o be relieved and the place to
which reports are to be sent.

After receiving the above information he will give such orders as are
immediately necessary for protection against surprise. He will then
allot the task of Observation to his mobile troops and will decide on a
Line of Resistance for the Outpost troops. He will co-ordinate his
arrangements with those of neighbouring Outpost commanders and will
ensure that no ground on his flanks remains unwatched.

The Outpost commander will then issue orders to his subordinate
commanders on the following points:--

(1) Information concerning the enemy and his own troops so far as they
affect the Outposts.

(2) The general line to be occupied and his frontage and limits of each
subordinate commander.

(3) The distribution of the mobile troops, artillery, and machine guns.

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(4) Instructions as to the degree of resistance to be offered and the
general line of the Outpost Line of Resistance.

(5) Special arrangements by night.

(6) Regulations as to smoking, fires, and cooking.

(7) The hour at which the Outposts will be relieved.

(8) The place to which reports are to be sent.

(9) Instructions as to the accommodation of the Reserves (if any are
provided) and whether the Supports (and Reserves, if any) may take off
accoutrements, etc.

When he receives information that the Outposts are in position, he will
transmit the information to the commander who appointed him.

THE OUTPOST LINE OF RESISTANCE.--Retirements under fire to a supporting
line are dangerous, especially at night. As a general rule, therefore,
the Piquets should be posted on the Outpost Line of Resistance.
Co-operation, intercommunication, and the exercise of command will be
facilitated by placing the Piquets along well-defined natural features,
or in the vicinity of roads. But the tactical situation may demand
that the line adopted should afford facilities for a most stubborn
resistance as well as facilities for observation, and the former
necessity will far outweigh the latter.

If the force is likely to remain halted for several days, especially if
the operations are likely to lapse into Position Warfare, commanding
ground is of great value to the artillery, and the Outpost Line of
Resistance will probably develop into the Outpost zone of a defensive
position. On the other hand, if halted for only one night, artillery
will not be largely employed, and commanding ground is not essen