Solution
The Director: “Lieutenant Williams, how do you size up the situation now?”
Lieutenant Williams: “Our original mission was to cover this road for a certain number of minutes. That time is about up now when we will have completed the mission. New conditions have arisen which could not have been provided for when Lieutenant A gave us our original orders and a new situation confronts us. It would seem to me that our mission would now be to ‘continue to cover the road.’
“From the firing we have heard, it is possible that our main body has run into a considerable force of the enemy on the main road. If this is a Cavalry force covering one of Infantry it will soon transfer its activities to the flanks and try and cut in on the flanks of our main body. Under those circumstances our flank guard will have a very important role to play. The road that we are on leads directly to the flank and rear of our main body and must be guarded for the time being. The fact that we have already encountered the enemy indicates that he intends to make use of it if practicable and the presence of even our small force here will make him more cautious and delay and hamper his operations. If our main body has run into only a small Cavalry force of the enemy it will be quickly brushed aside and the situation will be cleared up in a few minutes.
“After considering all of these circumstances, I think Sergeant Wilkins’ decision would be to remain here and continue covering this road.”
The Director: “I think you are right. Now, havingarrived at that decision, what are you going to do next, Captain Hastings?”
Captain Hastings: “The men would be looking to me for instructions. I would say:
“‘It is apparent that our main body has encountered a force of the enemy. It is possible that our flank guard has halted.
“‘We will remain here for the present.
“‘Shane, you will keep on the look out for the enemy.
“‘Take off your packs and put them on the ground behind you.
“‘Secure your intrenching tools and each man improve his firing position.
“‘I will remain here.’”
The Director: “I think that order would meet the immediate requirements.”
The Director will bring out the points involved in the preparation of the position for defense. This will depend entirely upon the terrain. By questioning members of the class and a discussion the method of preparing certain of the individual fire positions will be arrived at. The question of obstacles in the road to interfere with the enemy’s advance should also be considered and discussed.
Flank GuardCard No. 5Director’s Key1. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 5. Read and explain.2. Estimate of enemy. Contact patrol. Action—open fire on enemy. How close to let them come. Fire orders.3. Assumption regarding action of patrol and enemy. Identification.4. Message to flank guard commander. Importance of identification.5. Action with respect to enemy dead and wounded.6. State new situation verbally. Main body encounters enemy. Size up new situation.7. New mission of patrol. Decision to remain where it is.8. Orders for patrol: Information of enemy and own troops; remain here; look out for enemy; take off pack; prepare for defense.9. Bring out points involved in preparation for defense. Improvement of firing position. Obstacles.
Flank GuardCard No. 5
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
1. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 5. Read and explain.
2. Estimate of enemy. Contact patrol. Action—open fire on enemy. How close to let them come. Fire orders.
3. Assumption regarding action of patrol and enemy. Identification.
4. Message to flank guard commander. Importance of identification.
5. Action with respect to enemy dead and wounded.
6. State new situation verbally. Main body encounters enemy. Size up new situation.
7. New mission of patrol. Decision to remain where it is.
8. Orders for patrol: Information of enemy and own troops; remain here; look out for enemy; take off pack; prepare for defense.
9. Bring out points involved in preparation for defense. Improvement of firing position. Obstacles.
Situation No. 6:
Halley returns to the patrol. He reports that he sent the message to Lieutenant A, and that it was acknowledged. He received the following message from Lieutenant A for Sergeant Wilkins:
“Advance guard meets strong opposition on main road—Cavalry. Main body halted. Flank guard halts abreast of head of main body. Your patrol will cover cross-road. Corporal Vincent being sent to you with his squad.”
Required:
What do you, Sergeant Wilkins, do?
The Director distributes the sheets containing Situation No. 6 to the class and makes such explanation as may be necessary.
Solution
The Director: “What action would you now take, Lieutenant Wallace?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “In the first place, I would not want Corporal Vincent’s squad to come out here on this road. I have been thinking for some little time about the fact that there are no troops back at the cross-roads where we turned off from the flank guard. The enemy finding his efforts blocked on the roads leading toward our main body will find that opening sooner or later. I would want Corporal Vincent to take up a position near the cross-road and cover the approaches from the —— (direction). I would send Halley back to the cross-roads with a message to Corporal Vincent to that effect.”
The Director: “I think that is a proper move on your part. The cross-road certainly needs to be covered. We will assume that Halley has left with your message to Corporal Vincent. Would you take any other action at the time?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “Yes, sir. The men would know that Halley has come back with some information. I would give the information to the men in order that they may know. I would tell them of Corporal Vincent’s squad coming back to reinforce us and inform them of what I intend to do with it.”
The Director: “I think you are right in giving this information to your men. They can go about their task more intelligently. Would you go back to the cross-road to inspect Corporal Vincent’s position after he had made his disposition, Lieutenant Ralston?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “The flank guard commanderhas charged me with the defense of the cross-road. He has given me Corporal Jenkins’ and Corporal Vincent’s squads for the purpose. It is just as important that I know from personal observation what arrangements are made for the defense of the main road as it is on this flank. I would turn over the defense of this position to Corporal Jenkins and then go back and inspect Corporal Vincent’s dispositions.”
The Director: “I think you are right. Are there any questions by any member of the class?” (The Director will answer any questions that may be brought up.)
Flank GuardCard No. 6Director’s Key1. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 6. Read and explain.2. Decision with respect to Corporal Vincent’s squad. Cover the cross-road.3. Message to Corporal Vincent.4. New information received from flank guard commander given to men.5. Inspection of Corporal Vincent’s position.
Flank GuardCard No. 6
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
1. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 6. Read and explain.
2. Decision with respect to Corporal Vincent’s squad. Cover the cross-road.
3. Message to Corporal Vincent.
4. New information received from flank guard commander given to men.
5. Inspection of Corporal Vincent’s position.
The class is now conducted back to the cross-road where Situation No. 7 is distributed by the Director.
Situation No. 7:
You, Corporal Vincent, commanding the 5th squad, have arrived at this point. Here you meet Halley, who delivers the following message to you from Sergeant Wilkins:
“No further information of the enemy. Corporal Jenkins’ squad has taken up a position on the road leading to the flank about —— yards from the cross-road.
“You will take up a position on the road on which the flank guard is marching covering the cross-road.
“Messages to cross-road.”
Required:
What action do you, Corporal Vincent, take?
The Director: “Now, I want each member of the class to consider himself as being Corporal Vincent. You have just arrived here with your squad and received the order of Sergeant Wilkins. It is up to you to select the point where you are going to place your squad to cover the road. I want each of you to solve this phase of the problem independently. Make a rough sketch showing the position, and write out the orders that you will issue as squad commander. Twenty minutes will be allowed for the purpose. It is now —— (state time).”
At the end of twenty minutes the class is assembled. The solutions are collected and redistributed. One or more members are called upon to read the solution he has in his possession.
The position will then be selected and the Director will give a statement of the orders that would be issued. This may have been previously prepared for distribution to the class as “a solution.”
The solution of each member of the class is returned to him in order that he may compare it with the solution submitted by the Director.
Explanation
The Director: “This is the termination of this Terrain Exercise. Let us see what we have gotten out of it—of what tactical benefit it has been to us.
“The first situation was devised to show you the tactical necessity for a flank guard, the duties that devolve upon it, and the formation that is best calculated to enable it to carry out its functions.
“The second situation was devised for the purpose of illustrating the necessity for covering approaches by which an enemy may cut in on the main body of a column and delay or annoy it. Further, the method employed in giving orders and instructions while continuing to march.
“The third situation was devised to give you experience in giving orders to and conducting a combat patrol along the road.
“The fourth situation brings out the elements contained in a tactical ‘estimate of the situation’ and the selection and occupation of a small position.
“The fifth situation was devised to give you practical instruction in the methods of troop leading; rendering a quick decision on the appearance of the enemy and handling a squad in action. Also in making an estimate of the situation and rendering a decision when your mission has been carried out and circumstances which could not have been foreseen have arisen and it is necessary to embark on a new mission on your own initiative and without orders—in other words, when a man is thrown upon his own resources and has to decide for himself what he is going to do.
“The sixth situation was devised for the purpose of placing the members of the class on their ownresponsibility in the selection of a position for the defense of a particular point and make practical use of the knowledge they had gained in the solution of Situations Nos. 4 and 5.
“It is by the constant practice in solving these situations on the ground that we gain that confidence in our ability to handle them when we have troops actually present. The idea of these Terrain Exercises is that you come out here and work out the solution without troops. Then after you have learned how, you bring your troops out and take them through the problem according to the solution that you have worked out in the Terrain Exercise.
“I am sure that any of you are now more competent to handle the operations of a flank guard and a force sent out to cover a particular point. I am sure that you would have a very good idea of what to do if in actual service you were confronted with situations similar to those we have considered in our exercise today.”
Flank GuardCard No. 7Director’s Key1. Conduct class back to cross-road.2. Distribute Situation No. 7. Read and explain.3. Solution of situation. Each member of class consider himself as being Corporal Vincent. Select position, make sketch, write out orders.4. At end of twenty minutes collect solutions. Read one or more of them. Arrive at solution. Distribute solution to the class.5. Explain purpose of each situation. Necessity for flank guard; covering approaches; giving orders on march; conduct of small patrol; estimate of situation; selection of position; troop leading and rendering quick decisions; changing to new mission; solution of problem on own responsibility.
Flank GuardCard No. 7
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
1. Conduct class back to cross-road.
2. Distribute Situation No. 7. Read and explain.
3. Solution of situation. Each member of class consider himself as being Corporal Vincent. Select position, make sketch, write out orders.
4. At end of twenty minutes collect solutions. Read one or more of them. Arrive at solution. Distribute solution to the class.
5. Explain purpose of each situation. Necessity for flank guard; covering approaches; giving orders on march; conduct of small patrol; estimate of situation; selection of position; troop leading and rendering quick decisions; changing to new mission; solution of problem on own responsibility.