_Captain James_: “The support would be right here in column of squads on the road. It would consist of the company (less one platoon and two connecting files). About 400 yards farther down the road would be the advance party, consisting of one platoon, from which there would be a point of one squad, about 150 yards farther to the front.”[9]
_The Director_: “I think we can all agree on those dispositions and proceed to the solution of our problem based on them. Now, let each member of the class consider himself to be Captain E, commanding the advance guard. You have attended the assembly of officers at the head of the main body and received the major’s orders. You have now returned to the company and are ready to go ahead with your part of the operation, that of posting the outpost. Just how are you going about the task that has been allotted to you? Captain Hodges, tell us what you would do.”
_Captain Hodges_: “I would first send a runner to Lieutenant M, commanding the advance party, telling him to report to me here. While waiting for Lieutenant M to come back I would size up the situation and decide upon my tactical dispositions.”
_The Director_: “What would be your primary dispositions?”
_Captain Hodges_: “I would have a line of supports on which I would employ one platoon and one section and a reserve consisting of the rest of the company.”
_The Director_: “That would be a reasonable disposition. How many supports would you have Captain Harvey?”
_Captain Harvey_: “I would have three supports—one on the main road and one at a suitable interval on each side of the road. There would be a section in each support.”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Ralston, do you agree with that disposition?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “No, sir. It seems to me that two supports would meet the situation better. In the first place, this main road is the route on which any considerable force of the enemy must advance after dark, and I would want to cover it with a relatively strong force. I would put one support on the road and have it extend over to the right for a sufficient distance to cover the front and the immediate right flank. It would extend its front to the left of the main road. I would have support No. 2 off to the left to cover that flank.[10]