Missions

Section VII

THE USE OF PATROLS

Paragraph

39

39. Missions.-a. Gencral.—The infantry commander depends almost entirely on patrols for his information of the hostile front line troops, and they are his surest means of keeping down enemy reconnaissance. Whether on the march, in defense, or in the attack, to neglect the use of patrols is to invite certain defeat. It is a mistake to believe that airplanes and balloons can replace them. Aerial reconnaissance can not drive off enemy patrols. Airplanes can not operate to replace patrols at night, and even the information they obtain by day is not immediately available to the battalion commander. Aerial reconnaissance has increased rather than diminished the use of patrols, because the information of enemy front line troops, obtained from observers or airplane photographs, must always be verified by reconnaissance on the ground. b. On the march.-The formation of the advance guard must be such that the enemy will be first met by a patrol. When the advance is not covered by other troops, distant reconnaissance is directed and necessary combat patrols are detailed in the march order. The commander directs such special reconnaissance as he desires to have made. To afford protection to an infantry column, the country must be observed on each side of the road as far as the terrain affords positions for effective rifle fire on the column. Where the road is exposed to fire and the view is restricted, a patrol is sent to examine the country in the direction from which the danger threatens. The object may be accomplished by sending patrols to observe from prominent points. When the ground permits and the necessity exists, patrols may be sent to march abreast of the column at distances which permit them to see important features which are not visible from the route of march. When separate columus move forward to deploy, each column must reconnoiter to its front and flanks and keep in touch with adjoining columns. The extent of the reconnaissance to the flank depends on the isolation of the columns.

c. Outposts. An outpost carries out such reconnaissance as is necessary for the security of the resting troops. The most economical protection is furnished by keeping close contact with the enemy by means of outpost patrols, in conjunction with resisting detachments along the avenues of approach. Instead of using outguards along the entire front of observation, part of this front may be covered by patrols only. Patrols are used to cover such sections of the front as can be crossed by the enemy only with difficulty, and over which he is not likely to attempt a crossing after dark. They are also used to supplement and extend the observation of sentries after dark. In daylight, much of the local patrolling may be dispensed with if the country can be seen from the posts of the sentinels. Patrols are, however, frequently pushed well to the front unless the ground in that direction is exceptionally open. Patrols must be used to keep up connection between the parts of the outpost. except when, during daylight, fractions or groups are visible from each other. After dark, this connection must be maintained throughout the outpost. Any special reconnaissance desired is carried out by patrols detailed in the outpost order. All outpost patrols should be informed as to the direction and strength of the enemy, if known, and the location of the various elements of the outpost. Prominent features of the terrain, such as villages, streams, and roads, should be pointed out to them and named.

d. Attack. Before an attack, reconnaissance must be made to determine the enemy position, the location of his flanks, the character of the terrain, and the nature of the hostile field works. The delay that may be warranted for the purpose of reconnaissance depends on the nature of the attack and the necessity for promptness. In a meeting engagement and sometimes in a holding attack, the reconnaissance may have to be hasty and superficial. In an attack against an enemy carefully prepared in defense, there will usually be both time and necessity for thorough reconnaissance. The strength of the reconnoitering party is determined by the character of the information desired and the nature of the hostile screen. A large party may be conducted to open the way for small patrols, to serve as supporting or rallying point for them, and to receive and transmit information gained. Each attacking unit must be well protected against surprise. Throughout the action, combat patrols are required to give warning, or covering detachments to give security, on exposed flanks. The battalion usually employs a patrol

(1) To cover the interval between the battalion and neighboring units. (2) To protect the flank of the battalion in case the neighboring battalion is checked in its advance.

(3) To bring oblique or enfilade fire against elements of the defense holding up the advance of the neighboring battalion.

e. Defense. The front of each unit must be protected from surprise by outposts and patrols. Reconnaissance is continued. Points close at hand are patrolled by the front line units. More distant patrolling is ordered by the regimental or brigade commander. Contact detachments are assigned the mission of reinforcing the defense on sector boundaries.

f. Withdrawal.—While the hostile attack is developing, strong combat patrols in front of the line of observation delay and harass the enemy. They ultimately retire to the defensive position. When withdrawal is effected at night, the commander attempts to create the impression of heavily held lines by the use of strong combat patrols.

Note. The following aids have been compiled from various written sources and from experiences gained in the World War. They are useful tricks rather than general principles, and therefore have been separated from the foregoing text. The scouts should be required to be very familiar with them, but not to memorize them.

40. Individual conduct by day.-a. Cover.-Cover may be divided into two classes, natural and improvised. Natural cover is that offered by the ground without any change. Improvised cover is constructed for or by the scout from grass, leaves, burlap, or other material. Before using improvised cover, the scout should learn the few principles governing the use of natural cover. Observations of the following points will often aid the scout in remaining undiscovered:

(1) Have no glistening parts of equipment exposed.

(2) Choose cover, so that the clothing blends with the background.

(3) Men with very dark or very light hair should cover it with grass when observing.

(4) The faces of scouts may be striped with different colored paints to aid concealment.

(5) Scouts may use grazing animals for cover while observing the enemy. (6) Any incident which diverts the enemy's attention, such as an airplane fight above or heavy shelling on the flank, may give the scout opportunity to move forward unobserved.

(7) On a very sunny day, the scout's shadow may disclose his position even when his body is concealed.

(8) Cloaks made of gunny sacks or sandbags, covered with leaves, mud, or clay, characteristic of the particular spot, may be used to conceal men who must remain in a fixed position for a long time.

(9) When a scout is to remain in one position for a long time, he should make it as comfortable as possible.

(10) White garments are useful on a snowy terrain. The scout who uses them should be careful that his shadow does not reveal his position. A cloudy, windy day is best suited for their use.

(11) When trees are bare, twigs and leaves attached to the uniform assist in concealment.

(12) A sandbag drawn over the head with a few strands taken out in front of the eyes may be used to conceal men observing over a sandbag parapet.

(13) A small thin bush in the shadow of a larger one is sometimes better cover for observation than the larger one.

b. Movement.-(1) The scout who has trouble getting down properly from a run should practice it at a walk.

(2) A lightly equipped scout moves about more freely than one who is heavily burdened. Whenever possible he should carry only absolute neces

sities.

(3) When in tall grass or a wheat field and gusts of wind are blowing, the scout should push forward when the foliage is moving.

(4) When moving down hill toward the enemy in a wheat field or in tall grass, he should not move in a straight line, because the path thus made is easily picked up.

(5) He should take care not to frighten birds or animals.

(6) He should avoid making tracks whenever possible.

(7) Ruses such as setting fire to some grass or twigs or leaving a hat in one spot and then observing from another point may be useful at times.

(8) If the enemy becomes suspicious of a disturbance at some point, he will watch it to the exclusion of the rest of the landscape. The scout takes advantage of this fact by remaining motionless if near the point or by pushing forward if some distance away.

(9) A scout moving along a beach should keep close to the water's edge. The spray and rolling waves tend to conceal him from a small boat offshore. (10) The haze which hovers over inland ponds offers cover.

(11) When necessary to swim a lake or river in the presence of the enemy, fashion a few sticks and tufts of grass into a little raft. Swim slowly out from a sheltered point with the head under the cover provided. Do not splash. If crossing a lake, the utmost care must be taken, and patience if necessary, to make the debris appear to be floating naturally.

(12) When swimming with a full pack, roll over so that the pack is partly under water. Hold the rifle with one hand and allow the butt to drag in the water. Use a side stroke with the other hand and kick the legs frog fashion. (13) Be careful in returning to your own lines. Avoid, if possible, the route used in going out.

c. Orientation.—(1) Use of map.-Fold the map pocket size with the area in which you are operating on the outside fold.

(a) Confine all writing on the map to dots, fine lines, numbers, or

symbols.

(b) Try to visualize the distance shown on the map. Train yourself to know at a glance how long it should take to go from one point to another.

(2) To locate yourself on a map.

(a) With a compass.

1. Orient the map.

2. Pick out a point on the ground that is marked on the map.

3. With the edge of a ruler on this mark on the map, sight along it to the object it represents on the ground.

4. Draw a fine pencil line.

5. Repeat the operation with one other point.

6. The intersection of these two lines marks your position on the

map.

(b) Without a compass,

1st case

1. Orient the map by reference to the ground feature you are on, such as a road, ravine, river, or ridge.

2. Keep the edge of the ruler on a mark on the map and sight along it at the object the mark represents on the ground.

3. Draw a line.

4. The intersection of this line, with the ground feature you

are on, marks your position on the map.

2d case. When three points on the ground that are plotted on

the map can be seen.

1. Sight at one point and draw a line on a piece of trans

parent paper.

2. Without moving the paper draw lines to the other two

points.

3. Place the paper on the map, so that each line passes through the point on the map representing the object to which the line was sighted.

4. When the paper is adjusted, stick a pin through the intersection. This pin marks your position on the map.

(c) To plot a point when its compass direction and distance from a known point are shown.

1. Orient the map.

2. Place a dot at the known point.

3. Keep the hair line on the compass cover over the dot. Rotate the compass until the index on the inner rim marks the azimuth of the point to be plotted.