Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-09-23
THE VOICE IN WAR.
tt IL Sometimes Useless and Signals Are
Substituted.


Substituted.
From the Hartford Courant: With
the modern rapid firing guns there is
little firing by men in mass, except
when the company rallies to repel
an attack. Then q circle or semi
! circle is formed round the officers and
the bullets are sent az. fast as they can
travel. In the extended order" on
the skirmish line, 1t is impossible Tor
man to "hear himself think" but
with line extending ROWE away to
the right and left and with strong
wind blowing, to say nothing of the
musketry, the officers voice cannot
be equal to the emergency. So he re-
sorts to signals-visual, with his sword
when smoke and landscape will allow;
otherwise with the bugle, or with a
hoarse whistle in the hilt of his sword.
Properly drilled soldiers Of 1898 read
lily interpret the signals. Those with
the sword are simple; those by bugle
or whistle are combinations of long
and short blasts, as, for example, one
, long one, Halt" Two long ones, For
ward! Two short ones and the long
one, ITO the rear!" Two long ones
and two short ones, Commence fir
ing!" One long one and two short
ones, Cease firing" The non-com-
missioned officers along the line, hear
ing these signals, repeat the commands
to the men. Aboard ship there also
is great economy of vocal power. If
the steel sides of the vessel are not
being pounded ny shot and shell, the
officers can make themselves heard be-
tween shots, but their words are few.
AS for the men, the experience of an
observer aboard one of our vessels at
the destruction of Cervera's feet is to
the point. He said he expected to
hear the men rush to quarters with a
yell and then cheer as they saw the
enemys discontinue. On the contra
ry, the only sound was the boom of the
guns, the men going on with their
work like silent machines. Yet the
human voice has it's value. Who shall
say that 1t is any less than those from
metal Threats? 1t comes when there's
lull in the firing, when bayonets are
fixed, when men nerve themselves and
start forward at a run over the short
but shot swept space between them and
the enemy. Then the voice will make
Itself heard-no rules or regulations
ever could prevent 1t II they tried.
Seemingly it is the shout that carries
the men onward. upward, over the
breastworks. We heard considerable
about the differentiation between the
southern cry and the Northern cheer
during the civil war. The former
was a high-keyed, piercing yell, the
latter a deep-chested "Hurrah," leav-
ing out of the word all but the vowel
sound. How do they sound now,
blended? Americas foemen will never
stop to tell. And Emperor William is
introducing the "Hurrah" in Germany
as substitute for the old-time, choky
"Hoch" The way he is doing it is by
giving the triple "Hurrah" on con-
Guiding tOasts and solemn speeches.
Then the ci;eer gets recognition in
court circles and finally is adopted by
The army. The emperor knows a good
thing when he hears it, and America
and England-which country also has
the "Hurrah'-can afford to let him
have this without diplomatic inquiry.
But may he and his armies never be
called upon to hear it roll up against
the Stars and Stripes in battle.