_The Director_: “I am very glad you brought up that point, Captain Harvey. No; I do not think Lieutenant Wallace would leave his advance party at such a critical moment. In my opinion it would be absolutely wrong if he did. In the first place, he has no business up with the point. Sergeant Roberts is either capable of handling it or he is not so. If he is, he should be let alone to solve his own problem; if he is not capable, he should be relieved. On advance guard duty the commander of each element will have plenty to do if he sticks to his own job and does not go molesting that of someone else.”
The class should now be conducted 200 or 300 yards farther along the road. It is here halted and the Director states: The point has now gotten into formation and is continuing the advance. A message has been sent back to the advance party commander as indicated in our solution a few minutes ago. At this moment you see about six mounted men of the enemy off in that direction (points out the location toward the flank).
_The Director_: “Captain Hodges, how do you size up the situation now?”
_Captain Hodges_: “I estimate that the mounted men are the survivors of the patrol that we fired on. They are working around to the flank of the column to secure information of the strength and composition of our main body. Having this information, it is my job to get it back to the advance party commander as soon as possible in order that proper measures may be taken to beat off the enemy patrol and keep him from getting the information he wants. I would send a verbal message back by Alley, who is marching just behind me in the point.”
_The Director_: “Now, let us assume that I am Private Alley. Give me the message that you would send back.”
_Captain Hodges_: “I would fall back to where Alley is marching, and as we walk along say to him:
“‘You see those mounted men over there? They are the patrol we fired on. Go back to Lieutenant W and show him where you saw them. Tell him they are working around our flank to get in touch with the main body. Come back to the point when you can.’”
_The Director_: “I think that will cover the situation. Are there any questions?”
1. Hand out slips bearing situation No. 5. Read situation and point out places mentioned.