Part 19

What arrangements do you make for visiting patrols?

Explanation of Letter Symbols

(_a_) The location of the bivouac of the main body of the Blue force. This should be located at a central point with reference to the outpost line.

(_b_) Designate the general line of the Blue outpost.

(_c_) The location of Support No. 2. It should be located at a central point with reference to the line of outguards. (_d_)-(_e_)-(_f_) The location of the three outguards posted from Support No. 2.

In fitting this exercise to the ground the location of the outguards should be selected first. Care should be taken to so locate them that the ground is suitable for illustrating the tactical features that are to be brought out and discussed in the Terrain Exercise. The location of Support No. 2 should then be selected and finally that of the Blue main body. If you have had a previous Terrain Exercise covering the subject of outposts it may be convenient and advantageous to base this Terrain Exercise on the same situation and covering the same ground.

Procedure

The class is conducted to (_c_), the location of Support No. 2.

The Director distributes the sheets containing the Special Situation and Situation No. 1, reads them aloud to the class and makes such explanation as may be necessary. One or more members of the class may be called upon to state his understanding of the situation.

Explanation

_The Director_: “It is fully realized that no member of this class will ever be called upon to conduct the operations of a visiting patrol. You will, however, have to order your non-commissioned officers to do so and you must have a knowledge of how it should be gone about and whether the duty is being properly performed.

“The military text-books usually tell you that a visiting patrol consists of a non-commissioned officer and two or three men that make the rounds along the outpost line of observation at night. That is about all. It is assumed that the subject is so simple that you just naturally know it and there is nothing further to be explained. Such is not the case and before we have completed this exercise we will demonstrate it to you. Another good test of the proposition is this: Take your non-commissioned officers out on a Terrain Exercise and give them the situations that we will have today. See how many of them get away with it. I am sure you will be surprised at the results, especially with the men who have had no previous preparation for the exercise.”

Solution

_The Director_: “Lieutenant Williams, what is a visiting patrol?”

_Lieutenant Williams_: “It is a patrol consisting of a non-commissioned officer and two or three men. It is sent out from the support at intervals during the night to keep up communication between the elements of the outpost.”

_The Director_: “Captain Hastings, tell us just how the visiting patrol makes its rounds.”

_Captain Hastings_: “Let us say that the patrol is to start out from our support No. 2, which is located at this point. The patrol will go out to the right and touch upon the left outguard of Support No. 1; then pass along our own line of observation to the right outguard of Support No. 3 and then come back here.”

_The Director_: “Yes, that is the general procedure. The details of how the patrol is to do all of this is what we are interested in and that is what will be brought out in this Terrain Exercise. Lieutenant Wallace, what do you understand to be the specific duties of a visiting patrol?”

_Lieutenant Wallace_: “Included in the duties of visiting patrols may be enumerated:

“1. They bring back information of incidents that may occur along the line of observation and form a medium of exchange of information between the various elements of the outpost.

“2. In a measure, they prevent the unobserved approach of the enemy between sentinel posts. When the enemy is very active there is constant patrolling between the observation posts.

“3. They drive off small patrols.

“4. They take charge of detained persons and conduct them back to the support.”

_The Director_: “That is very good. Now, Lieutenant Ralston, suppose you were Lieutenant A, commanding Support No. 2. What instructions would you give regarding your visiting patrols?”

_Lieutenant Ralston_: “The visiting patrol is a night institution. There is little necessity for its employment in the day time, but I would not wait until dark to give my instructions regarding it. I would give orders:

“‘There is no further information of the enemy and our own troops.

“‘The second section will furnish the visiting patrols for tonight.

“‘Corporal Black, with the 4th Squad, will conduct the visiting patrols at 8 and 10 o’clock p. m.

“‘Corporal Canes, with the 5th Squad, will conduct the visiting patrols at 12 midnight and 2 o’clock a. m.

“‘Corporal Dorr with the 6th Squad, will conduct the visiting patrols at 4 and 6 o’clock a. m.

“‘Patrol leaders will go over the route of their patrols before dark.

“‘Messages to support, here.’”

_The Director_: “I think you have covered the necessary points.

“Are there any questions by any member of the class? If so, now is the time to clear them up.”

* * * * *

=Visiting Patrol= =Card No. 1=

=Director’s Key=

1. Assemble the class at (_c_) the location of Support No. 2.

2. Distribute sheets bearing the Special Situation and Situation No. 1. Read and explain. Have members of the class state their understanding of the problem.

3. Explain that no member of class will ever be required to conduct a visiting patrol, but it is necessary for them to know how it should be done. Definition of visiting patrol. Test by taking N. C. O.’s on Terrain Exercise.

4. Solution: What is visiting patrol. How it makes rounds. Duties. Orders given for visiting patrols. Any questions.

* * * * *

The Problem

=Situation No. 2:=

You, Corporal Canes, have been designated to conduct the visiting patrol that is to go out at 12 o’clock midnight and at 2 o’clock a. m. You have been given your squad to form the reliefs.

_Required_:

What do you do?

Procedure

The Director distributes the sheets bearing Situation No. 2 to the members of the class, reads it aloud and makes such explanations as may be necessary.

Explanation

_The Director_: “Now I want each member of the class to consider himself as being Corporal Canes. Put yourself in his place and consider what you would do under the orders you have received from the support commander. We are going to work these situations out in detail to show you how it ought to be done. Then when you are a support commander and give an order for your visiting patrols, you will know just how each Corporal should go about his job.”

Solution

_The Director_: “Captain Harvey, what would you do?”

_Captain Harvey_: “I would get the men of my squad together and while they are assembling I would size up the situation and determine just what orders I am going to give. When the men are together I would give them their orders:

“‘Manley, Harrison and Kline will be the first visiting patrol.

“‘Oliver, Hasker and Payne will be the second visiting patrol.

“‘We go out at 12 and 2 o’clock tonight. Be ready at those hours.

“‘I am going over the route of the patrol before dark.

“‘Dismissed.’

“I do not think of anything else to say at this time.”

_The Director_: “Captain Hodges, have you any criticism to make of Captain Harvey’s order?”

_Captain Hodges_: “Yes, sir. In the first place, he has left out several things that ought to be told to the men. He has not provided any instructions for one man of the squad. He has not made it clear just which patrol each man belongs to. He has not told the men what equipment they are to carry with them.”

_The Director_: “To what do you attribute these omissions?”

_Captain Hodges_: “Well, sir, I could not say. The thing that appeals to me is that if I were one of the men I would want to know about them.”

_The Director_: “I think, if you will all reflect, that the underlying trouble with Captain Harvey’s order is that he has not followed our five paragraph order. Had he done so, I am sure he would not have omitted these essentials. Now I am going to have Captain Harvey give the order again and follow the five paragraph order system and see how he comes out. Your first paragraph would be ‘Information of the enemy and our supporting troops.’ All right, Captain Harvey, what would your first paragraph contain?”

_Captain Harvey_: “Well, sir, the men know everything that I do regarding the enemy and our own troops. They all heard the Lieutenants order when he established the support. So I would say:

“‘There is no further information of the enemy or our supporting troops.’”

_The Director_: “You have stated it exactly in your last sentence. Now for your plan.”

_Captain Harvey_: “My plan would be to have the squad furnish two of the visiting patrols—I see what you mean.

“‘Our squad will furnish two visiting patrols tonight.’”

_The Director_: “Now comes the disposition of troops and orders for each element.”

_Captain Harvey_: “I would divide up the squad as I did in my previous order and provide for that extra man that Captain Hodges spoke of. He is my Automatic Rifleman. I would say:

“‘Manley, Harrison and Kline will be visiting patrol No. 1. It will go out at 12 o’clock midnight.

“‘Oliver, Hasker and Payne will be visiting patrol No. 2. It will go out at 2 o’clock a. m.

“‘Bailey (automatic rifleman) will be supernumerary.’”

_The Director_: “The next is your administrative arrangements, paragraph 4 of an order. What would you include in that?”

_Captain Harvey_: “The equipment to be carried. I would say:

“‘Rifle and belts of ammunition only will be carried. The bayonet will be fixed. The scabbard and canteen will be left here.’

I would not want the men to carry anything that is not absolutely essential.”

_The Director_: “You are right. The members of the visiting patrol travel light. They do not want to be hampered with equipment that is not necessary. Above all, they do not want anything with them that will rattle and make a noise. They leave the bayonet scabbard at the post of the support because if they wear it on the belt it will be dangling between the men’s legs and interfere with their freedom of movement. They will probably not need any water on this short march so I see no objection to leaving the canteen behind, although, on the other hand, I can see no objection to carrying it. That is a mere matter of opinion. The bayonets are fixed so as to have them ready for hand to hand night fighting in case it is required. A great deal of the night work will be done with the bayonet. Rifle fire is effective only for short distances due to inability to see the target for any distance. Now, Captain Harvey, how do you conclude your order?”

_Captain Harvey_: “In the usual manner by telling the men where messages are to be brought, I would say:

“‘Messages will be brought back to the support, here.’”

That concludes the order. I see my error and will profit by it in the future.”

_Captain James_: “There is one point in the order that I did not understand. Captain Harvey detailed his automatic rifleman as ‘supernumerary.’ Just what does he mean by that.”

_The Director_: “He means that he is an extra man not specifically detailed with either patrol. But, if for any reason, one of the other men is unable to go on the patrol when the time comes the supernumerary will take his place. Do you see the point now?”

_Captain James_: “Yes, sir.”

_The Director_: “I hope you all now realize how far astray you can go in issuing tactical orders if you fail to follow the five paragraph system. On the other hand, I hope you have observed how simple it is to include all of the essential elements in an order if you do follow the system. You here see the system applied to the most insignificant element in the domain of tactics, the visiting patrol. You see how nicely it fits. If you were issuing an order for a division of 20,000 men you would see how well it works there. I hope you will all stick to this plan of issuing orders. You positively cannot go far wrong if you will. If there are no further questions we will proceed.”

Explanation

_The Director_: “Corporal Canes will now dismiss the squad and the men will go about getting ready for their night work. Corporal Canes will go over the route that he is to conduct the patrol tonight. He will proceed to the right parallel to and in rear of the line of outguards to the left outguard of Support No. 1; thence along our own line of observation to Outguard No. 1 of Support No. 3; and then back to the support. He will note the route carefully and mark it if necessary. He will especially note the approaches to the outguard posts and arrange for recognition signals with the outguard commanders.”

Procedure

_The Director_: “Let us assume that it is now 11.50 p. m. The obscurity is such that a man may see another at a distance of about 12 yards. Corporal Canes has been awakened by the support sentinel. He is up and getting ready to start with his patrol. Captain James, you are now Corporal Canes. What would you do?”

_Captain James_: “I would wake Manley, Harrison and Kline and say to them:

“‘It is time to make our 12 o’clock patrol. Get up. You have about 5 minutes to get ready.’

“At 11:55 I would have the patrol fall in for inspection. I would inspect the men to see if they had the proper equipment and make sure that each man is fully awake. I would then give the command:

“‘With ball cartridges. 2. LOAD.’

“I am now ready to start.”

_The Director_: “All right. It is now 12 o’clock. Give the orders for the start.”

_Captain James_: “I would say:

“‘Manley, you will lead; I will follow at a distance of 8 yards; Harrison, you follow me at 10 yards; Kline you follow Harrison at 12 yards. Move out.’

“I think that order would get the patrol under way.”

_The Director_: “Lieutenant Baker, have you any criticism of the formation proposed by Captain James?”

_Lieutenant Baker_: “Yes, sir. It seems to me that here is one instance where the patrol commander should actually lead the patrol himself. He knows the route that is to be taken and no other member of the patrol knows it. He is the man that knows the recognition signals with the outguard commanders. I think there is every reason why he should physically lead the patrol.”

_The Director_: “I think so, too, and feel that Captain James will when he considers the situation. Now then, this new disposition will change the orders somewhat. Lieutenant Baker how would you state the orders now?”

_Lieutenant Baker_: “I would say:

“‘I will lead. Manley, you follow me at a distance of about 8 yards. Harrison, follow Manley at a distance of about 10 yards; Kline will follow Harrison at a distance of about 10 yards.

“‘Keep the man ahead of you in sight at all times.

“‘Manley, you will be second in command.

“‘Follow me.’”

_The Director_: “I think this order will get our patrol under way in the proper formation. I hope you see and understand the necessity for going into the minute details of these situations. Herein lies one of the greatest values of the Terrain Exercise. It not only teaches the student of Minor Tactics the principles, but affords practice in giving the orders to meet the various situations and fixes all indelibly on the mind. When you conduct a Terrain Exercise yourself you cannot be too particular about going into the details of every situation.”

* * * * *

=Visiting Patrol= =Card No. 2=

=Director’s Key=

1. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 2. Each member of class is now Corporal Canes. Explain why this Terrain Exercise is given to officers.

2. Orders for squad. Failure to use five paragraph order. Information of enemy and own troops. Plan of commander. Tactical dispositions and order for each element; detail each patrol, time of going out, supernumerary, equipment—only rifle and belt of ammunition, no bayonets, canteen, messages.

3. Meaning of supernumerary.

4. Necessity for following five paragraph order system.

5. Men get ready for patrol duty before dark. Corporal Canes goes over route of the patrol.

6. State special situation. Now 11:50 p. m. Ready to start. Formation of patrol. Corporal leads. Load rifles.

7. Orders for patrol:—Formation, communication, second in command.

8. Explain necessity for going into details. Great value of Terrain Exercise.

* * * * *

The Problem

=Situation No. 3=:

You, Corporal Canes, the leading man of your visiting patrol, have arrived at this point. Outguard No. 1 is right there (indicate); the double sentinel post is there (indicate).

_Required_:

What do you do?

Procedure

The class is conducted to the point selected for Situation No. 3, which should be located between the outguard and the sentinel post if practicable. The Director reads the situation aloud and points out the position of the outguard and that of the sentinels posted from the outguard.

Solution

_The Director_: “Captain Hall, let us assume you are Corporal Canes. You have arrived right here, the other members of your patrol are in the original formation behind you. Now just what would you do under the circumstances?”

_Captain Hall_: “I would go to the sentinel post and ask the men.”

_The Director_: “Wait a minute. Let us not go too fast on this proposition. You have the other men of your patrol with you. What are you going to do with them?”

_Captain Hall_: “That’s right. I would have to tell them what to do. I would say to Manley in a low tone;

“‘Have the patrol halt and remain in place.’

Which means the men would halt where they are and stay there until I return.”

_The Director_: “We will assume that you have halted the patrol. Would you go to the sentinel post without first notifying the outguard that you are going to do so?”

_Captain Hall_: “No, sir. I had forgotten about that. I would go to the outguard and tell the outguard commander that I am going out to see his sentinels and would get him to come along with me.”

_The Director_: “Reflect a moment. Remember, yours is not the only visiting patrol that comes along the route tonight. There is one every two hours. The outguard commander has to be up every two hours to post his reliefs. The support commander has arranged his visiting patrols so that they will come along the line of observation when the sentinels on post are about in the middle of their tour. If you get the outguard commander out at this time, he will be up practically all night and will not be fit for much service tomorrow. I do not think you would insist on seeing the outguard commander unless he happened to be awake at this particular time. It would be sufficient to tell the outguard sentinel what you are going to do.”

_Captain Hall_: “I would go to the outguard and notify the man on duty there that I am going out to the sentinel.”

_The Director_: “Don’t go too fast. What I want to bring out at this time is just how you are going to approach the post of the outguard. Tell us in detail how you would do it.”

_Captain Hall_: “I will go up to this point. (Captain Hall advances to the point indicated). I will call in a low tone of voice ‘Visiting patrol.’ If I get no response I will advance a little closer and repeat my recognition signal and would continue until I am recognized. When the man on duty hears my call he will probably say to me ‘Give the countersign.’ I will give the countersign in a low tone of voice. He will tell me to advance and I will then go to the post of the outguard.”

_The Director_: “Those are the details I wanted to bring out. And that is the value of the Terrain Exercise. We come out here and learn to do the things that we must do in actual campaign when we do not have to pay for the mistakes with our own lives or the lives of our men. You have to draw upon your imagination to picture the situation that confronts you. You have to use your gray matter to figure out and decide just what you are going to do. Finally, you have to draw upon your power of speech to put your decision into words and express it in a clear and intelligent manner.

“When you get up to the outguard you find that the outguard commander is asleep. You decide not to awaken him. You tell the man on duty that you are going to the sentinel post. Now Lieutenant Barry I want you to tell us and show us just how you do it.”

_Lieutenant Barry_: “I would proceed cautiously in the direction of the sentinel post. When I figure I am within hearing distance I will give the recognition signal. The sentinel will give me the return signal and I will know everything is all right and be free to go up to him.”

_Lieutenant Hunt_: “I do not understand this recognition signal proposition. Can the director enlighten us on that?”

Explanation

_The Director_: “Yes, we will go into that in a few minutes. Before doing so I wish to review and consider in detail this comparatively simple proposition of approaching a sentinel post at night. You must remember that the line of observation of an outpost is a ‘spooky’ place at night and that outpost sentinels are as easily flushed as a pheasant. Their nerves are strung to the breaking point. In every shadow an enemy lurks. They soon learn to take no chances. It becomes the rule to shoot first and challenge afterwards. If one makes a practice of running headlong into sentinel posts on dark nights he may get away with it a few times, but you are taking serious chances and the game will finally get you. Having these things in mind, let us review the process of approaching the sentinel post.

“1. The patrol leader halts his patrol some little distance from the post. He gives the orders for the other members to stand fast until he returns. He then goes to the outguard and notifies them that he is going out to the sentinel. There is no necessity for any other person than the patrol commander going up to the post. If others go it makes just that much more confusion and adds that much more chance for lurking scouts to locate the post and get information.

“2. The patrol leader advances towards the post and when he is near enough he calls in a low tone, ‘Visiting patrol,’ and continues to call until he is recognized. We never approach a sentinel post from the front at night and, if it can be avoided, never from a flank, always from the rear.

“3. When the sentinel discovers the presence of the patrol leader he will verify his identity by calling upon him for the countersign. Corporal Canes gives the countersign, and the sentinel directs him to advance.

“This countersign is the recognition signal that Lieutenant Hunt asked about. It may be given by word of mouth. It may consist of whistling a few bars of some familiar service call. It may be made by tapping with the knuckles on the stock of the rifle. The number of taps to represent a number, for example: The countersign or recognition signal is 22-33. Corporal Canes would approach the sentinel post and strike his rifle, tap, tap (pause) tap, tap. The sentinel will answer in the same manner tap, tap, tap (pause), tap, tap, tap. He would then know that he had been recognized as a friend and proceed to the post. If the sentinel discovered Corporal Canes first he would keep him under observation and when he is close enough to hear would challenge him, tap, tap (pause), tap, tap. Corporal Cane’s answer would be tap, tap, tap (pause), tap, tap, tap. The system is interchangeable. The first number may be said to be the challenge or inquiry signal and the second number the recognition.