“I will frame up my orders to the patrol leader, and as soon as he reports to me I will give them to him:
“‘I have just received information that there is a Red force in the vicinity of (_h_). Here is the point. Here is the road leading in that direction. (Indicating on the map.)[15]
“‘There are no other patrols out from this support. I will notify the other supports that you are going out.
“‘You will take this reconnoitering patrol of four men and proceed toward (_h_) and find out what you can about the enemy. Information as to his strength and composition and what he is doing is particularly desired.
“‘Return when you have accomplished your mission.
“I will send a runner to the other support commanders to inform them of the fact that I am sending out a reconnoitering patrol and give them the information we have about the enemy.
“I will send the citizen who gave me the information to the outpost commander accompanied by a runner and a message:
“‘I am sending you a Mr. ——, who lives at ——. He informs me that he just had a telephone conversation with a friend of his who lives —— miles —— of here and who states that a Red force is in the vicinity of (_h_). The telephone went out before he could get any further information. I am sending out a reconnoitering patrol of four men under Sergeant B to find out what they can. I will notify other supports of the action I have taken.’
“I will explain to Mr. —— that the information he has given me is very important and tell him that it will be necessary for him to go back to the outpost commander with the runner.”
_The Director_: “That is very good. Are there any questions? Please do not hesitate to ask questions. They are the very life of the Terrain Exercise.”
The Director endeavors to answer any question that may be asked.
Each member of the class is now required to write out the orders of the support commander to Sergeant B, the patrol leader, and the message that he would send back to the outpost commander by the runner who conducts Mr. —— to him.
The orders and messages are collected and distributed again. One or more members of the class are required to read those in his possession.
1. Prepare copies of the problem and situation, one for each member of the class.