The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-27
title fighting machine in the world? When

little fighting machine in the world? When
shall we have thoroughly professional OIL
GERS, devoted to training their men to the
rough usages md operations of real war,
rather than to the ~hurdygurdy. marching
past side of a soldiers life in peace? When
shall we be more absorbed in the serious
business of the profession than in the fat
condition of our horses, and in the bright
polish of steel names and collar ohalnsI
Are We never to nave officers moro bent
upon the study of war and upon training
their men to be fighting soldiers than they
are upon their " amusements!
There was nothing of the enterprising,
pushing Snowman about Moltke. He made
no appeals to sentiment. Like Wellington,
he knew his duty, and he was content to
do it r%ighteously, neither looking to the
right nor the left. He pulled the strings,
wished, but he never himself came before
the curtain. Ills n object was to make
the Prussian army a perfect fighting ma
chine, and when perfect to launch it on OBJ
iects we'll thought out in all their possible
phases.
no matches for Moltke and the men he had
trained and educnted, Chanzy was an
able general; and had he been listened to
the wild and absurd war schemes of
Aambetta would never have been embarked
in.
lG WHH NlOlGk0 3 hVCNlek0tlU skill duO Lax
seeing combination which won for Prussia
the great results achieved in 1866 and in
1870. In seven weeks he forced Austria to
sue for peace, and in about six months he
broke up Louis Napoleon's brand new em-
pire. In both instances he made the world
realize that II a nation is determined to
have an efficient army something more is
necessary than sentiment and traditions Of
victory.
Az a nation we have lived too long upon
our former and our past reputation
for military prowess. 1t is convenient for
the rival political sides in the system OF
party government under which we live to
boast during peace Of strength and security
because of brilliant victories won for US by
Marlborough and Wellington = under en-
tirely different conditions from those of to
day. The British subject likes to be
soothed by boastful expressions of the
strength and the might of our army and
commends itself to the taxpayer, and to
the politician whose chief aim ia to tlatter
the taxpayers vanity.
Moltke knew the true value Of military
and national sentiment. He rightly es-
timated ita mighty Importance when
which is now almost synonymous with per
feet preparation. But none knew better
than be did how utterly unreal and worth
less and dangerous is all such sentiment
that rests only on tradition, on the deeds
achieved many generations before by an
army that had been created and seriously
trained under the pressure of war by a
Marlborough, a Moore or u Wellington
deeds that cannot be achieved by MI army
that has been trained theoretically, and, as
it were. for an open air ballet rather than
for war. Sentiments %unbaclked by military
efficiency In like faith without words in
religion.
Mnltka Ia mn cxtrnordinarv inatanoe of a
man who made himself Il master of modern
war by study and by foroo OF thought and
character. His industry was indefatieable.
his untiring application and attention to
details was as remarkable ~ his modesty,
reticanoe and inflexibility OF purpose. In
strategy he WAS entirely of Napoleon's
school, and In forethought and skill he was
nearly thatgreat masters equal. His powers
were never tried, however. by any great
reverses, by any SERIOUS defeat, that cru
cial test Of the highest form of military
genius. But u fertile brain enabled him