We are not compelled to memorize the form of the Field Message Blank. We can, however, analyse it so that it will fix itself in our memory and will be a part of what we must know in regard to the field order. And we can gain a knowledge of this form rather by adhering to the field message blank than by departing from it. Yet we need not know its entire form but simply what contents are necessary and what order they must have. In the first place the field message may be divided into three parts: THE HEADING, THE BODY, THE ENDING. THE HEADING should contain: THE NAME OF SENDING DETACHMENT, THE LOCATION OF SENDING DETACHMENT (PLACE), THE DATE, THE HOUR OF ISSUE, THE NUMBER OF THE MESSAGE. For example, the whole heading would appear something like this: Combat Patrol, 318th Infantry, Cross Roads 500 yds. south of CLINTON SCHOOL HOUSE. No. 3. 9 Jan. 18. 9-45 p. m. Location of sending detachment means the _exact spot_ upon which sender is located at time of writing. The date should be given always as above in the sequence, day, month, year. This combination prevents the numerals from being confused. In naming a night both days should be mentioned thus: Night 4/5 Feb. 18. The time should always have the dash between the hour and minutes. Messages sent on the same day from the same sending detachment are numbered consecutively. Each day or each mission starts a new series. If a map referred to is not the one on the reverse side of the message, the sender should designate the name or number of the map used, immediately below the number of the message. THE BODY of the message contains the following: TO WHOM SENT, THE BODY PROPER. THE BODY PROPER has the following sequence for its information: 1. ENEMY. 2. YOUR OWN TROOPS. 3. TERRAIN. 4. YOUR PLAN. The body then would appear something like this: “To Commanding Officer, Advance Guard, 71st Brigade: Squadron of enemy’s cavalry encamped in meadow 600 yards southeast of here. Our officer’s patrol, which we met at ZION CHURCH at 8-10 a. m., reported two regiments enemy’s infantry intrenched at railroad one mile south of here. Tail of our second battalion at PARKSBURG steel bridge 7-20 a. m. Battalion was marching south. MARTIN’S CREEK unfordable at any point between SMITH’S CORNERS and GREENSBURG. Will move southeast from here along creek bed in order to complete mission.” On account of lack of space, paragraphing is impossible: but if this sequence is followed the thought is easily gained. If some one of our own troops tells us concerning the enemy, this information should come between 1 and 2, and should be definitely shown to be hearsay and not our own observation. Of course, all of the parts, 1, 2, 3, and 4, do not always occur. The order is nevertheless followed. THE ENDING consists of THE SIGNATURE which, in turn, consists of the sender’s surname and his rank, thus,