The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-07-06
The Courage of Nations in Battle.

The Courage of Nations in Battle.
1t is by no means easy to decide
which of the races of mankind IS the
bravest upon the battlefield. The Lon
don Spectator is rather inclined 10 as-
sign that place to the OsInanii, who,
besides his natural stolidity and ex-
emption from nerves, has the pride of
race of hereditary eonquerors, exalt-
ed by an honest belief either that God
is on his side OF that fate is irresistible.
II he is to die, he will die; if not, not;
and he charges through the hail of
shot with an imperturbable serenity
which makes him the delight Of disci-
plinarians and the despair Of decent
men. 1t is, however, most difficult
10 institute even n comparison as to
national courage, so much depends
upon circumstances, upon discipline,
and, with some races, upon leadership.
Very few troops hight well when they
are hungry. Frenchmen are distinctly
braver, by their own confession, when
they are led by Napoleon, and Ger
mans differ violently from themselves,
according to the perfection Of their dis
cipline. Slavs will face any danger
which approaches if they are ordered
to face it, but to induce them to show
fierce charging courage, the courage
which sweeps away armies. they must
have confidence in the general, and see
him at their head. Italians have hardly
been tried of late years, though they
died in their tracks at Dogali; and the
Spaniards, once esteemed the bravest
infantry in Europe, have in more re-
cent years appeared TO have lost some
confidence either in their officers or
themselves. Even the evidence is im-
perfect.
We English, remarks the Spectator,
believe in our hearts that we make the
best soldiers in the world; but, as
matter Of fact, there is no evidence for
the assertion; indeed, there is little
evidence the other way. There IS plenty
of proof running through all history
that the class of Englishmen who take
to the army have no nosuperiors in battle,
if, indeed, they have any equals; but
the English people have never yet been
tried. They have never yet been sub
jected TO a conscription or anything APP
preaching to one, and the voluntary
adoption of a soldiers life naturally
acts as "A winnowing process.
The question Of the comparative pro
portion of really brave men in any
army viii probably never be determin-
ed. Great officers on the G ntinent
keep their knowledge on that subject
vigorously as a professional secret, and
assume as a certainty that all soldiers
are brave. They know very well, how
ever. that they are not, and when con-
fidential will admit, as Marshal Won
Moltke once did in public, that with a
great number it takes discipline, and
severe discipline too, to induce them to
face shells unfiinehingly.
American officers, continues the Spec
tator, have been known 10 acknowledge
that of their men, who are as brave as
any in the world, twenty per cent.
would run away il they could; and, in
every army, even ours, which a man
enters only of free will, there is a GER
tain proportion that can not overcome
their fears. They are stricken with a
sort Of paralysis. The proportion is
probably not high in any army, the
majority, if in health, being able TO do
their duty, and having intense motives
to do il; but neither is the proportion
high of those who literally feel no fear
There are such men, who do not quite
understand what the emotion is, as
there are some also who have in eN-
treme danger a sense of pleasure,
which sometimes not only quiekens
their blood, but distinctly increases
their intellectual force.