u 
 
STATE OF CALIFORNIA 
 THE ADJUTANT GEPJEJUL'S OFFICE: 
 
 Patrols, Scouting, 
 
 Messages 
 
 PREPARED BY 
 
 1st Lieut KENYON A. JOYCE, 6th Cavalry, 
 Inspector-Instructor, 9th Cavalry District 
 
 II. S. CROCKER CO. 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO 
 1916 
 
STATE OF CALIFORNIA, 
 
 THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, 
 
 SACRAMJEtfTO 
 
 Patrols, Scouting, 
 
 Messages 
 
 PREPARED BY 
 
 1st Lieut. KENYON A. JOYCE, 6th Cavalry, 
 Inspector-Instructor, 9th Cavalry District 
 
 U.S. CROCKER CO. 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO 
 
 1916 
 
INFORMATION. 
 
 In any military operation, reconnaissance 
 plays a most important part. It is of vital im- 
 portance that a commander have information 
 of the enemy. If he does not have it he gropes 
 in the dark and the efficient, use of his com- 
 mand is an impossibility. > *f ,j 
 
 There are various effective Vfrays of gaining 
 information in the theatref o'f x3pe rations } Jnrt , 
 for the intimate reconnaissance tiiat Is neces- 
 sary when two forces approach one another 
 the final dependence will have to be on the 
 mounted man and the man on foot. 
 
 We must, therefore, concentrate on the 
 training of patrols and scouts. And it is only 
 by constant study and persistent practice with 
 concrete problems during peace time that this 
 end can be accomplished. The principles of 
 the subject must be thoroughly learned, and 
 then these principles must be demonstrated in 
 an applicatory way so that every man of our 
 organizations will be able to perform intelli- 
 gently any duty that might reasonably be ex- 
 pected of him. 
 
PATROLS. 
 
 During active operations, information is usu- 
 ally obtained by means of patrols. The classi- 
 fication of the various kinds of patrols is of 
 little importance to the practical soldier, so we 
 need not dwell , on the names given them. 
 \\ hat really ecu-its is the ability to decide on 
 the proper number of men to send to accom- 
 plish ?. given mission, the ability to instruct 
 the patrol leader so there will be no doubt in 
 his mind what is wanted, and the ability of the 
 leader to perform any task given him up to the 
 very limit of his ability. 
 
 Strength. The strength of a patrol varies 
 according to the purpose for which it is sent 
 out. It may be composed of anywhere from 
 three men to a troop. In general we may state 
 that if a patrol is sent solely to gain informa- 
 tion, it should contain as few men as possible, 
 and if it is expected to fight it should be strong. 
 However, a patrol should never be stronger 
 than necessary. Weigh carefully what you 
 must accomplish and send the minimum num- 
 ber that can do the work. The following will 
 show the usual strength of the various kinds 
 of patrols : 
 
 Reconnoitering, 3 to 9 men. 
 
 Flanking, 2 to 8 men. 
 
 Visiting (outpost), 2 to 4 men. 
 
 Combat, 4 men to a troop. 
 As will be seen the first three named are for 
 gaining information and in consequence are 
 

 small, and the last named being for the double 
 purpose of giving warning and offering resist- 
 ance may have any strength the situation de- 
 mands. A rule in regard to reconnoitering 
 patrols is that less than six men are too few to 
 send messages and more than ten are too many 
 to be easily concealed. In deciding on the 
 proper number, consider the number of men 
 you will probably need as messengers and 
 what the chances are of your having to fight 
 to accomplish your mission. In hostile coun- 
 try two men should be sent with each message, 
 in friendly country one will usually suffice. 
 Therefore, if you were operating in a hostile 
 
 untry and a patrol were sent out on a mis- 
 that would require the sending back of 
 
 o messages, the strength of the patrol would 
 be at least seven men ; two for each message 
 and at least two to be left with the leader after 
 the last message was sent. The number that 
 it is planned to have remain with the leader is 
 dependent on the particular conditions that 
 confront each patrol. 
 
 Selection of leader and patrol. An officer, 
 and preferably a selected one, should command 
 any patrol sent on an important or independent 
 mission. However, the mistake must not be 
 made of sending out officers' patrols on all oc- 
 casions. A good rule on this is, never to use 
 a particularly valuable man for a service that 
 a less valuable man can perform. Officers, 
 especially well-trained ones, are indispensable 
 
and they must not be frittered away and used 
 on work that is not commensurate with their 
 value. Therefore, as leaders of the less impor- 
 tant reconnoitering patrols, use selected non- 
 commissioned officers, and of the usual flank- 
 ing and outpost patrols use noncommissioned 
 officers or especially qualified privates. Or- 
 ganization commanders should never desig- 
 nate men and horses for reconnaissance that 
 are not suitable, and on all important patrols, 
 men and horses should be selected for their 
 particular fitness for this duty. 
 
 Mission. In sending out a patrol its mission 
 is the all-important thing to consider, for on 
 it depends the leader you select, the number 
 of men you designate, and the conduct of the 
 patrol by the leader. In consequence, MAKE 
 THE MISSION CLEAR. Weigh the words 
 in which you state it and make them few. Be 
 exact in what you expect and leave no excuse 
 for a half-hearted performance on the ground 
 of misunderstanding. Both officers and non- 
 commissioned officers should be instructed, on 
 the other hand, always to ask for a full ex- 
 planation of anything that is not perfectly 
 clear to them in the orders they receive. 
 
 Orders to leader. As to the orders you give 
 to a patrol leader, there is only one safe form 
 in which to do so, /. c., in the prescribed form, 
 or sequence, of a field order. If this rule is 
 adhered to it serves as an invaluable check, 
 and especially so if the person to whom the 
 
order is given understands the correct form. 
 This sequence should always be borne in 
 mind: 1. Enemy Our Troops; 2, Plan; 3, 
 Mission ; 4, Messages. All noncommissioned 
 officers should be taught the general form in 
 which a tactical order is given, and it should 
 be insisted upon that they always give their 
 instructions to patrols in that form. 
 
 The following is a resume of the instructions 
 that should be given a patrol leader: 
 1. (a) Information of the enemy. 
 
 Information of our supporting troops. 
 Location of our outpost or other cover- 
 ing detachment. 
 
 Location of other friendly patrols. 
 Plan of the commander. 
 Mission of the patrol (exactly and defi- 
 nitely what the patrol is to accom- 
 plish). 
 
 (b) The size of the patrol. 
 
 (c) Where the patrol is to be obtained. 
 General route of the patrol. 
 Limits of country to be observed. 
 Hour of departure. 
 
 Hour by which patrol is to return. 
 
 (a) Where messages should be sent. 
 
 (b) Time at which information must reach 
 
 designated point. 
 
 Thus Colonel X might instruct Lieutenant 
 
 A as follows : "It is imperative that we have 
 
 information of the enemy in the vicinity of 
 
 . You are to lead a patrol on this 
 
 mission. 
 
The latest reports today stated that a force 
 of his infantry, strength unknown, was in- 
 trenching at - . 
 
 As you know our regiment is acting alone. 
 The 1st Squadron is at - , 3 miles north 
 
 of here, tonight. Tomorrow a patrol will be 
 sent from it toward - - on the - 
 
 road and will be on your left. Lieutenant B 
 will have a patrol on the - - road and 
 
 will be on your right. Our outpost occupies 
 the line - . 
 
 The regiment will march tomorrow at 7 a. m. 
 on - - via the roads it is now on. Its 
 
 further action will depend on the result of your 
 reconnaissance. 
 
 Your patrol will consist of 7 men. Select 
 them yourself from your troop. Your captain 
 will be notified. Proceed via the 
 to the vicinity of - - and discover the 
 
 extent of the line occupied by the enemy. Ob- 
 serve particularly for any signs of cavalry or 
 artillery. Start at 4.00 a. m. tomorrow. Get 
 back to this column by 10.00 tomorrow night. 
 
 I shall be with the main body on this road. 
 I shall reach - - at 11.00 a. m. and shall 
 
 expect definite information by that time as to 
 whether or not the enemy is at - ." 
 
 Inspection and preparation. Under the usual 
 conditions that govern the sending out of a 
 patrol the leader does not have time to make 
 the elaborate inspection and do all the things 
 that are laid down in the textbooks. Ordina- 
 
 8 
 
rily it will be necessary for a patrol to move 
 out at once and for the leader to give his in- 
 structions on the way to the outpost or lead- 
 ing element of the advance guard. On impor- 
 tant missions, however, where time permits, as 
 in Lieutenant A's case, every safeguard that 
 makes for the efficiency of the patrol should be 
 looked to. Thus, upon receipt of his instruc- 
 tions, Lieutenant A would immediately set 
 about preparing for his task the next day as 
 follows : 
 
 1. He would set his watch with that of Col- 
 onel X. 
 
 2. He would make arrangements for being 
 awakened in the morning, for breakfast for the 
 patrol and for two cooked meals to be carried 
 in saddle pockets. 
 
 3. He would select the men of his patrol 
 with special reference to their particular quali- 
 fications for the work, and would assemble 
 them. 
 
 4. He would question the men relative to 
 their horses, arms and equipment and would 
 inspect where there was any possibility of 
 doubt. He would make sure that there were 
 no horses of conspicuous color, that there was 
 none that neighed or pawed excessively, that 
 they were free from coughs and that their feet 
 and backs were in excellent condition. He 
 would make sure that the men were in good 
 physical condition and that no man had a 
 cough. He would instruct his men that two 
 
cooked meals and a feed of grain were to be 
 taken and would caution each to fill his canteen 
 with water or coffee. He would caution them 
 to have their equipment complete and so ar- 
 ranged as not to glisten or rattle. He would 
 caution against the possession of any letters, 
 maps or newspapers that might be of use to 
 the enemy in case of capture. 
 
 5. He would explain the mission of the pa- 
 trol and give in substance the instructions he 
 had received. He would explain any plan he 
 had formed and would point out on the map 
 the route of the patrol and the important feat- 
 ures of the terrain. 
 
 6. He would explain the formation the pa- 
 trol would take on leaving the outpost line, 
 would assign the various men to their posi- 
 tions in the patrol, would designate a second 
 in command unless such existed by virtue of 
 rank, and would give any special directions 
 as to the conduct of the patrol that the partic- 
 ular mission demanded. 
 
 7. He would insure that all understood a 
 simple set of signals. Par. 29, Field Service 
 Regulations, states : "In addition to the usual 
 signals prescribed in drill regulations, the fol- 
 lowing should be clearly understood by mem- 
 bers of a patrol : 
 
 "Enemy in sight in small numbers, hold the 
 rifle above the head horizontally ; enemy in 
 force, same as preceding, raising and lowering 
 
 10 
 
the rifle several times ; take cover, a downward 
 motion of the hand. 
 
 "Other signals may be agreed upon before 
 starting, but they must be familiar to the men ; 
 complicated signals are avoided." 
 
 8. He would cause the patrol to sleep in 
 one place so he could wake them in the morn- 
 ing without delay. He would have the horses 
 tied at one end of the picket line and arrange 
 for their being fed before starting. 
 
 9. He would check his own equipment to 
 make sure it was complete. 
 
 10. He would study his map and complete 
 his plans for the next day. 
 
 Equipment of leader. Prospective patrol 
 leaders should always be equipped for such 
 duty, except as to field glasses in case of non- 
 commissioned officers. The leader's equipment 
 consists of arms and ammunition, field glasses, 
 pencils, eraser, maps, whistle, watch, message 
 pad, notebook, small ruler showing pace, yard 
 and time scales, compass and wire cutters. 
 
 Instructions by leader. No matter in what 
 haste a patrol is sent out there are certain 
 things that must always be done by the leader 
 before his reconnaissance or other task actu- 
 ally begins. 
 
 1. He must instruct his patrol in detail as 
 to their mission, following in this the instruc- 
 tions he received, and add any plan he has 
 formed. 
 
 11 
 
2. He must make clear the particular forma- 
 tion the patrol is to take. 
 
 3. He designates a second in command (un- 
 less such exists ex-officio). 
 
 4. He makes sure that a simple set of sig- 
 nals is thoroughly understood. 
 
 5. He assures himself that no man has any 
 maps, letters or newspapers that might be of 
 value to the enemy in case of capture. 
 
 Formation of patrol. The formation that is 
 taken by a patrol is dictated by the situation, 
 of course, but it usually follows the principles 
 that govern the formation on the march of any 
 body of troops in an enemy country. That is, 
 it has what corresponds to an advance guard, 
 main body and rear guard and, when neces- 
 sary, flank protection. Also the formation of 
 its various subdivisions is such as to make it 
 least vulnerable to rifle fire or sudden mounted 
 attack. There is no such thing as a normal 
 formation for a patrol. The broad principles 
 must govern that a patrol have such forma- 
 tion that it can travel fast enough to accom- 
 plish its mission, that it can be assembled for 
 instant action and that it will not be annihi- 
 lated by a single volley or sudden burst of fire 
 from a concealed enemy. An example of a 
 good formation for a patrol of nine men is as 
 follows : 
 
 In the lead as a point, a noncommissioned 
 officer (usually the second in command) and 
 one man at 20 yards distance, on opposite sides 
 
 12 
 
of the road ; about 60 yards farther to the rear 
 the officer (or noncommissioned leader) and 4 
 men at 10 yards distance, alternately on either 
 side of the road ; and about 60 yards farther to 
 the rear the remaining 2 men at 15 yards dis- 
 tance, on opposite sides of the road. Flank 
 reconnaissance is carried on by the main body. 
 In general a patrol should not cover less than 
 100 yards of road or more than 250 yards no 
 matter what its size. A proper understanding 
 of the principles that govern the formation of 
 a patrol is a vital part of the training of our 
 patrol leaders and therefore these principles 
 must be emphasized most strongly in all our 
 work. We must teach them to think of what 
 they wish to accomplish and then take the 
 formation and act in the manner that the situa- 
 tion demands. 
 
 Conduct of patrol. In conducting his patrol 
 a leader must always be governed by his mis- 
 sion and the particular situation that confronts 
 him. Above all he must use good common 
 sense, be bold and be ever on the alert. 
 
 A patrol must move as rapidly as is con- 
 sistent with its mission and its safety, and, 
 therefore, it must remain on the road and use 
 flankers or flank reconnaissance only when 
 necessary. Good judgment must be used on 
 the amount of time used in minute reconnais- 
 sance. Excessive caution must be exercised as 
 soon as you gain touch with the enemy, so if 
 time is to be saved a patrol must move rapidly 
 
 13 
 
during the early stages of its mission. From 
 this, however, it must not be surmised that 
 an excessively rapid gait should be taken. 
 Nothing is so easily expended and likewise 
 nothing is so precious to us in campaign as 
 horseflesh, so our thoughts must always be 
 toward conserving it. Occasions will be rare 
 that will justify other than an alternate walk 
 and trot in the prosecution of the average task. 
 
 The usual method of advance for a patrol is 
 from one crest or point of cover to another or, 
 as it is termed, by "successive bounds." The 
 advantages of this method are obvious. A 
 point of vantage is reached, and, with the pa- 
 trol concealed the front and flanks are thor- 
 oughly observed. If nothing is seen that needs 
 further attention a rapid advance is made to 
 the next point and so on. 
 
 A place of assembly or rendezvous is desig- 
 nated from time to time by the leader in case 
 the patrol is compelled to scatter to avoid cap- 
 ture. 
 
 Defiles of any sort are deserving of special 
 attention; they must be approached with cau- 
 tion. Before entering one, have it reconnoi- 
 tered by a couple of men and then pass through 
 it rapidly, or, if it is practicable, reconnoiter it 
 originally with the patrol on a broad front. 
 
 It is better to reconnoiter towns and villages 
 from a distance and to avoid passing through 
 them if it can be done without material loss 
 of time. It is a good rule to keep out of towns 
 
 14 
 
or enclosures of any sort unless it is absolutely 
 necessary to enter them. 
 
 Utilize the important lookout points along 
 the route for the halting places of the patrol, 
 and when halted be concealed and always es- 
 tablish a march outpost; that is, members of 
 the patrol are so placed as to observe the front, 
 flanks and rear. Remember that no excuse can 
 ever justify surprise. To be taken unawares 
 is nothing short of criminal neglect. 
 
 Whether or not a patrol fights is dictated 
 solely by its mission and the particular situa- 
 tion that confronts it. Security or covering pa- 
 trols (combat patrols, etc.) fight whenever it 
 is necessary, as that is part of the task assigned 
 them. Reconnaissance patrols, on the other 
 hand, never fight unless it is absolutely neces- 
 sary to successful accomplishment of their mis- 
 sions. The leader must decide in each case the 
 action that will best serve his purpose. If a 
 patrol does have to fight, the boldness with 
 which it acts will have a great deal to do with 
 the outcome. Our leaders should be instructed, 
 therefore, that if they must fight they should 
 act mounted and hit first and hit hard. It is 
 remarkable how bold action coupled with a 
 little luck wins against odds. 
 
 A high sense of duty is an essential attribute 
 of any patrol leader. He must never quit while 
 there is a possibility of accomplishing what he 
 is sent out to do. Changing conditions may 
 make it impossible for him to succeed, but he 
 
 15 
 
must never let physical difficulties, danger or 
 hardship cause him to give up or half-heartedly 
 attempt his mission. Leaders must be pro- 
 duced who will think, who will use common 
 sense in time of stress, who will surmount 
 every difficulty and who will accomplish any 
 task up to the very limit of their ability. 
 
 Observing and reporting. No small part of 
 the training for patrol duty is the development 
 of the ability to observe correctly and likewise 
 the ability to state concisely and accurately 
 what has been seen. Also it is obvious that 
 the information that the leader gets will have 
 no value to any one unless he gets it back to 
 his commander in time to be used. Our train- 
 ing, therefore, must be most thorough along 
 these lines. 
 
 Any indications of the enemy must be looked 
 for carefully. If contact has not yet been 
 gained, the first certain information of the 
 enemy must be reported to the commander at 
 once. A leader must always make sure, how- 
 ever, that any hostile patrol or detachment he 
 sees is not followed immediately by a larger 
 body. The first information of the enemy is 
 highly important, but at the same time it is 
 fatal to waste messengers in the early stages 
 of a reconnaissance. They do not return as a 
 rule, so each time they are sent the patrol is 
 depleted to that extent. Therefore, impress 
 upon the leader the necessity for observing 
 accurately and fully. Negative information 
 
 16 
 
should not be sent unless it is ordered by the 
 commander or unless a message is directed to 
 be sent by a certain hour. 
 
 In observing a hostile force try to gain some 
 high point from which it can all be seen at 
 once. If this cannot be done and the force is 
 marching, its strength may be estimated by 
 the time it takes to pass a given point. 
 
 The following table gives the number of 
 troops passing a given point in one minute 
 (Par. 27, F. S. R.) : 
 
 Infantry in 4's 175 
 
 Infantry in 2's 88 
 
 Cavalry in 4's. .. 110 (walk) 200 (trot) 
 Cavalry in 2's. . . 55 (walk) 100 (trot) 
 Guns, caissons, or wagons 5 
 
 A thick cloud of dust indicates infantry. 
 
 A high thin cloud indicates cavalry. 
 
 A broken cloud indicates artillery or trains. 
 
 Care must be exercised in estimating by dust 
 clouds, however, as they are often deceptive. 
 
 Miscellaneous notes. 1. You cannot expect 
 any patrol leader, no matter how efficient, to 
 combine missions of reconnaissance for the 
 enemy and map making. If you want a patrol 
 to find the enemy, send it out with that as a 
 sole mission. If you want a map, send a com- 
 petent person to make it and make that his 
 sole mission. If you give a man both missions 
 as an initial task, he cannot do either well. 
 
 2. Impress most strongly on patrol leaders 
 that they must not fritter away their men. 
 
 17 
 
Teach them to keep their patrols concentrated 
 within safe limits and ready for instant action 
 as a whole. 
 
 3. Travel should be by main road or by a 
 side road from which the main road can be 
 observed. Main roads are the ones that will 
 be used by important bodies of the enemy. 
 
 4. A patrol's mission is usually to locate 
 the enemy's main body, or other important 
 hostile body. When contact is once gained it 
 should be maintained at all costs and valuable 
 information obtained. 
 
 5. Be insistent that the information gained 
 reaches the commander it is intended for in 
 time to be of value. 
 
 6. Caution must be observed in interview- 
 ing inhabitants of a hostile country. It will 
 often be necessary, but they probably will in- 
 form the enemy of your movements. 
 
 7. The capturing of prisoners seldom justi- 
 fies the loss of time and the action entailed 
 and therefore it is to be avoided unless it is 
 ordered or there is a probability of gaining 
 important information from them. 
 
 18 
 
SCOUTING. 
 
 The efficient performance of any mission by 
 a patrol is dependent to a very great extent on 
 the scouting ability of the individual members 
 of that patrol. Therefore the training of the 
 scout is highly important and should be con- 
 centrated upon in any course of instruction. 
 Scouting ability depends largely on the facul- 
 ties of the man which, of necessity, precludes 
 many men from attaining any great degree of 
 efficiency in it. In consequence, only the most 
 likely men should be selected for the more ex- 
 tended instruction, though every cavalry sol- 
 dier should be given a good knowledge of 
 scouting and he should know thoroughly his 
 duties as a member of a patrol. 
 
 Scouts usually work singly or in pairs, so 
 above all they must be hardy, self-reliant men 
 who are thoroughly at home in the open and 
 who can rise to the necessities of any emer- 
 gency. In addition to being alert, keen of sight 
 and hearing, good riders, good on foot and 
 good swimmers, to be of maximum value, they 
 must be trained military observers who are 
 able to make correct deductions from what 
 they see and furthermore be able to state those 
 deductions in writing in intelligible form. 
 Ability to read a map is essential, as is also the 
 ability to make a rough sketch that is of mili- 
 tary value. 
 
 Finding the way. Whether or not a man is 
 thoroughly at home in the open depends very 
 
 19 
 
largely upon his ability to find his way no mat- 
 ter how strange or how difficult the country in 
 which he is operating may be 
 
 A good map is of course the best means of 
 finding the way, but unfortunately good maps 
 are not always available and other means must 
 usually be depended upon. The most valuable 
 of these is the compass. It is invaluable in 
 latitudes where there are extended rainy pe- 
 riods during which the sky is obscured. The 
 declination of the needle from the true north 
 should be known for the locality. 
 
 To the experienced scout the sun indicates 
 very closely both direction and time. For the 
 beginner the north and south line may be 
 found by means of a watch as follows : Point 
 the hour hand at the sun and then with a pen- 
 cil or straight stick bisect the angle between 
 the hour hand and twelve; this direction will 
 be south. With experience, of course, the use 
 of the watch becomes unnecessary, as direction 
 can be told as well with the sun alone. 
 
 At night the stars furnish the best means of 
 determining direction. Of these by far the 
 easiest to guide by and one of the easiest to 
 find is the North Star. Other stars and con- 
 stellations and the moon are equally useful for 
 direction to those experienced in their obser- 
 vation. 
 
 When starting on any march or reconnais- 
 sance careful note should be made of the gen- 
 eral direction to be taken both by compass and 
 
 20 
 
with relation to any prominent landmarks. In 
 jungle or high grass or in a flat country where 
 there are no prominent features it will be nec- 
 essary to keep accurate track of changes of 
 direction. All prominent features, such as 
 mountains, streams, lone trees, church spires, 
 peculiar houses, etc., should be noted at all 
 times and the direction with relation to them 
 kept in mind. Also the scout must frequently 
 look back at landmarks as their appearance 
 changes greatly from different viewpoints. Ob- 
 servation must, of course, extend to near-by 
 objects and in thickly wooded country resort 
 may be had to blazing trees in marking a trail. 
 
 Getting lost is a thing that may happen to 
 even the most experienced scout, but the pos- 
 sibility of such may be greatly minimized if, 
 through habit, he keeps constantly in mind the 
 matter of direction. Being at home in the 
 open is mostly a matter of deduction and com- 
 mon sense. The danger in being lost usually 
 comes from allowing fear to overbalance these 
 qualities. When the way has been lost the 
 most important thing is to set about calmly to 
 discover a solution for the problem. It is 
 worse than useless to get excited and waste 
 energy. In most cases the way is lost at night, 
 in which event it is usually best to stay where 
 you are until daylight when the situation will 
 more than likely solve itself. 
 
 There is such a thing as a sense of direction. 
 We find it to a very marked degree in animals 
 
 21 
 
and birds and the scout is fortunate indeed in 
 whom it is highly developed. While it is an 
 invaluable possession and will stand a scout 
 well in an emergency, still the efficient scout 
 does not trust to it but instead depends upon 
 observation and deduction for his directions. 
 The homing instinct of the horse can be used 
 at times with good results, especially when a 
 trail has been lost, or obliterated with snow. 
 
 Observation and deduction. To be alert and 
 keen of sight and hearing are indispensable to 
 the scout. While these qualities are gifts of 
 nature to a great extent, still they can all be 
 made more valuable than they naturally are, by 
 training and practice. A scout is of little use 
 unless he can see the enemy first. He must 
 constantly observe for him in the distance and 
 for signs of him close at hand. Practice in dis- 
 tinguishing distant objects enhances the value 
 of even the best eyesight. Moving objects are 
 easy to see, so the most efficient way of ob- 
 serving is to approach a lookout or point of 
 cover unseen and from it watch intently for 
 movements or signs of the enemy. Scouts ad- 
 vance rapidly from one point of cover or look- 
 out to another as do patrols. 
 
 The sense of hearing in the individual can- 
 not be made more acute, but it can be trained 
 to distinguish and interpret sounds and there- 
 by be a great asset in scouting. Sounds are 
 much more distinct at night than in the day- 
 time, and it is then that the sense of hear- 
 
 22 
 
ing plays a most important part. Knowledge 
 should be had of the sounds made by horses' 
 hoofs at the various gaits, and an efficient 
 scout should be able to distinguish between 
 the noise made in the brush and woods by ani- 
 mals and that made by an approaching enemy. 
 The horse may be utilized advantageously in 
 this respect, as his sense of hearing is ex- 
 tremely acute and he will usually cock his ears 
 and look in the direction from which some- 
 thing is approaching. 
 
 Concealment. The ability to see the enemy 
 first is little more important than the ability 
 to keep hidden from him. Above all a scout 
 must keep hidden while observing and never 
 excite suspicion by any movement that the 
 enemy can see. What is seen of the enemy is 
 iii great measure dependent on the craft with 
 which the observer keeps his presence from be- 
 ing known, for an enemy knowing that he is 
 watched becomes doubly cautious. The stealth 
 of the American Indian in approaching an 
 enemy has served as a model for scouts of all 
 countries, and well it may, as it is the highest 
 exemplification of stalking. 
 
 The skyline of hills should be approached 
 with great caution whether by day or night. 
 Select a bush or bunch of grass that may be 
 approached without the enemy seeing you, 
 then crawl to it and look through without giv- 
 ing any sign of your presence. If no bush or 
 bunch of grass is available at the exact spot 
 
 23 
 
where the reconnaissance must be made, con- 
 cealment may be had by carrying a shrub or 
 tuft of grass to the skyline and raising it very 
 slowly until sufficient cover is furnished for 
 the head. 
 
 If an animal or bird is the same color as the 
 brush it is in or the background it is against, 
 and remains motionless, it is exceedingly diffi- 
 cult to see, which furnishes us with one of the 
 best examples of concealment. In consequence, 
 a scout, while observing, must always choose 
 a background with which the color of his 
 clothing will blend and then he must remain 
 motionless while in this position. 
 
 If a tree is selected as a lookout he should 
 follow the example of the tree-climbing ani- 
 mals and lie along a branch or remain close 
 to the trunk. 
 
 Trailing. Trailing or tracking is the highest 
 development of the art of scouting. It must 
 be learned by practice, and proficiency in it is 
 only attained after extended experience in its 
 many phases. It is one of the principal ways 
 a scout has of gaining information, and so is 
 well worth the time necessary to master it. 
 
 The tracks of men and horses and vehicles 
 must all be studied and knowledge gained of 
 their appearance while traveling at different 
 rates of speed. For example, if the tracks of 
 a man at a walk and run be studied it will 
 be found that they differ in that the tracks at 
 the run are farther apart, the toes are more 
 
 24 
 
deeply dug in and the dirt in the track is dis- 
 turbed more. The tracks of the horse at vari- 
 ous gaits should be studied so that it can be 
 told at a glance at what gait he was traveling. 
 This can be accomplished by a series of prac- 
 tical exercises. The tracks of different kinds 
 of vehicles must be understood so that with a 
 little examination it can be told what sort of 
 a vehicle passed and in what direction it was 
 going. Development of this ability comes from 
 close observation and a repeated comparative 
 study of the different tracks under varying 
 conditions. 
 
 The age of tracks must be determined by ex- 
 perience and by deduction. The condition of 
 tracks as to moisture, droppings of horses, up- 
 turned stones, trodden grass, broken bushes, 
 etc., are all useful signs in this determination. 
 
 Time is usually an important element in 
 trailing and in consequence the most likely 
 ground ahead in the direction of the trail 
 should be chosen for examination for tracks. 
 Often it wil be found that if the tracker looks 
 twenty or thirty yards ahead, and especially 
 against the sun, any small indentation in the 
 ground will show a shadow. Also by looking 
 well to the front the trail may be distinctly 
 seen by means of the grass that has been bent 
 or broken down or by stones or earth that have 
 been displaced. 
 
 If the trail has been lost a "cast" should be 
 made to find it. That is, with the last track 
 
 25 
 
as a center, travel in a wide circle with a radius 
 of fifty or one hundred yards and hunt for the 
 trail, examining all likely ground most care- 
 fully. The last track should be distinctly 
 marked by tying a handkerchief to a stick, or 
 by some other effective means, so that its loca- 
 tion can be easily seen. If the trail is not 
 picked up by this method recourse must be 
 had to deduction as to the probable direction 
 the enemy has taken and effort made to get 
 back on his trail in this way. 
 
 Miscellaneous. Study the habits of the 
 enemy as you would study the habits of any 
 game you were hunting, and in time you will 
 be able to tell pretty closely what he is going 
 to do next. 
 
 Constant, progressive practice with concrete 
 problems is the only way in which scouts can 
 be developed. 
 
 The subject may be summed up by saying 
 that success in it depends upon common sense, 
 alertness and deduction and assiduous daily 
 practice in the various phases of the art. 
 
 It takes years to develop the scout, but the 
 service they render in time of war repays a 
 hundredfold for the time expended in their 
 training. 
 
 26 
 
MESSAGES. 
 
 Beware of verbal messages. You will find 
 very few men who can deliver them accurately 
 under ordinary circumstances, and under the 
 stress of service in a hostile country those who 
 can do so will be rare indeed. If it is neces- 
 sary to send a verbal message confine it to one 
 idea if possible* or at most two, and insure 
 that the messenger understands the message 
 exactly by causing him to repeat it. It may 
 often be advisable, when time precludes the 
 writing of a formal message, to write a few 
 key words (the gist of the message) on a piece 
 of paper so as to prevent the messenger from 
 forgetting or misstating his information. 
 
 When reporting any information always dif- 
 ferentiate between what you have seen and 
 what has been told you. If you have seen 
 something say that you have and state it as a 
 fact. If something has been reported to you 
 state so and give the source of your informa- 
 tion, adding, if you think necessary, your opin- 
 ion as to its reliability. Be exact in what you 
 state. If the enemy is moving give the road 
 he is on, where he is on that road and the point 
 of the compass or the town or locality toward 
 which he is marching. If the enemy is halted, 
 locate him definitely with relation to some well 
 defined point on the map. 
 
 Write the message legibly, be sure of the 
 spelling of proper names and P-R-I-N-T them 
 in capital letters that there may be no mistake. 
 
 27 
 
Write the date of the message as prescribed 
 in Field Service Regulations, that is, the day 
 first, then the month and then the year, as 
 16 July 1915. Ordinarily state in the message 
 what you are going to do next, though do not 
 do so if it probably will endanger your safety. 
 As a rule, and especially if you have gained 
 contact and are out some distance, address the 
 message simply to the Commanding Officer 
 (C. O.). Your messenger knows to whom to 
 take it, and if the organization is not stated in 
 the address this information will not fall into 
 the hands of the enemy in case the message is 
 lost or the messenger captured. In hostile 
 country two men should always be sent with 
 a written message. They should be made to 
 repeat the contents and should be instructed to 
 destroy the message rather than allow it to fall 
 into the hands of the enemy. They should be 
 instructed as to the route to take and to show 
 the message or give the information it contains 
 to intermediate commanders along the road, 
 such as outpost or advance guard commanders. 
 The rate of speed that messengers are to take 
 should be specified and they should be cau- 
 tioned not to exceed this rate unless urgent 
 necessity requires. The unnecessary galloping 
 of messengers is a very effective means of kill- 
 ing horses. The ordinary rate of speed should 
 be five miles per hour, rapid seven to eight 
 miles, and urgent ten to twelve miles. Figure 
 the time that a message should reach your 
 
 28 
 
commander to be of use and then specify the 
 rate of speed that will get it there. Especially 
 in a friendly country, the telegraph and tele- 
 phone should be made use of for the transmis- 
 sion of messages whenever possible. 
 
 As a rule, messengers do not return to the 
 patrol and in consequence you have no means 
 of knowing that your message was delivered. 
 Therefore, you must number your messages 
 No. 1, No. 2, etc., so that your commander will 
 know if a message has failed to reach him. If 
 you are sending messages to more than one 
 commander have a separate series of numbers 
 for each. In each message after the first it is 
 well to give a resume of important informa- 
 tion contained in previous messages. This in- 
 sures against failure of important information 
 reaching the commander in case previous mes- 
 sages are not delivered. The time stated on 
 the message is the time that it is completed 
 and signed. An example follows : 
 
 29 
 
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UNIVERSITY O 
 
 J 
 
 Return to di 
 This book is DUE 
 
 JAN 6 1954 LI 
 
YA 06124 
 
 9062 
 
 C 3 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY