_The Director_: “I think your solution meets the situation very well. Are there any questions?”
1. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 7. Read and explain.
2. Withdrawal of patrol. Accomplished mission.
3. New mission to intercept messengers from enemy patrol.
The class is now conducted back along the main road to a point selected for Situation No. 8.
When you arrive at this point you observe an enemy scout coming down the road in your direction at a walk. You can see some distance beyond him and he appears to be alone. (The Director will point out the location of the enemy scout.)
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Ralston, how do you size up the situation?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I estimate that the man is carrying a message from his patrol leader to the commander of the Red forces. My mission is to capture him and prevent the message going back. If practicable the capture must be effected without resorting to firing. If we have to fire it will give warning to the enemy’s patrol operating toward our outpost and the patrol commander would assume that his messenger is in trouble and would send another message by another route. Furthermore, firing at this time would give the alarm to the patrols operating from the hostile outpost, and they would rush to the rescue of their comrades.”
_The Director_: “Tell us just how you would go about the capture of the messenger?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would form an ambuscade here with Davis and myself on one side of the road and Carlin on the other side about 25 yards in rear of us. When the messenger arrives at about 10 yards from us, Davis and myself will jump out into the road and order him to surrender. We will endeavor to surprise him and take him without firing a shot. If by any chance he should get by us, Carlin would be in position to intercept him.”
_The Director_: “Just what would you say when you order him to surrender?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would jump out on the side of the road, level my rifle at him and yell at him as loud as I could, ‘Drop your rifle—throw up your hands.’ If he did as ordered I would explain to him that he is now a prisoner of war and that resistance is useless. If he did not do as I told him on the instant or if he made any attempt to escape or move to fire on me I would open fire on him at once. I would take no chances with him.”
