_The Director_: “Captain Hodges, have you any criticism to make of Captain Harvey’s order?”
_Captain Hodges_: “Yes, sir. In the first place, he has left out several things that ought to be told to the men. He has not provided any instructions for one man of the squad. He has not made it clear just which patrol each man belongs to. He has not told the men what equipment they are to carry with them.”
_The Director_: “To what do you attribute these omissions?”
_Captain Hodges_: “Well, sir, I could not say. The thing that appeals to me is that if I were one of the men I would want to know about them.”
_The Director_: “I think, if you will all reflect, that the underlying trouble with Captain Harvey’s order is that he has not followed our five paragraph order. Had he done so, I am sure he would not have omitted these essentials. Now I am going to have Captain Harvey give the order again and follow the five paragraph order system and see how he comes out. Your first paragraph would be ‘Information of the enemy and our supporting troops.’ All right, Captain Harvey, what would your first paragraph contain?”
_Captain Harvey_: “Well, sir, the men know everything that I do regarding the enemy and our own troops. They all heard the Lieutenants order when he established the support. So I would say:
“‘There is no further information of the enemy or our supporting troops.’”
_The Director_: “You have stated it exactly in your last sentence. Now for your plan.”
_Captain Harvey_: “My plan would be to have the squad furnish two of the visiting patrols—I see what you mean.
“‘Our squad will furnish two visiting patrols tonight.’”
_The Director_: “Now comes the disposition of troops and orders for each element.”
_Captain Harvey_: “I would divide up the squad as I did in my previous order and provide for that extra man that Captain Hodges spoke of. He is my Automatic Rifleman. I would say:
“‘Manley, Harrison and Kline will be visiting patrol No. 1. It will go out at 12 o’clock midnight.
“‘Oliver, Hasker and Payne will be visiting patrol No. 2. It will go out at 2 o’clock a. m.
“‘Bailey (automatic rifleman) will be supernumerary.’”
_The Director_: “The next is your administrative arrangements, paragraph 4 of an order. What would you include in that?”