identify yourself as a military person, you may be
treated as a spy if captured or be refused assistance by
escape organizations or friendly natives.
Don’t leave or throw away any articles that, if
found, could give the enemy a clear picture of your
direction of travel. Bury, or otherwise dispose of, the
effects of your campsite.
Practice supply economy. You may have to use
the same jacket or pair of shoes throughout the entire
evasion trip, which could cover hundreds of
cross-country miles during both winter and summer
seasons. Build up your food and water supplies.
Carefully ration them so that they will last until you can
reach an evasion objective or can replenish them. If you
have food but no water, don’t eat. Since the digestive
processes require water, you will dehydrate faster if you
eat.
Use firearms only in an emergency. Keep them
concealed at all times during your evasion unless a
situation arises that requires a show of arms.
Avoid contact with people as long as possible.
However, if you can’t proceed on your own because of
sickness, lack of food, or other reasons, then, and only
then, seek out native assistance. Natives who are
sympathetic to the allied cause or members of the
underground who operate escape lines for the purpose
of returning evaders to allied control may offer
assistance. Be wary in contacting natives or accepting
their help, regardless of what they claim to be.
If you’re fortunate enough to travel through an
area where an organized escape line exists, the chances
are good that a spotter will seek you out. Spotters for
r e s i s t a n c e o r u n d e rg r o u n d o rga n i z a t i o n s a r e
particularly alert when they have reason to believe allied
evaders are in their area but so are enemy police and
counterintelligence agents. Persons wearing civilian
clothing in enemy-held territory are not necessarily
civilians.
Crucial Phase of Evasion
To establish contact with friendly lines or to cross
the border to a neutral country is the most crucial point
of evasion. All of your patience, planning, and
hardships will be in vain if you aren’t careful when
contacting friendly frontline forces. Many personnel
attempting to pass through friendly lines have been
killed because they didn’t identify themselves properly.
Most of these people wouldn’t have been shot if they
had been cautious and followed proper procedures. The
normal tendency is to throw caution to the wind when in
sight of friendly forces. You must control this tendency.
Regular patrols or special mission personnel
operating behind enemy lines are given the challenge
and password of the day as a security measure.
Challenges and passwords provide for the identification
of the patrol as it approaches a friendly position. In
addition, frontline troops are told the time and place
where patrols will leave and enter the lines. These
conditions exist only if you are able to rejoin your outfit
within 24 hours following your separation. After
24 hours, you must follow certain established
procedures and hope the frontline troops will also
15-26
Student Notes:
Figure 15-19.—Estimating distance and average angle of
departure.
Figure 15-20.—Using prominent landmarks.
