Be patient, cautious, and avoid overconfidence.An enemy’s approach isn’t a cause for panic.Normally, you have a good chance of remainingunobserved.Conserve your strength by avoiding exhaustion.When you have to remain in one place for an extendedperiod, exercise moderately to keep fit.Generally, avoid eating uncooked food ordrinking unboiled water. Select a hiding place to cookthe food and boil the water you will use en route to thenext evasion objective.Hold on to items of personal clothing andequipment; they serve a useful purpose during evasion.Keep some items that will identify you as a militaryperson, such as your dog tags. If you can’t positively15-25Student Notes:Along a ridgelineUsing a route along a ridgeline is usually easier to follow than one through a valley.You can frequently use animal trails on top of ridges to guide your travel. Whenfollowing a ridge-top trail, stay below the trail and move parallel to it. Never travelalong the top of a ridge. Doing so makes you an easily identifiable silhouette againstthe skyline.Use of a stream Using a stream as a route is of particular advantage in a strange country. It provides afairly definite course and might lead to populated areas. It’s a potential food and watersource and may provide you a means of travel by boat or raft.Following acoastlineFollowing a coastline leads you on a long, roundabout route. However, a coastlineserves as a good starting point. It is an excellent base line from which to get your bearingsand a probable source of food.In a dense forest When traveling in a dense forest, you probably won’t be able to spot distant landmarks.You can stay on course by lining up two trees forward of your position in your direction oftravel. As soon as you pass the first one, line up another beyond the second. You might find ithelpful to look back occasionally to check the relative positions of landmarks.Marking yourrouteYou can mark your route with bent bushes, rocks, or notches placed on the backsides oftrees at approximately eye level. Make bush marks by cutting vegetation or bending it so thatthe under, lighter sides of the leaves are facing upward. These signs are especiallyconspicuous in dense vegetation, but you should be cautious in using them. By plainlymarking your route, you risk discovery.Trails in yourgeneral directionFollow trails that lead in your general direction; when you come to a fork, follow thepath that appears most traveled. If you follow the wrong trail and become lost, stop and try toremember the last time you were sure of where you were. Mark your location and startbacktracking. Sooner or later you will discover a recognizable feature with which you canpinpoint your position.Detouring inrough countryYou might have to detour frequently in rough country. To do that, try to follow themethod shown in figure 15-19 for estimating distance and average angle of departure forshort detours. On your return from the detour, estimate the angle and distance to regain youroriginal line of travel. For greater accuracy, count paces and use a compass. Another method(fig. 15-20) lets you select a prominent landmark ahead and behind your line of travel. Onreturning from your detour, walk until you are again lined up on the two landmarks; thenfollow your original course.
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