28. Orders. The commander must have clearly in mind the purpose for which the patrol is to be used, in order that he may determine and verify its strength, select its leader, designate a second in command, and give full and clear instructions. As a rule patrols are sent out for one definite purpose only. Indefiniteness as to mission results in a hesitant and defensive attitude on the part of the patrol. It is better to send out two patrols than one with a double mission. The patrol leader should be given his orders some time before he is to start. He must have ample time to familiarize himself with everything that will influence the actions of the patrol, and to inform his men of the mission, the situation to the front, the individual task of each man, the terrain to be crossed, and signals to be used. 29. Patrol leader.—a. Qualifications.—The character of the leader selected for a patrol depends upon the importance of the work in hand. For patrolling between strong points or along the lines of an outpost (visiting patrols) or for the simpler patrols sent out from a covering detachment, the average soldier will be a competent leader. For a patrol sent out to gain information or for a distant patrol sent out from a covering detachment, the leader must be specially selected. He must be able to cover large areas with few men. He must be able to estimate accurately the strength of hostile forces, to report intelligently as to their dispositions, to read indications, and to determine the importance of the information gained. He must possess endurance, courage, and good judgment. b. Duties.-(1) Preparatory. The patrol leader must first be sure he understands what he is to accomplish; that is, his mission. He should then study a map and plan ahead from it suitable routes, probable observing positions, and likely formations at various points on his route. He then should figure out different ways of accomplishing his mission and, by assuming that the enemy will act in a manner which would be most disadvantageous to the patrol, decide definitely on the plan which best promises success. He then plans his return. (2) Organization of the patrol.-The leader decides on necessary equipment. He then must assemble his patrol, inspect arms, ammunition, and the condition of his men. He sees that none have any papers, maps, or letters that might be of value to the enemy. He sees that the equipment will not glisten in the sun or rattle during movement. He repeats his instructions to the patrol and assures himself that every man understands them and his own part in the teamwork of the whole patrol. He explains the signals to be used and satisfies himself that they are understood. (3) Contact with the enemy.-Patrols avoid fighting, except to defend themselves, to prevent the enemy patrols from gaining valuable information, or to accomplish their mission. In such cases, a patrol fights resolutely, even though inferior in numbers. (4) Contact with civilians.-Strangers should not be allowed to pass through or precede patrols. In questioning civilians, caution should be observed not to disclose information. Patrol leaders are authorized to seize telegrams and mail matter and to arrest individuals if necessary. (5) Information.-Whether information gained during the patrolling is of sufficient importance to be reported at once, or may await the return, is a question which must be decided in each case separately. In case of doubt, it is generally better to send back the report promptly. If the patrol leader has received proper instructions before starting and has the requisite ability as a leader, he can generally decide such questions satisfactorily as they arise. 30. Action when cut off.-When a patrol is scattered, it reassembles at some point previously selected. If cut off, it returns by detour or forces its way through. As a last resort, it scatters, so that at least one man may return with the information. 31. Reports.-a. Details covered.-Upon his return from a patrol, the leader should make a full report to his commander. This is usually written. It should usually cover in detail the following points: . (1) Size of patrol. (2) Mission. (3) Time of departure. (4) Route. (5) Number of enemy seen. (6) Attitude of enemy (active, inactive, alert, or careless). (7) Condition of enemy auxiliary defenses (such as wire or trenches). (8) General character of ground traversed. (9) Route of return. (10) Time of return. (11) Condition of patrol (including casualties). b. Instruction. The instructor prepares a patrol problem, takes his unit into the field, and explains the problem in detail. The unit walks over the terrain, each man assuming himself to be the leader of a patrol. Each situation and a proper solution to it should be given out. Upon the return, each man is required to write out the report which he would submit to his commander as patrol leader. The instructor then checks over these reports and indicates what information has been omitted. 32. Necessity.-When contact has been gained with the enemy and the two forces are halted opposite each other, daylight patrolling becomes limited, if not impossible. Yet reconnaissance of the enemy must be continuous. In the daytime, it is done from observation posts; at night, chiefly by patrols. 33. Signals.-a. Control signals.--(1) A patrol can be controlled during the day by hand signals or by word or mouth. At night, hand signals can not be seen, and talking or whispering betrays the patrol to the enemy. Control signals should therefore be similiar to common night sounds and as little like human sounds as possible. The following might be used: The scraping together of two sticks or stones, the rustling of a piece of paper, imitations of birds, animals, or insects. Whatever its nature, the signal should be only loud enough for all members of the patrol to hear. (2) By the control signal the members of a patrol can be stopped, started, or checked up to see if any members are missing; for instance, by signaling once to halt, twice to go forward, and a drawn out signal to check up. The code should be changed for successive patrols. (3) Signals to stop and to move forward are given by the point, except that in emergency they may be given by any number. Whoever halts the patrol must start it again. The check-up signal should start with the leader and be answered according to a prearranged plan by point, flankers, and get-away . man, and always at prearranged intervals, such as a count of four, in order to detect enemy interference. b. Emergency signals.—(1) If point, flankers, or get-away man is "jumped" by the enemy, a word or phrase, such as "front," or "right," or "rear" will indicate the location of the danger. (2) During hand to hand struggles a prearranged word, number, or phrase used as a recognition signal will serve to distinguish friend from enemy. c. Direction of signals.-Sometimes rockets may be sent up at specified intervals from a point behind the lines to enable the patrol to keep direction. 34. Formation.--a. Principles.-Though the formation of a patrol will vary according to circumstances, it should always be such as to furnish protection and to enable rapid action in any direction. b. Application.-Every formation must have a get-away man, flankers, and a point. The patrol should be spread out to the limits of control, because a group of men closed up can easily be surrounded, rushed, or wiped out by a burst of fire, the explosion of a shell, or a hand grenade. c. Instruction.-(1) Demonstration.-The instructor has a well-trained patrol of several scouts demonstrate to his unit proper patrol activities, if point, flankers, or get-away man is jumped. For instance (a) If the point is jumped, he calls out the danger signal, such as "front." (b) The flankers rush straight ahead and close in on the enemy the flanks. (c) The patrol leader and the men with him jump up and rush at the enemy in extended order, closing in as they reach him. (d In the scuffle, members of the friendly patrol repeat their recognition signals. (e) The get-away man does not enter the fight. (f) The man farthest from the point of danger is the get-away man, so if the right-flank man is the one "jumped," the left flanker becomes the get-away man. (2) Exercises. (a) The instructor divides his unit into patrols, each of which arranges its signals and takes up formation. The instructor indicates that one of the men is supposed to be attacked, and observes the action of the patrol. (b) The instructor requires patrols to work against one another at night. He gives one patrol a mission, and then surprises it by placing another patrol in position to ambush it. 35. Movements.-With regard to individual movements, selection of routes, care in preserving silence, and action under a flare, members of a patrol observe the same principles as laid down for the action of the individual scout at night. (See Sec. II.) One man must be constantly listening while the others are advancing. a. The start. The officer sending out a patrol determines the time and point where it will leave the lines (from a designated outguard, through a hidden passage prepared in the barbed wire, or from a listening post), the route, and the probable time and place of return. b. Conduct. (1) In open warfare, the patrol should be formed behind the friendly line of outguards and moved through them (in formation) at the designated point. At the line of outguards, the leader should halt his patrol and ask the outguard commander for any information of value to the patrol. He then proceeds on his mission. (2) During stabilized situations the patrol leader should leave his trench first, followed in single file by the members of his patrol at distances of 5 yards. They should pass through their wire crouching low. The patrol leader should halt at the end of the gap and listen for enemy patrols in the neighborhood. He should then form his patrol sending out points and flankers first, who halt at the proper distance and kneel. When all are in position, the leader starts the patrol by signaling forward. Frequent halts are made for listening. c. Approaching enemy line.—If there is no obstacle in front of the enemy outguards, the patrol should approach the line of outguards cautiously and attempt to work between two groups. The rate of advance and caution exercised will depend upon the distance to the nearest hostile group. If this distance is less than 50 yards, extreme care must be taken and the patrol can only move by crawling. During the advance, all members of the patrol must be constantly alert to discover and avoid hostile patrols. d. Investigating our own wire.-A patrol investigating our own wire should work outside the wire with protection toward the enemy, in front, and to the rear. Two men should move along the parapet of the trench; one to drive stakes in the parapet opposite any gaps discovered, the other to precede the patrol and to warn sentries it is to pass. The patrol leader should go through all gaps and make notes of the character of each. e. Investigating enemy wire.-Two men of the patrol go through each gap discovered and note its character. The others remain outside protecting front, flank, and rear. Gaps discovered are located by compass bearing on some prominent feature behind our line. f. Locating enemy outguards.—(1) Value.-During periods when the situation is stabilized it is possible by systematic reconnaissance to locate every enemy outguard. The value of this knowledge can not be overestimated. It prevents raids on unoccupied places; it makes the capture of prisoners easy; and it facilitates the laying of harassing fire on enemy groups. (2) Method. Several listening patrols are sent out at the same time from designated points along the line. Each patrol follows a given compass direction to a point about 50 yards outside the enemy wire, remains there, and listens for sounds of enemy occupation, such as talking, coughing, challenging, or firing. Each patrol leader takes the compass direction to each sound heard. and estimates the distance to it. The location of each sound can then be plotted on the map by laying off the direction and estimated distance from the spot the patrol occupied while listening. g. Capturing an enemy patrol.-When an enemy patrol has developed fixed habits with regard to route, size, and formation, it may be successfully ambushed if the following rules are followed: |