The class is now conducted along the road on which the patrol is operating to the point selected for the next situation, where it is halted. The Director distributes the sheets containing Situation No. 4 and makes such explanation as may be necessary.
(Note.—The terrain selected for this and the following situations should be carefully selected for the purpose of bringing out the tactical features included in the solutions. In framing up the problem and fitting it to the ground the Director will do well to first select the terrain on which Situation No. 4 is to be carried out and then construct the problem back from this point.)
You, Sergeant Wilkins, have arrived at this point. Your patrol is in the formation originally adopted. Nothing has yet been seen or heard of the enemy.
_The Director_: “Captain Hastings, you have arrived at a point which is sufficiently far out on the road to prevent the enemy from firing into the main body. You have here very good observation over the country to your front and flanks. You have a fairly good field of fire. As you know, only cavalry has been reported operating on this flank and on account of obstacles, wire fences, etc., their operations will be confined more or less to the roads. After considering all of these facts what is your reaction?”
_Captain Hastings_: “I can see no necessity for going further. I do not think anything more could be accomplished by doing so. From a position here we could certainly stop any small body and we could administer considerable punishment to a body as large as a troop if we caught them mounted on the road. I would take up a position here and make my disposition so as to cover the road.”
_The Director_: “Having decided to take up a position in this vicinity, just how would you do it, Lieutenant Wallace, where would you place your men?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “There is sufficient space on the road and at the sides of the road to accommodate the squad. I think I would place them so they can fire straight down the road.”
_The Director_: “What do you think of that solution, Lieutenant Ralston?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would not do it that way.”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “Well, sir, the men would be too much exposed. Suppose the enemy appeared on the road with as much as a troop. We fire into him. Perhaps the hostile captain’s orders are to check the advance of our main body. He decides to take his losses and charges down the road. Our small detachment would be in a precarious situation, only eight men against an entire troop. The men know they have no means of getting out of the way. They would be thinking more of their own safety than of hitting the enemy. They would shoot wild, and the chances are that the squad would be ridden down and destroyed. On the other hand, if we put the men on the other side of the wire fences, they will know that a mounted charge cannot hurt them. They will have more confidence in their ability to stop it and the firing will be much more effective.”