_The Director_: “All right. Let us assume that you have done so and you have them right here. We are now ready to proceed. Go ahead with your solution.”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “In the first place, I would not want the men to be burdened with their packs, so I would have them taken off and piled here.”
_The Director_: “Would you have them take off the entire pack? Tell us just what equipment they would carry.”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “Only the rifle and belt.”
_The Director_: “Captain Hastings, do you agree with that?”
_Captain Hastings_: “No, sir. I would have the men take off only the rolls. I would have them carry the haversack with them. The Infantry pack is designed for this very purpose. We can relieve the men of the burdensome part of the pack and still retain the essentials. I do not believe a man should ever be without his haversack in the field.”
_The Director_: “You are correct. Let us assume that we have taken the rolls off and piled them here. Now, Lieutenant Wallace, what are you going to do?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I am going to give my orders. All the men of the section have heard the platoon commander’s orders about the enemy and our own troops, so there is no necessity for repeating them. The next thing is to tell the men what our mission is to be. I would cover this by the simple statement:
“‘This section (less the first squad) will cover the posting of the outguards.’
“I will now have to decide upon the formation that I am going to take up. The front to be covered is too extensive to be covered by a line of skirmishers, and besides I do not approve of such a formation. It is too difficult to control the operations. I would use the patrol method. Divide the section up into small patrols and keep a small support.”
_The Director_: “Captain Hastings, do you agree with such dispositions?”
_Captain Hastings_: “Yes, sir. I think the patrol formation is best. It has many advantages over the line of skirmishers.”
_The Director_: “How many patrols would you have?”
_Captain Hastings_: “I should have three patrols of a leader and three men each. This would account for the second squad and the front rank of the third squad. I would keep the rear rank of the third squad under my own control as a support.”