“Support No. 1 would consist of one platoon and No. 2 of one section.”
_The Director_: “Explain why you extend the front of your support No. 1 to the left of the road?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “So that the boundary line between supports will not fall on the road. One man must be made responsible for the covering of this main road, and if I make it the boundary line between supports, even if I include it in the front of one of them, it will be more or less neglected. But if I extend the front of support No. 1 beyond the road to the left, I am reasonably sure that it will be taken care of properly.”
_The Director_: “That is the point I wanted to bring out. I hope that all the members of the class see it. We have now to decide upon the troops to be designated for each of the supports. What would be your decision as to that, Lieutenant Wallace?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I would have the first platoon, which now forms the advance party, form support No. 1 which will be posted on this main and cover the front from that —— (indicating right boundary of front) to that —— (indicating left boundary of front). The first section of the second platoon would form support No. 2. It would be posted at —— and cover the front from —— to ——.”
_The Director_: “That seems to be a reasonable disposition. Where would you have your reserve?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would have it posted at ——.”
_The Director_: “There is one point on which we have not yet touched. That is the matter of the covering of the posting of the outguards. What would you do about that, Captain Hastings?”
_Captain Hastings_: “I would let each support cover the posting of its own outguards. I believe they can do it better and more efficiently than any detachment that may be made from the rest of the company for the purpose.”
_The Director_: “Let us now assume that Lieutenant M has arrived and you are all ready to issue your orders. Just how would you go about it, Lieutenant Williams?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “I would assemble the officers, platoon sergeants and section leaders in front of the company. I would give the command: 1. Company, 2. ATTENTION, and follow with AT EASE. I would then say: ‘Let me have your attention.’ I would issue my orders as follows: