_The Director_: “Corporal Canes will now dismiss the squad and the men will go about getting ready for their night work. Corporal Canes will go over the route that he is to conduct the patrol tonight. He will proceed to the right parallel to and in rear of the line of outguards to the left outguard of Support No. 1; thence along our own line of observation to Outguard No. 1 of Support No. 3; and then back to the support. He will note the route carefully and mark it if necessary. He will especially note the approaches to the outguard posts and arrange for recognition signals with the outguard commanders.”
_The Director_: “Let us assume that it is now 11.50 p. m. The obscurity is such that a man may see another at a distance of about 12 yards. Corporal Canes has been awakened by the support sentinel. He is up and getting ready to start with his patrol. Captain James, you are now Corporal Canes. What would you do?”
_Captain James_: “I would wake Manley, Harrison and Kline and say to them:
“‘It is time to make our 12 o’clock patrol. Get up. You have about 5 minutes to get ready.’
“At 11:55 I would have the patrol fall in for inspection. I would inspect the men to see if they had the proper equipment and make sure that each man is fully awake. I would then give the command:
_The Director_: “All right. It is now 12 o’clock. Give the orders for the start.”
“‘Manley, you will lead; I will follow at a distance of 8 yards; Harrison, you follow me at 10 yards; Kline you follow Harrison at 12 yards. Move out.’
“I think that order would get the patrol under way.”
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Baker, have you any criticism of the formation proposed by Captain James?”
_Lieutenant Baker_: “Yes, sir. It seems to me that here is one instance where the patrol commander should actually lead the patrol himself. He knows the route that is to be taken and no other member of the patrol knows it. He is the man that knows the recognition signals with the outguard commanders. I think there is every reason why he should physically lead the patrol.”
_The Director_: “I think so, too, and feel that Captain James will when he considers the situation. Now then, this new disposition will change the orders somewhat. Lieutenant Baker how would you state the orders now?”