MINOR TACTICS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3144, 24 July 1917, Page 6

MINOR TACTICS

THE BLUFFING OF PRIVATE M'GINTY

(By "Wi.")

Private M'Ginty, outpost picket at Titree Swamp, Trentham, was looking for 'the enemy, who was lying doggo somewhere in the rifle butts in front of him. As outpost picket at Ti-tree Swamp, M'Ginty represented an essential unit in a tactical scheme, the precise nature of which he had been wilfully kept in ignorance. What he did know was that he was an outpost picket; that the lives of thousands of men—perhaps millions, perhaps an Empire—depended upon his vigilance and intellect. Especially had he been warned against devious and subtle stratagems designed to catch him on the hop, nnd take his rifle from him. "Whatever you do," he had been told, "don't let them take your rifle from you." And Private M'Ginty swore by his hiilidome--iind several things besides—that such would never lie. U'Ginty's supports were 6nuggled in the ti-tree to the rear, playing cards. Further to the rear was the front line of the main force.

At the .enemy's headquarters in the 1 , rifle butts' a deep and dark conspiracy was being hatched for the discomfiture of Private M'Ginty and the subsequent slaughter of his unsuspecting compatriots. A man had been discovered who could speak French. He and another, whose language didn't fit into the tactical scheme until contact with the enemy had become strenuous, heated, and personal, were to advance towards the watchful M'Ginty, carrying between them a wounded man. On being challenged, the answer was to be given in French, and a game of bluff was to be played until the trio had manoeuvred near enough to the puzzled M'Ginty to pounce on him, throw him down, and take his gun away. With the outpost disposed of, they were then to signal their supports, rush the patrol, and thus open tho way for the main attack. The whole trick depended on M'Ginty. If he knew his work, he would call their bluff, and they would be made prison^ , . •If he got rattled they had i him. It was a psychological chance, and they took it, as all great generals have done since the days of Joshua. The advance of the enemy was to be represented by the raising, at irregular intervals, of a row of figure targets, each appearance counting aa so much progress in the direction of the other force, who were not permitted to fire until tho alarm had been given by M'Ginty's rifle. The essence of: the enemy's stratagem, therefore, was to accomplish the abolition of M'Ginty as an alarmist. In the meantime, tho targets were to be raised within a definite space of time. That is to say, the "enemy" was committed to the attack whether his stratagem succeeded or not. Thus are touches of realism imparted to the dull routine of'rifle practice at scrim targets. However Private M'Ginty, outpost picket at 'Titree Swamp, was pleasantly lelieved in his lonely vigil by the appearance of two men, carrying a wounded man, advancing islott'ly towards him. Throwing up his rifle, he called, sharply: "Halt! Who goe/ tltere?" "Comment vous pouez-vons?" replied the spokesman of the party, slewing down. M'Ginty made a menacing gesture with his rifle: "Who goes there?" he r/peuted. The advancing party stopped. "Comment vo\is portez-vous?" raine tbe answer. .The "Frenchman's" vocabulary was apparently limited. Then M'Ginty made an error cf judgment. Instead of covering ihe ptrty with his rifle and summoning his supports, he said: "Advance one—and give the counter-sign!" !

"Comment vous portez-vous?" replied the spokesman of the party, slewing down.

M'Ginty made a menacing gesture with his rifle: "Who goes there?" he r/peuted. The advancing party stopped. "Comment vo\is portez-vous?" raine tbe answer. .Tile "Frenchman's" vocabulary was apparently limited.

Then il'Ginty made an error cf judgment. Instead of covering ihe party with his rifle and summoning his supports, he said: "Advance one—and give the counter-sign.!" |

The two laid down their ■γ-ouudud, and stepped forward. As they did .so the wounded man gave a sharp cry <f pain. M'Ginty took his eyes off the ether two for about a second, and then—that happened whicli happened. Exactly what it was il'Ginty doesn't quite, know. He bcctinio suddenly conscious of the fact that he was lying on his back on the ground, and that the other two wtre on top of him> grappling with his vaving legs and trying to sit on his chest, while the "wounded" man, suddenly dismaying surprising agility, was hovering about in the outskirts of tho conflict, awaiting a chance to seize M'Ginty's rifle.

Bac!c in the rifle butts, tho trench officer, snapping his watch, gave the word for the "advance." The targets wore raised, held stationary for four F*conds, and then lowered without a shot being fired from the concealed riflemen. Progress noted—one for the enemy. M'Ginty's 0.C., waiting impatiently for the alarm which wonld give him tie signal to commence firing, saw the targets appear, 'then disappear. Fuming, he sent a man out to the outpost patrol to inquire about M'Ghity and his general 'condition, • with particular reference to his mental balance. The messenger found the patrol immersed in discussion of a poker show-down. "Where's M'Ginty?" he asked. "Dmmo," said one. "Out there, 1 suppose, doin' his bit. Say"—holding iip his hand—"what d'ye think o' this for a—hullo! What's dqin'?" The party sat up and listened. It was "the noise of the captains and the Shouting." M'Ginty, ■ overwhelmingly outnumbered, but etill clutching desperately to his rifle, was making weird sounds at intervals as he jerked, his mouth free from the /wet and muddy piiw of the enemy. "Ee—up," he screeched. "Keep your mouth shut, or I'll put some grass in it," growled the enemy. The patrol, dropping their crrds, stepped out into tho open and beheld their comrade in extremis. With a yell, they joyfully charged the heap and fell upon it, and the advancing enemy, the peril of the situation, and the greater fate of nations were swallowed up in an all-in scrap. H'Ginty's Q.C., watching the enemy's trench, saw the targets appear and disappear, once again without drawing his fire—two to nil against him. He jumped forward, made his way rapidly to tho outpost, and suddenly came upon a heaviug, sprawling mass of urine ar.d legs. ■ "Well-of all the-here, I sayj Halt! 'Shun!. Confound 'it—what are you doing?" The heap disentangled itself and stood up, gasping and dishevelled. In response to an acid request to explain himself. Private M'Ginty advanced, saluted, and was about to begin when a message from the enemy's lines arrived with a note to the O.C: "Sorry, old man, but I've just taken your position. What price that rten bob?" '