I've seen explanations all around this issue, but nothing specific to the
question: Can you create so-called *ordered* list entries automatically,
i.e., just with M-ret and  M-left/right? I saw this very question asked in
stackoverflow.com (
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/13378222/emacs-ordered-lists-in-org-mode)
. . . then not answered.

I want to create a hierarchy of list items which are numbered, with proper
"decimalization" for the subtree(s):

1. thing-1
1.1. thing-1-1
1.2. thing-1-2
1.2.1. thing-1-2-1
. . .

It seems from the documentation that this behavior is only manual
insertion. Otherwise, I start with

1. Header

then do M-ret and M-right. But that only indents and starts another 1. line.

1. Header
   1. sub header

Subsequent M-ret's only produces either increments, or a M-ret M-right
creates a sub-sub starting again at 1:

1. Header
   1. sub header
   2. sub header
   3. sub header
      1. sub sub header