Terrain ExercisesWaldron, William H. (William Henry)
History
Terrain Exercises
Waldron, William H. (William Henry)
Tactics
_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.’”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account