Ancient Rules Ambiguity: When does "play" begin?

[triangular_cube]

That's the way I'd play it. Tough to escape from and evade what one can't see, so the way you've suggested makes the most sense.

In this case it is the Soviets, who begin on the board, who are attempting to evade the Germans who are entering. 

I guess I was entering into this thinking from the German perspective, rather than the Soviet one. The question there is, does the Soviet player see the German edge selections before setting up?

I guess its either:

1) Play begins prior to set up. Germans "note the edges" (assuming! this is visible info the the Soviets) with no knowledge of the Soviet Setup. Soviets place units. Turn 1 begins. Germans enter from noted edges. 

2) Soviets set up on board. Germans "note the edges" after seeing Soviet set up. Turn 1 begins. Germans enter from the noted edges. 

3) Something else entirely.