_Captain Hastings_: “The connecting files, sir.”
_Captain Hastings_: “I would have two at least.”
_The Director_: “Wouldn’t one man be sufficient as a connecting file?”
_Captain Hastings_: “At this particular point one man would, but there are places on this road where one man would not be able to keep up the communication, and to make sure of that being done all the time I would detail two men. The duty is no more arduous than marching with the point or the advance party, and I do not consider that it is any hardship.”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Wallace, what would be the distance from the rear man of the point to the head of the advance party?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “About two hundred yards.”
_The Director_: “What would be the distance from the advance party to the head of the support?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I would have that about 350 yards.”
_The Director_: “You will want to keep in communication with the main body on the (_a_)-(_b_) road. How would you accomplish that?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I would send out two men to march so that they can see the main body and the flank guard. I realize that they cannot do this all the time but they will be able to do it at sufficiently frequent intervals to keep both bodies informed if anything unusual happens.”
_The Director_: “Would you have a patrol out on the exposed flank at this time?”
(Note.—The answer to this question will depend upon the lay of the country on the exposed flank. If it is close, a patrol will be necessary. If it is open to the limit of effective rifle fire a patrol would not be necessary. In any event, the Director should bring out the principles stated below, at some point in the Terrain Exercise.)
“No, sir; I do not see the necessity for a patrol on the exposed flank at the present. We can see all the country to the limit of effective rifle range from the road, and I think a patrol there would be a waste of men. If, later on, the topography should demand it, I would send out such patrols as may be necessary. At what distance they would march from the column cannot be stated. It would depend entirely upon the country. They would have to go out far enough to see something more than can be seen from the road, if they are to be of any use.”