Crucial Phase of Evasion

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 resistance or underground organizations are 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.