1. Start from near head of the column, _i.e._, from smallest element in the advance guard that can afford to cut down its numbers. 2. Speed rather than safety, to keep abreast of own column and to force the enemy to disclose himself by firing on F.P. rather than on main body. 3. Sent to investigate suspicious areas, _e.g._ in woods, behind houses. 4. Action in case of firing on main body; advance and counterfire, deployed. 5. Get-away man in rear of column. 6. _Stick to the job_: no wandering or chasing of enemy beyond range of column. Job is to warn and protect against flank attack. Fourth Problem: Platoon as Advance Party: A. Definition and Function: Body of infantry, amounting to 1/8 to 1/2 the Support (depending on the number of cavalry ahead) cf., f.s.r., p. 28. Duty.--To back up the point and the advance cavalry (if any) if fired upon; remove enemy bodies and other obstacles. B. Principles: 1. Describe general mission to inferiors. 2. Explain individual duties to inferiors. 3. Send out point and connecting files. 4. Form in platoon; zig-zag. 5. Keep going; prosecute engagements briskly, not to delay main column. 6. Procedure under fire: deploys and drops, when fired upon; looks for enemy's direction and assigns target and range. Advance under cover if any, when fire light; when heavy seek to divert fire to you away from main body of advance guard to facilitate latter's disposition for advance to your support. Seek to drive off a weaker enemy, and to hold off a stronger. 7. Speedy decisions. Value of imaginary situations, while on the march; and planning your commands. Fifth Problem: Combat Patrol: A. Definition and Function.--Contrasted with covering detachment, which is large enough to offer considerable resistance, the combat patrol is primarily to _Warn_, especially against flank attacks. Size varies widely because of looseness in definition, _e.g._, 100 men might be _covering detachment_ for a regiment, but a combat patrol for a brigade. B. Principles: 1. Comparison of thin line versus thin column, regarding: (a) vulnerability, (b) fatigue, (c) tactical advantage, when engagement materializes, (e) control of movement and of fire. 2. Agent between advance and main body. 3. Attack any enemy of reasonable size that attacks main body. 4. Corn as concealment versus corn as obstruction to sight. 5. Vulnerability of charging cavalry. 6. Lieutenant as tactical chief, sergeant as disciplinarian, in a platoon; except when? 7. Messages concise, not ambiguous, written versus oral? Repeats. 8. Limitations of use of map. Vegetation changes; errors in contouring.