To keep down the fire of the enemy’s scouts and snipers, to ambush them, and to drive them off. To rapidly seize points of importance. To cover retirement from difficult positions. To act on ground that is too difficult for ordinary infantry. =88.= _Training of Scouts._ 1. The training of scouts will, as a rule, be carried out by a selected officer in each company. 2. Scouts should be able to find their way across country both by day and night. They should be able to read a map, and to work by sun and compass, by observation of landmarks, and by the direction of watersheds and streams. 3. They should be constantly practised in transmitting information by semaphore, by written message, and by word of mouth. 4. They should be trained to cover long distances at the double, and also to climb steep hills. 5. Scouts will generally work in pairs or in groups of four, including a non-commissioned officer or selected group leader. 6. Scouts must remember that the less they are seen or heard the better. They are not intended, except in special cases, for fighting purposes; and, as a rule, they should not fire except to defend themselves, or possibly to prevent the enemy’s scouts from obtaining information. 7. Scouts must always be careful to keep touch with the troops they are covering. =89.= _The Inspection in Skirmishing._ 1. The inspection will invariably take the form of a tactical exercise based on a scheme, set by the inspecting officer, in which an enemy will be represented by another unit. 2. The inspecting officer will pay particular attention to the following:-- (i) The orders issued. (ii) The suitability of the formations to the ground and to the tactical situation. (iii) Fire discipline. (iv) The aptitude of the men in making use of cover. (v) The readiness of the half-company, section, and squad leaders in adapting formations to the ground in occupying suitable fire positions, and in covering the advance of other half-companies, &c., by fire. (vi) The accuracy and promptitude in passing orders and reports. (vii) The work of the scouts. (viii) The initiative shown by the subordinate leaders. (ix) The acquaintance of all ranks with signals. =90.= SHELTER TRENCH EXERCISE. Full information on the subject of extemporised cover in the field is contained in Part I of the _Manual of Military Engineering_.