The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-20
THE WEAK POINT IN OUR VOLUN-
TEER SYSTEM.

A
Recent events have called attention some
what conspicuously to one of the defects of
our volunteer system military reliance.
That it has great merits is beyond question.
In no other way can the patriotism of the
people be so effectively appealed to and the
requisite number Of men to constitute an
army be raised by the volunteer method.
1t stirs the Nations heart, calls into action
the best emotions of the people and places
the military strength of the country at the
disposal of the government in the quickest
possible manner. But when this is done an
effective army is not yet modified. Pa
triotism, enthusiasm and willingness to die
for ones country do not alone make good
soldiers or en- effective army. There re-
mains the equipment, the drill, the training,
and, above all, the discipline that comes
from the strict enforcement and unques-
tioning obedience of orders. The first duty
of soldier is cheerful and unquestioning
obedience, and the second and third are
like unto it. The discipline that makes an
army machine and infuses a. hundred
thousand men with the will of one is what
makes an effective army. This discipline
makes the difference between volunteers
and regulars, and the lack of it is the weak
point in our volunteer system. 1t is not the
fault of the men but of the system. affect
ing officers as well as men. Officers fresh
from civil life and unused either to giving
or obeying orders can hardly be expected
to realize the Importance of strict disci-
pline as do trained soldiers, while the men
under them are apt to be slow to learn
the lesson of sinking their individuality in
the soldier and rendering blind obedience
to orders. Our form of government and
political system tend more than any other
in the world to develop individuality and
independence. 1t makes men questioners,
arguers, critics, kickers This may be a
good thing in citizen, but it is very bad
in a soldier. In making a soldier out Of
a citizen it is the first thing to
be got rid of, and to get rid
of it requires a course of severe
discipline in camp and field. Some of the
regiments in the recent war had taste Of
this discipline, just a beginning Of it, but
the war did not last long enough to enable
them to take full course. If they had
been rushed to the front and on the firing
line as rapidly as troops were in the civil
war and kept there as constantly they
would have learned the first duty of SOL
der, unquestioning obedience much sooner
than they did, and their officers would have
learned that the relaxation of discipline un-
dermines and demoralizes every principle of
military conduct. The recent riots at Lex
ington and other Southern camps and the
individual cases of disorderly conduct by a
few soldiers in this city were all due to lack
of discipline. Neither officers nor men were
yet fully acquainted with their duties and
with their relations to each other and to the
government. They had not yet learned that
war is not a picnic nor a summer encamp-
ment, and that the first requisite of military
life is iron discipline The soldier must go
where he is ordered, stay where he is put,
do what he is told, and ask no questions.
Regulars do these things to perfection, but
they are hard for volunteers to learn. Reg
ulars never forget that they soldiers.
At Santiago, in Porto Rico, in the Philip
pines or in camp or barracks they are al
ence to them where they are sent or
whether they are sent anywhere, no differ
ence where they are kept in summer or in
winter, their discipline is always with them.
They know how to draw their rations, how
to cook them and how to eat them without
asking questions, and they know how to
fight The volunteer is just as willing to
fight, but he does not know the other things
as WELL especially how not to ask questions
At Cairo last month the British troops
which took part in the Sudan expedition
paraded to receive medals of honor. Gen.
Kitchener pinned the medals on the officers
and sergeants of each regiment the men
receiving theirs from the regimental officers.
At the conclusion of the ceremony the gem
eral made little speech, which is reported
in the London Daily Mail as follows:
am particularly glad to be able to ex-
press to the men of the First Brigade, the
Cameron men, the Seaforth men, as Well as
to the Lincolns and Warwicks VINO are not
present, how highly / appreciate their serv-
ices. L do not allude to their lighting at
Atbara and Omdurman. British soldiers
want no thanks for that sort of service, but
/ allude to the cheerful and soldierlike
spirit with which you bore a long ana Try
ing wait at Darmali in the heat OF Sudan
summer. That was test of endurance out
of which you came triumphantly, and when
the advance sounded you were ready to
start, as fit and fine British brigade as
ever / wish to command.
The general did not thank these British
regulars so much for their fighting-that
was a matter of course-but he thanked
them for long waiting, for obeying orders
without murmur and staying where they
were told to stay without asking any ques-
lions. That is the hardest thing for the
American volunteer to learn, and probably
he never will learn it except in long war.
A CUBAN REPUBLIC FOR REVENUE
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