810 3£AHtrAL FOR S70HC0MMISSI0NED OFFICERS, 



'BiQ line occupied by the outguarda is called the line of ob- 

 servation. Ontgnards naove to their positions providing for 

 their own protection and so as to conceal the movement from 

 the enemy. These positions are intrenched and are numbered 

 from right to left in each support. 



The duties of the outguard are to observe the enemy, to 

 guard the outpost from surprise, and to malie a preliminary 

 resistance to the enemy's advance. The strength of the out- 

 guard will vary according to its object. Wlien an important 

 road, which at night will afford a line of advance, or a bridge 

 is to be covered, or when several posts are established from 

 an outguard it should be of considerable strength, a section 

 or a platoon. When mere observation and alarm are all that 

 is required four men will suffice. One corporal, and seven pri- 

 vates are a good number to use as an outguard; this will 

 allow one double sentry post of three reliefs and one man in 

 addition to the commander, who may be used for messenger 

 service. The outguard should be carefully concealed. 



The utmost quiet should be observed, and there should be 

 no cooking or smoking. The intervals between outguards will 

 depend upon the situation and "the terrain. The line of 

 observation is not necessarily continuous, but all avenues of 

 approach must be carefully guarded. The distance of the 

 outgiiard from the support likewise is governed by the ter- 

 rain, but in general may be said to be from 300 to 400 yards. 

 In thick country or at night outguards patrol along the line 

 of observation between posts. Communication between out- 

 guards and the support is by signal and messenger, in special 

 cases by wire. Members of the outguard retain p^s8Ssion of 

 tlyeir weapons and (\o not remove their eqaipment. 



Sentinels from the outguard are posted so as to avoid obser- 

 vation, but so that they may have a clear lookout and be able 

 to see, if possible, by day, the sentinels of the adjacent out- 

 guards. Double sentinels are always posted near enough to 

 each other to communicate easily in ordinary voice. Sentinels 

 are generally on post two hours out of six. For every sentinel 

 and every patrol there should be three reliefs, and outguards 

 should ])e of a strength sufficient to allow this. The position 

 of a sentinel should be selected with reference to observation. 



