ts (or maps)
accompanying or pertinent to such reports, and for any intelligence
conferences.

The essential elements of information desired are frequently stated in
question form. Each question deals with an enemy course of action or
with one or more of the enemy operations pertaining to such a course
(page 161).

The tasks assigned to collecting agencies, or the requests made on
collecting agencies not under the commander's control, will call for
information (negative, if desired, as well as positive) as to specific
indications of the enemy's action--past, present, or intended--and of
the characteristics of the theater as related thereto. The indications
to be sought for and reported are carefully determined by the
commander in expectation that information obtained as to such matters
will enable him to draw conclusions which will answer the questions
posed by the essential elements of information.

For example, essential elements of information, with corresponding
indications, may be as follows:

Essential Elements Indications

1. Will the enemy patrol the a. Presence or absence of enemy
trade route from A to B? forces (number and types of
vessels) between meridians--and--,
as far north as--and as far
south as--.

b. Times enemy forces observed
in area noted.

c. Apparent activity of enemy
forces so noted.

2. Will the enemy cover focal a. Presence or absence of enemy
points M and N? forces (numbers and types of
vessels) in (a specified area
or areas).

b. Times enemy forces observed
in areas noted in a, above.

c. Apparent activity of enemy so
noted.

d. Has M or N been prepared
as a naval base; an air base
for seaplanes, for land planes?
Is M or N readily accessible to
enemy battleships? What are