By Sir Robert Baden-Powell
CHAPTER VI
CYCLISTS' GAMES
A good many of the "Scouting Games" (Chapter
I) can be used for
cyclists, such as "Relay Race," "Flying Columns," and "Surveying the Country."
1. DE WET.
[From the Military Cyclists' Vade Mecum, by Capt. A.
H. Trapmann].
Four patrols can take part in this game, or the force must be divided into
four equal parts. One patrol acts as De Wet, one as garrison, and the rest as Kitchener's relief column. An area
on the map is marked off, containing about one square mile to every two Scouts
in the relief column and this area should be plentifully supplied with roads and tracks along which cycles can be ridden.
Three spots,
preferably villages, should be chosen (or a larger number if more than four
patrols are taking part); these are to be guarded by the garrison patrol, two
Scouts at each spot. De Wet's object is to destroy as many villages as
possible. When he enters a village, the two Scouts acting as garrison must retreat before his greater number--one
should cycle as fast as he can to fetch the relief column, while the other stays
to watch De Wet's movements. Either of them can be captured by any two of De Wet's men.
If De Wet can remain in occupation of the village
for half an hour the village is destroyed, but he must retreat if a relief
column approaches stronger than his force. The relief column should take up its
position in the center of the area and look out for signals from the garrisons.
De Wet should prevent them following him by dividing his party, giving them
instructions to all meet at the village to be attacked, but enter from different
directions.
2. THE BITER BIT.
Divide your force into two equal parts, 1 and 2. Give No. 1 a capable
commander, and tell him that they are operating in an enemy's country, and must
look out for their own safety; also that a force of the enemy's cyclists are
expected to move along a certain road at a certain time in a certain direction.
No. 1 will then start off and conceal itself in a good ambush. Then divide No. 2
into two parts A & B. Let A carry out the original program assigned to the
enemies' cyclists, and send B round in exactly the opposite direction.
Tell the Patrol leader in charge of B that a body of the enemy were seen on
the road, and let him go and scout for them. Give him sufficient time to enable
him to locate No. 1 (if he is smart) before A is due at the, ambush.
No. 1 will probably be so engrossed in waiting to ambush A that it will have
neglected to provide for its own safety against surprise.
B may or may not surprise No. 1; and may perhaps be ambushed itself. In any case some instructive work can be carried out, work
affording room for rapid action and thought on the part of all concerned.
Any man seen exposing himself obviously whilst under fire should be put out
of action, and made to act as umpire's orderly. Otherwise men should not be put
out of action, but either sent back or made to join the enemy.
3. BRIGAND HUNTING.
Mark off an area plentifully supplied with roads and footpaths about three
miles by three miles in extent. Tell off a patrol under your best Patrol
leader. His object will be to remain within the area for say two hours, without
being captured. He should be allowed ten minutes' start.
The remainder of the force will then split up into small patrols and endeavor
by careful co operation to effect his capture, care being taken not to
be ambushed themselves by their quarry.
4. AMBUSCADES.
Something for patrols to do when cycling from one place to
another.
Divide the force equally into two bodies. Choose a road. Any place more than
200 yards distant from the road will be out of bounds. Send one body off to
take up an ambuscade, and ten minutes later let the other body move off along the road, sending its Scouts well ahead. If the ambush is
detected the two bodies will then exchange roles. This will be found a very
interesting exercise, and can with advantage be practiced on return from a field
day, route march, etc., the homeward road being used for the purpose.
5. HUNTING THE SPIES.
Two spies have escaped from headquarters on cycles, and were last seen
riding at a point about half a mile further along the road. (This should be
shown on the map to the Scouts who are to give chase on their cycles.)
From that
point the spies have to leave a paper trail, not continuous, but occurring every
hundred yards. The spies, being handicapped by their paper, will probably be
soon overtaken, so they must choose a good spot by the road in which to conceal
their cycles, and when they leave the road they must leave signs to that effect
(they had better run some way along the road still leaving the trail, so as not
to show the hiding place of their cycles to their pursuers). When they have left
the road, they need leave no further trail, but their object is to remain at
large for a quarter of an hour and then recover their cycles and get back to
headquarters without being caught by their pursuers. The pursuers should search
for the spies and capture their cycles if they can find them, at the same time
guarding their own cycles from being stolen by the spies. To capture the spies
the pursuers must actually touch them, or if they are on cycles, ride past them
on the road. (About ten Scouts make the best number for this game.)
Baden-Powell's Scouting Games
