U.S. Marine Corps - Small Wars Manual (1940 Edition)

Chapter VI. Infantry Patrols

Section X
STRATAGEMS AND RUSES

						Par.
Rules of Warfare				6-83
Clearing the Station				6-84
Apprehending informers				6-85
Spies following a patrol			6-86
Guerilla ruses and stratagems			6-87

6-83.Rules of land warfare.-Patrol operations always furnish opportunities for the employment of stratagems and ruses; however, such as are used must be in accordance with the accepted Rules of Land Warfare.

6-84.Clearing the Station.A patrol should be able to clear its stations without that fact being transmitted to the hostile forces by their intelligence agents. The following methods may be used to deceive the enemy as to the plans of the patrol:

(1) Having decided to attack a certain hostile bivouac, a rumor is started among the natives that the patrol is to march to some place in the opposite direction. The patrol clears the town in that direction and eventually circles at some distance from the station and marches towards the objective.
(2) Clearing the station late at night.
(3) The members of the patrol filtrate out of the camp during the day or night and assemble at a rendezvous some distance from the station.

6-85.Apprehending informers.-Guerrilla spies who live near the garrison are a constant menace. While they are often suspected, it is very difficult to apprehend them in a guilty act. One way of doing this is to establish sentinels on the trails leading from the station tothe hostile areas. After the sentinels have reached their posts, organize a patrol and allow word to be passed among the natives that the patrol is clearing for the hostile area. This information may cause the informers to start for the enemy camp in order to warn them, thus permitting the sentinels to intercept and detain them for questioning.

6-86.Spies following a patrol.-Hostile intelligence agents may follow a patrol, but at a safe distance. One way to capture them is to leave an outpost several hundred yards in rear of a selected camp site. The men in the outpost take cover and caputure any suspicious persons following the patrol.

6-87.Guerrilla ruses and stratagems.-For purposes of protection, a careful study must be made of the ruses and stratagems practiced by the enemy, and the facts learned should be published for the information of the regular forces concerned. Ruses and stratagems practicied in warfare between forces of irregulars, or by irregulars against regulars, include:

(1) Inveigling the enemy into an attack and pursuit and then, when he is disorganized and scattered, make a violent counter-attack. A modification of this method includes abandoning animals and supplies and then, when the attacking force is more interested in booty than pursuit, to counter-attack.
(2) A group of the enemy may retreat before the attacking force and lure it into a carefully prepared ambush.
(3) Disguising themselves to resemble their foes, sometimes wearing a simialr uniform.
(4) Having their men on service and security disguised llike their foes.
(5) On one pretext or another, to lure a small enemy force into an exposed position and destroy it: Examples: (a) Cutting a telegraph wire and then destroying the repair party.b. Raiding a community with a small group and then striking the patrol sent to its relief with a stronger force.
(6) A guerrilla group surprised in an area may hide its firearms and assume the appearance of a peaceful group of citizens busy in their fields or cleaning trails.