Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-09-24
BACKBONE OF ARMY.
Ncncommissioned officers the IN
glorified Sinews of War.
with Unlimited Ability to work,
They Bear the Brunt of battle
and Shoot Their Way Into
the Corridors of Oblivion.


The recruit of the army no sooner
swears that he will obey the COM
mands of all officers placed above him"
than he falls into the hands of a cor
poral. This soldier, with the two clean
white chevrons on his sleeves, looks |
him over, guides him to bathing
place and begins 10 lick him into shape.
He begins by teaching him how to
stand, how to turn around, where TO
keep his eyes and all the small details
of the soldier business. He impresses
on him the necessity of quick doing,
and cautions that the officers are there
TO think. Then the recruit is shuffled
on to sergeant, who places him in a
set of fours and teaches him how to
find his place and what to do when he
finds it, He finally falls into the hands
of the first sergeant in company drill.
lie may get an occasional sight of his
captain, but he learns 10 know and en-
ulate his sergeant.
The "noncom." is the teacher. His
unlimited ability to work and his un-
dying patience straighten up round
shoulders, liven up shutting steps and
make a sturdy soldier of the raw re-
cruit. He works always and forever.
and executes the orders of his supe
riors quickly and accurately, lie
serves as a model 20 be copied after by
the private-he is the backbone of the
army.
Glory seldom comes to the mon
CON-" long time ago a certain Sergt.
Jasper won u permanent place in his
tory, and more recently Sergt. Ham
iiton Fish died bravely at the front.
The 'noncom." works unnoticed, like
the line player in the football team,
because he doesn't run with the ball.
but he is the backbone that holds the
ribs together. When the battle is hot
and sweat mingles with blood on the
sodden field, when bullets whizz and
shells scream. when comrades sink to
the ground and turn on their faces, the
officer lifts his sword on high and steps
forward into glory. The "noneom."
speaks the quiet STEADY, boysl" and
walks into the jaws of death. shooting
his way into the corridors of oblivion.
The captain knows he will beifamous IL
he survives-famous If he dies. The
sergeant or the corporal knows his
wife and children will weep over their
loss. his comrades that survive him will
bury him In a soldiers grave wrapped
In his blanket. He is too numerous
for the historian TO mention; he was
simply doing his duty. Yet if the vic
tory is won IL is because he is in his
place and doing this same duty.
Id l., 1,-.4 -
United States army companies no
longer fight with men shoulder to
shoulder under the direct command
OF the captain. Much stress is laid on
the skirmish drill, in which sets of
tours under corporals and squads IN
der sergeants fight in open order,
firing at will after the captain has or
dered Commence firing" The cor
poral is responsible for his set of
tours and the sergeant for his squad.
The first sergeant is in q manner re-
sponsible for the entire company and
Is ready to assume command when his
officers are shot down. The new ar
rangemeDt gives opportunity to the
''noncom." to show himself. Itremains
to be seen whether or not he will break
into fame.
1t Is not in battle, however, that the
noncommissioned officer earns the
title of backbone" for in the fight the
sweating private is a necessary per-
son. In the camp the white-chevroned
soldier makes his presence known and
felt. The first sergeant, gruff, stern
severe, kind, man of all work and all
intelligence, father of his company
and mother, too, in camp. is in charge
of his men. He looks after the com
pany quarters, tents, bedding, cloth.
Ing. knows all about the kitchen and
sees 70 the equipments. He calls the
roll, details the guard, knows the abil
ity and willingness of every soldier OF
his command and is the disciplinariar
and mouthpiece of his company. lie
Is the go-between for privates and Off
GERS, adjusts quarrels and Disseminate
advice. The company books. though
not intricate, are tedious, and are kept
by him. and he reports the dead tC
his captain. He seems to be in every
place at the same time. lie is the mode
soldier.
The literature of the present wal
Is yet unwritten. Glorious victories
have been won and admirals and gen
erals have been launched into ever
lasting fame. 1t is to be hoped, wheI
the war correspondents get back t.
the quiet Of their desks. they will no
have been blinded by the glare Of up
lifted swords and glittering shoulde
straps TO the bravery and courage o
the "noncommissioned man." Their
IS room in history for the "backbon
of the army."-Kansas City Star.