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