ │ │ 5│ Total │ │ 3(1x)│ │ Commissioned│ │ │ ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── 6│First Sergeant │ │ 1h│ ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── 7│Sergeants, incl.│ │ 4│ 1 8│ Mess │ │ (1)│ 9│ Platoon │ │ │ │ Sergeants │ │ │ 10│ Reconnaissance│ │ (1)│ 11│ Section │ │ │ │ Leaders │ │ │ 12│ Signal │ │ (1)│ 13│ Stable │ │ │ (1m) 14│ Supply │ │ (1)│ ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── 15│Corporals, incl.│ │ 2│ 16│ Agents │ │ │ 17│ Company Clerk │ │ (1)│ 18│ Signal │ │ (1)│ 19│ Squad Leaders │ │ │ 20│ Transport │ │ │ ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── 21│Privates, 1st │ │ 17│ 4 │ Cl. and Priv. │ │ │ 22│ Barber │ │ (1)│ 23│ Buglers │ │ (2h)│ 24│ Cobbler │ │ (1)│ 25│ Cooks (First) │ 4th│ (1)│ 26│ Cooks (Asst.) │ 5th│ (2)│ 27│ Gunners │ 6th│ │ 28│ Gunners │ │ │ 29│ Horseshoer │ 4th│ │ (1) 30│ Mechanics │ 6th│ (2)│ 31│ Motorcyclist │ 6th│ │ (1) 32│ Saddler │ 5th│ │ (1) 33│ Tailor │ │ (1)│ 34│ Miscellaneous │ │ (7d)│ (1e) 35│ Total Enlisted│ │ 24│ 5 ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── 36│ AGGREGATE │ │ 27│ 5 ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── 37│Horses, riding │ │ 6│ 38│Mules, draft │ │ │ 39│Mules, riding │ │ │ 1 ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── 40│ Total Animals │ │ 6│ 1 ──┼────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────── │Carts, │ │ │ 41│ ammunition, M.│ │ │ │ G. │ │ │ 42│Carts, M. G. gun│ │ │ 43│Bicycles │ │ 1│ 44│Motorcycles, │ │ │ 1 │ with side cars│ │ │ 45│Miscellaneous │ │ │ 46│Pistols │ │ 27│ 5 ══╧════════════════╧══════════╧════════════╧═══════

══╤════════════════╤════════════╤═══════╤═════════════╤═════════════╤═════════ │ 1 │ 5 │ 6 │ 7 │ 8 │ 9 ──┼────────────────┼────────────┴───────┴─────────────┴─────────────┼───────── │ │ │ Total │ │ │ Company │ │ │ (2 1 │ Units │ One Platoon │Platoons, │ │ │ Company │ │ │ Hq. and │ │ │ Company │ │ │ Train) ──┼────────────────┼────────────┬───────┬─────────────┬─────────────┼───────── │ │ │1 Squad│1 Section (2 │Total Platoon│ │ │ Platoon │ (1 │ Squads and │ (2 Sections │ │ │Headquarters│Machine│ Section │ and Platoon │ │ │ │ Gun) │Headquarters)│Headquarters)│ │ │ │ │ (b) │ │ ──┼────────────────┼────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────── 2│Captain │ │ │ │ │ 1 3│First │ 1│ │ │ 1│ 3(1x) │ Lieutenants │ │ │ │ │ 4│Second │ │ │ │ │ 1 │ Lieutenants │ │ │ │ │ 5│ Total │ 1│ │ │ 1│ 5(1x) │ Commissioned│ │ │ │ │ ──┼────────────────┼────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────── 6│First Sergeant │ │ │ │ │ 1 ──┼────────────────┼────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────── 7│Sergeants, incl.│ 1│ │ 1│ 3│ 11 8│ Mess │ │ │ │ │ 9│ Platoon │ (1)│ │ │ │ │ Sergeants │ │ │ │ │ 10│ Reconnaissance│ │ │ │ │ 11│ Section │ │ │ (1)│ │ │ Leaders │ │ │ │ │ 12│ Signal │ │ │ │ │ 13│ Stable │ │ │ │ │ 14│ Supply │ │ │ │ │ ──┼────────────────┼────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────── 15│Corporals, incl.│ 2│ 1│ 2│ 6│ 14 16│ Agents │ (1)│ │ │ │ 17│ Company Clerk │ │ │ │ │ 18│ Signal │ │ │ │ │ 19│ Squad Leaders │ │ (1)│ │ │ 20│ Transport │ (1)│ │ │ │ ──┼────────────────┼────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────── 21│Privates, 1st │ 7│ 10│ 20│ 47│ 115a │ Cl. and Priv. │ │ │ │ │ 22│ Barber │ │ │ │ │ 23│ Buglers │ │ │ │ │ 24│ Cobbler │ │ │ │ │ 25│ Cooks (First) │ │ │ │ │ 26│ Cooks (Asst.) │ │ │ │ │ 27│ Gunners │ │ (1)│ (2)│ (4)│ (3) 28│ Gunners │ │ │ │ │ (5) 29│ Horseshoer │ │ │ │ │ 30│ Mechanics │ │ │ │ │ 31│ Motorcyclist │ │ │ │ │ 32│ Saddler │ │ │ │ │ 33│ Tailor │ │ │ │ │ 34│ Miscellaneous │ (7d)│ (9f)│ │ │ 35│ Total Enlisted│ 10│ 11│ 23b│ 56│ 141 ──┼────────────────┼────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────── 36│ AGGREGATE │ 11│ 11│ 23│ 57│ 146 ──┼────────────────┼────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────── 37│Horses, riding │ 1│ │ │ 1│ 8 38│Mules, draft │ │ 2│ 4│ 8│ 16 39│Mules, riding │ │ │ │ │ 1 ──┼────────────────┼────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────── 40│ Total Animals │ 1│ 2│ 4│ 9│ 25 ──┼────────────────┼────────────┼───────┼─────────────┼─────────────┼───────── │Carts, │ │ │ │ │ 41│ ammunition, M.│ │ 1│ 2│ 4│ 8 │ G. │ │ │ │ │ 42│Carts, M. G. gun│ │ 1│ 2│ 4│ 8 43│Bicycles │ 1│ │ │ 1│ 3 44│Motorcycles, │ │ │ │ │ 1 │ with side cars│ │ │ │ │ 45│Miscellaneous │ │ 1│ 2│ 4│ 8 46│Pistols │ 11│ 11│ 23│ 57│ 146 ══╧════════════════╧════════════╧═══════╧═════════════╧═════════════╧═════════

Remarks:

(h) Mounted on horse.

(m) Mounted on mule.

(a) Includes: 35 Privates 1st Class, 80 Privates.

Summary of Specialist Ratings: 4th Class, 2; 5th Class, 3; 6th
Class, 6.

(b) Section Headquarters includes 1 sergeant.

(c) Reconnaissance Officer.

(d) Signalmen, runners, agents and orderlies, 1 bicyclist.

(e) Stable orderly.

(f) Includes 2 drivers for gun and ammunition carts.

(x) Second in Command. Not authorized for War Strength Companies
organized in time of peace.

-----

Footnote 1:

See explanation of Letter Symbols.

Footnote 2:

Right or left as the case may be.

Footnote 3:

Right or left as the case may be.

Footnote 4:

See explanation of Letter Symbols.

Footnote 5:

Prepared by Major Walter C. Short, Infantry.

Footnote 6:

When the Terrain Exercise is being conducted for non-commissioned
officers this explanation should be modified to suit the occasion.

Footnote 7:

In making a solution to this situation on the ground, the exact
location of each man of the point, and especially the automatic
rifleman, should be indicated and staked out.

Footnote 8:

The details of the advance against the enemy’s position should be
discussed by the class and worked out on the ground. It is impossible
to consider it in the abstract.

Footnote 9:

Captain James would include in his dispositions any flank patrols that
would be out at this time.

Footnote 10:

The terrain may be such as to cause a reversal of this disposition.
The idea is that the support on the flank should be posted so as to
cover the most exposed flank.

Footnote 11:

See explanation of Symbols.

Footnote 12:

In the preparation of the Terrain Exercise and fitting the problem to
the ground, the Director should decide upon the location of the line
of observation and the line of resistance and bring out the points
indicated above. He should decide upon the location of the outguards
and their strength.

Footnote 13:

The Director should take advantage of every opportunity to get members
of the class to ask questions. It is by this means that we are able to
bring out the tactical points of the problems and make them clear. If
no questions are asked, it is natural to assume that the members of
the class understand everything that is under discussion, whereas many
of them may not understand at all. The more questions a Director can
get out of a class the more effective will the training be.

Footnote 14:

The members of the class are already familiar with the detailed
dispositions of outguard No. 2.

Footnote 15:

If there is no map available the support commander should indicate as
well as practicable the location of the enemy and the road.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Officers’ Military Law
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Field Service Regulations
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Explaining is half the work of instructing. Talk saves work—when it is the right kind of talk. For the instructor, explaining—talking is the hardest part because it means constant brushing up, reading, study, thought and planning—all of which takes time, and time counts heavily in the game of intensive training.

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Washington, D. C.

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------------------------------------------------------------------------

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. 2. Archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. 3. Footnotes have been re-indexed using numbers and collected together at the end of the last chapter. 4. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. 5. Enclosed bold font in =equals=.