Military Instructors Manual Part 32

(j) _Advance Guard._--"An advance guard is a detachment of the main body which precedes it and covers it on the march" (i.d.r. 639). The commander of troops designates the advance guard, the distance between it and the main body, and also designates a commander. The advance guard commander if he has more than a battalion designates the reserve, support, distance between them. If the advance guard is a battalion or less it would have no reserve, and in that case the advance guard commander would designate the support, advance party, and the distance between them. In the former case the support commander would designate the advance party, and the distance between the support and the advance party. In both cases the advance party commander designates the point, and the distance between the point and the advance party. Usually it is the duty of the advance party to send out flank patrols. The strength varies from 1/20 to 1/3 of the main body. Remember "the formation of the advance guard must be such that the enemy will first be met by a patrol, then in turn by one or more larger detachments, each capable of holding the enemy until the next in rear has time to deploy before coming under effective fire." The advance guard must be aggressive. Do not put up with a cautious point.

Have a double connecting file, and if possible every 100 yards. "Each element of the column sends the necessary connecting files to its front." On the road in order are: point--advance party--support--reserve (if there is one)--main body. Have the point precede the advance party, all the remaining elements follow the one ahead. This has been found by experience to be the best method of getting "there."

(k) _Rear Guards_.--"A rear guard is a detachment detached to protect the main body from attack in the rear." "The general formation is that of the advance guard reversed." i.e. rear point, rear party, support, and main body. "In retreat a column is preceded by a body of troops designated 'leading troops,' whose principle duty is to clear the road of obstacles and to facilitate the withdrawal of the command."

(l) _Flank Guards_.--As their name imply protect the flanks. They should be in constant communication with the column. Their formation usually conforms to that of patrols.

(m) _Camps_.--The four princ.i.p.al factors to be considered in the selection of the camp site are: near a good road or roads, have good drainage, plenty of room to accommodate your troops, and have a good water supply. Immediately after camp is made sinks are dug for the disposal of excreta. One should be dug for each company on the opposite flank from the kitchen for the disposal of human excreta, and one near the kitchen for the disposal of wastes, etc., that cannot be burned around the kitchen.

(n) _March Outpost_.--A march outpost is usually an advance guard halted, with observers in each unit on the alert. A cossack post might be established on a good near by observation point. The march outpost is the protection furnished the main body at short halts, or on making camp before the outpost is established.

(o) _Outpost_.--The outpost may be best ill.u.s.trated by circles:

Each support is numbered from right to left. Each outguard in each support is numbered from right to left. Each sentinel post in each outguard is numbered from right to left. Outguards are divided into three cla.s.ses, cossack posts, sentry squads and packets. A cossack post consists of 4 men, 1 posted in observation near the posts of the remaining three.

A sentry squad consists of one squad, posts a double sentinel post in observation near the post of the squad. A picket consists of two or more squads not exceeding half a company. It furnishes cossack posts, sentry squads, sentinel posts, and patrols. It is usually placed at the more important points of the outguard line, as a road fork, etc.

The post furnished by pickets may be as far as 100 yards away. There should be also a sentinel post near the picket in observation. If the outguard consists of two or more companies there is a reserve. The reserve is held at some suitable point, where it can readily support the line. The reserve maintains connection with the main body and the support. The support occupies the line to be held. This line should be entrenched. The support maintains communication with its outguards and with each support on its flanks. It also sends out the necessary reconnoitering patrols. The outguards furnish sentinel posts and maintain communication with them, and with the outguards on each flank. It is the duty of the support commander to inspect his line and make such changes in the outguards as he deems necessary, then to report to the outpost commander with a sketch if practicable of his line when his dispositions are completed. The outpost commander should inspect the line, order such changes as he deems necessary, and report with a sketch of the outpost line to the commander of troops when his outpost has taken up its position. "The support commander must practice the greatest economy on men consistent with the requirements of practical security." Instead of using outguards along the whole front, part of it may be covered by patrols.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate #12 DIAGRAM OF OUTPOST LINE]

Outline of Field Service Regulations.

LAND FORCES OF U.S.

Regular Army.

Organized Land Militia.

Volunteer forces.

How Grouped: Mobile Army.

Coast Artillery.

Mobile Army:

For offensive operations against enemy and so requires maximum degree of mobility.

Basis of organization the division, a self-contained unit composed of all necessary arms and services.

Coast Artillery: (1) Permanent fortifications for defense against naval attack.

(2) Semi-permanent fortifications for protection of permanent from raiders.

(3) Organization of mobile troops to prevent landing of enemy.

MILITARY INFORMATION.

Essential: (1) To enable War Department to estimate equipment and size of force necessary.

(2) To enable commander properly to estimate the situation in the field of operations.

TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION.

Wire, Signaling, Radio and Messenger: Message.--Concise, written information sent by messenger or wire.

Source always given.--"Heard" separated from "seen."

Report.--Formal account of some enterprise.

War Diary.--Record of events kept in campaigns.

Maps.

Reconnaissance: The work of individuals or units in gathering information.

To keep contact with the enemy--to be acquainted with the terrain; to protect flanks and rear and guard against surprise.

Reconnaissance begins on entering theater of operations and lasts through campaign.

Effected by patrols and air craft.

Indications of enemy: Tracks on road.

Abandoned camps and clothing.

Infantry, thick, low cloud of dust.

Cavalry, high, thin cloud of dust.

Artillery and wagons, broken cloud.

Determination of Enemy Forces: Timing past a given point.

Cavalry (walk), 110 per minute.

Cavalry (trot), 200 per minute.

Infantry, 175 per minute.

Artillery and wagons, 5 per minute.

Security: Those measures taken to protect a command from enemy observation, annoyance and surprise.

Obtained by covering the front with detachments.

March.--Advance, flank and rear guards.

Camp.--Outposts.

March and camp detachments.--To give warning and resist attack until such time as detachment in rear can deploy.

Advance Guard: Detachment from main body to cover its advance.

Against surprise for information.

Push back small bodies.

Check enemy's advance until deployment in rear.

Seize good position and locate enemy lines.

Remove obstacles.

Strength 1-20 to 1-3 of entire command.

Divisions of Advance Guard: Cavalry point.

Infantry point.

Advance party.

Support.

Reserve.

Leading Troops: A detachment protecting the head of a column in retreat.

Rear Guard: Detachments protecting the rear of a retreating column.

Formation like that of advance guard.

Flank Patrols: Detachments for protecting the flanks of marching column.