(_e_) The designation of the flank guard, right or left.
(_f_) The point at which the flank guard is supposed to have arrived. The point where the Terrain Exercise is to begin.
(_g_)-(_h_) The road on which it is intended that the flank guard is to march and along which the Terrain Exercise is to be conducted. This road should lie approximately parallel to and not more than a mile distant from the road on which the main body is marching. If no such network of roads exist, the Director may explain to the class the conditions and assume that the nearest road is about a mile distant and work out the problem on that assumption. This procedure strains the situation a little and robs it of some of its reality. The members of the class will have to make the best of it and will have to draw upon their imagination to picture it.
(_i_) A locality some miles distant in the direction of which the Blue force is marching.
(_j_) Localities or places some distance to the flank of the Blue force and in the direction of the road on which the flank guard is marching.
The members of the class are conducted to (_f_) where the Terrain Exercise is to begin.
The Director distributes the sheets containing the Special Situation Blue and the Situation No. 1. A few minutes are allowed the members of the class to look them over. The Director then reads the problem aloud, the members of the class following from the copy in their possession, and makes such explanation as may be necessary. One or more members of the class are called upon to state their understanding of the tactical situation.
_The Director_: “Before going ahead with this exercise I want to make a few remarks about a flank guard.
“Ordinarily the flanks of a column on the march may be protected by small patrols sent out from time to time from the advance guard. There are occasions, however, when patrols will not suffice, as in the present situation, where it is known that hostile troops are operating on the flank of our line of march. In this case it is necessary to send out a stronger detachment to march parallel to the route of the main body. This detachment is denominated a _Flank Guard_ and is an element in the system of covering troops provided for the protection of a marching column.