The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-06-16
MUSIC IN WAR.
The Various Purposes for Which Harr
A monte Sounds Are Utilized
~, 1ltlitarily. 81 i s.5t.

The Various PurpOses for Which Hafe
monte Sounds Are Utilized
\ &, z.5. II Altlitarily. ss5f Il 4 5t
To the present day, in all the armies
Of the world, musical war signals are
consider not only useful, but abso-
lutely Indispensable. The infantry
drill regulations of the United States
army give, the music and significance
of more than 60 trumpet signals-calls
of warning, of assembly, Of alarm, of
service, with such names as guard
mounting" drill" 'stable, to arms"
fire." retreat" church" fatigue"
attention." forward, '"halt, ""quick
time,"2 "double time.' ''charge," es"l lie
down. "rise,' etc., besides, a dozen or
more drum-and-fife signals, all of which
must be. known to the soldiers, to
whom they are definite language, in
the senses Of Wagnerian leitmotif.
Everyone is familiar with such express
sions as drumming up. recruits"
drumming out deserters," and SO on
Besides its Importance for signaling
purposes, there are no fewer than five
other uses for music in the army. A
| few words about each of these must
suffice. Zoeller, the African traveller,
says that 'among all savage and half
civilized races, song and dance are con-
sidered as Indispensable aids to military
| training, as drilling and drumming in
our armies" The marvellous precision
with which these primitive races ex-
ecute their war songs and dances has
been commented upon by many admir-
ing explorers; and as the value of per
feet drill and cooperation is we'll un-
derstood, music, which supplies the
regularity of rhythm, is seen to be of
paramount Importance. When our
armies parade they always do so to the
measured beat of military band or drum
and fife.
Another very curious use of music
in war is suggested by the word "panic"
The historian Rowbotham says that "all
panic is derivable from irumpet-like
sound, if we may trust the derivation
of the word, which refers the first
panic to the time when the great Pan
put to flight an army by sudden
shout" Many savages use wild songs
and shouts, or drums and horns, to in
spire terror and to create panic in the
enemy's ranks. So horrible is the
sound of this music, both in itself and
by its bloody associations, that it is
said the Spanish settlers in some parts
of South America to this day cannot
hear the awful trumpets of the In
dams without being frightened. It is
interesting to note that Homer repre-.
sents the Trojans as going to battle
with bowling war cries, while the
Greeks are silent, and that Thucydides
makes Brasidas say: ''They are cow
ards who think they can brighten lis Oy
their loud shouting:" thus indicating
that the more civilized Greeks did not
resort to this method of creating panic.
It is believed that one cause of the de.
feat of the Chinese in their last war was
that they at first relied too much on the
effect of their war songs to brighten
away the Japanese.
A military writer says that the drum
in the army is used respectfully for in
spring the soldiers under the fatigue Of
march or in battie:'' This function of
military music reminds one of the
primitive custom of singing in order to
facilitate work. It is recognized by the
greatest authorities. Field Marsha!
Lord Wolseley, for instance, wrote not
long ago, in the preface to the "Sol-
dier's Song Book that:
Troops that sing as they march will
not only reach their destination more
quickly and in better fighting condition
than those who march in silence, but
inspired by the music and words of ma
tional songs, will feel that self-conf.
dence which is the mother of victory
The German army includes more than
10000 military musicians, able-bodied
men who might as we'll be soldiers. We
may feel sure that the great and shrewd
commanders Of the German army would
not employ in times of war such an
enormous number of musicians unless
they believed that in this way these
players could do more good than ar
equal number of fighting men. In Other
words, the generals fully appreciate and
indorse the utility of music. Even in
times of peace there is a use for these
musicians; for they make excellent
bands, which, at their daily parades ant
weekly concerts, not only edify the mil
itary men, but entertain the populace
> who thus get some return for the taxes
they have to pay to support the army.
Summing up the evolution of wal
music, we see that it's original function
of inspiring terror and creating panic
was gradually abandoned; while it,
usefulness as an aid in drilling, in tao
tics, in signaling, in arousing courage
and patriotic enthusiasm, in sustaining
tagging energies, and in providing en-
tertainment in times of war and peace
is now more fully acknowledged thar
; ever.-Forum.
Why He Shot That Way.
The other day Ole Hanson had trouble
with bellicose dog that belonged t.
his neighbor, Russian by the name Of
Havva Drenkovitskey. The Swede sho'
the dog as soon as he discovered tina
.. he was not friendly to him, and thu
sequel found lodging in justice court
When Ole was propounded inter
rogatories by the attorney for the pros
ecution he evidenced sense of justic,
in framing replies that is rarely wit
messed. -, g.
What sort of gun did you have
, Mr.. Hanson?" inquired the attorney.