A
company or troop usually sends forward only a point, a battalion or
squadron, an advance party; but a battalion or squadron at war strength
should put a company or troop in the advance guard and a regiment should
put a battalion or squadron, if an enemy is liable to be met. Whenever
the advance guard is less than a battalion, there is no reserve.
REAR GUARDS
The rear guard is charged with the important duty of covering the
retreat.
When a commander decides to retreat, he issues the necessary order.
During a retreat the outpost for the night usually forms the rear guard
of the following day.
STRENGTH AND COMPOSITION
The strength of a rear guard depends upon the nature of the country and
the strength and character of the pursuing force. It can not, like the
advance guard, count on the support of the main body.
Machine guns are especially useful in the passage of defiles and in
covering the crossings of rivers.
Engineers and ambulance companies are usually assigned to rear guards.
The troops of a rear guard are selected from those that have had
previous local successes, or have suffered little loss and are
comparatively fresh.
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