_The Director_: “Lieutenant Ralston, what preliminary arrangements would Captain B make for issuing his orders to the company?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “The company command post is supposed to be located here.
(Note.—In framing up the problem the Director should locate the Company C. P. where there is cover. If it is impracticable to do so, it may be assumed that there is a shell hole available.)
“The Captain will assemble the platoon commanders and platoon sergeants and issue the orders for the initial operation of the Company.”
_The Director_: “What will be included in the first paragraph of the order?”
_Lieutenant Ralston_: “The information of the enemy and our own troops. This will be a repetition of paragraph 1 of the Major’s order with the addition of information as to what the other companies of the battalion are going to do. Captain B will go into details, for it must be remembered, that none of the platoon commanders were present when Major A issued his orders and they know nothing of the situation except what they have been able to observe for themselves.”
_The Director_: “I am glad to hear you bring out that point. It takes only a few minutes to explain the situation in detail and is most valuable to subordinate officers who are charged with the task of actually carrying out the operations. They must know the details of the situation. Now, Captain Harvey, what would you include in the second paragraph of the order?”
_Captain Harvey_: “My plans. To march at the designated hour, preparatory to relieving the right (left) assault company of the 1st battalion. In order to save questions regarding the relief I would state to the effect that detailed instructions would be issued later.”
_The Director_: “Very good. Now comes the distribution of troops. That is paragraph 3 of the field order. What points would you include in it?”
_Captain Harvey_: “I would give the orders for each platoon separately. Those for the right assault platoon would come first. I would designate the platoon by number and the name of the platoon commander; state the formation; the sector that the platoon is to march in; announce the guide; and the compass bearing of the march. In the case of the base platoon I would indicate the directing line of the march in addition.
