The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-09-21
BACKBONE OF THE ARMY
DUTIES AND POSITION OF THE NOM
COMMISSIONED OFFICER.

/
The Go-Between for Oficers and Men.
The backbone of the army is the non
commissioned man. .-Rudyard Kip
ling.
| Lowest down is the lance corporal
highest up are the regimental quarter
master sergeants, sergeant majors,
ordinance sergeants, and most pictur.
esque is the first sergeant. The "back-
bone" referred to by Mr.. Kipling con-
sists of the company ''non-coms, be-
ginning with the corporal and ending
in the first sergeant They are the
unglorifed sinews of war, the Drawn
and muscle; the officer is the much
heralded brainy director.
| The recruit to the army no sooner
swears that he "will obey the COM
mauds of all officers place above him"
than he falls into the hands of COR
poral. This soldier, with the two
clean white chevrons on his sleeves,
looks him over, guides him to bath
ing place. and begins to lick him into
shape. He begins by teaching him
how to stand, how to turn around,
where to kee his e.;es. and all the
small details of the soldie business.
He impresses IN him the necessity of
quick doing, aud cauiioiS that the
officers are there to think. Then the
recruit is shutiied on to sergeant,
who places him in 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. He may
get an occasional sight of his captain.
but he learns to know and emulate his
sergeant.
The "non-com is the teacher. His
unlimited ability to work and his un-
dying patience straighten up round
shoulders, liven up the shutting steps
and make a sturdy soldier of the raw
recruit. He works always and for
ever, and executes the orders of his
superiors quickly and accurately. He
serves as model to be copied after
by the private--he is the backbone of
the army.
Glory seldom comes to the ''non-
CON-" A long time ago certain Ser
geant Jasper won permanent place
in history, and more recently Sergeant
Hamilton Fish died bravely at the
front. The ''non-com. works un-
noticed, 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 stream, when
comrades sink to the ground aud turn
on their faces, the officer lifts his
sword on high and steps forward into
glory. The 'non-com. speaks the
quiet "Steady, boys" and walks into
the jaws of death shooting his way
into the corridors of oblivion. The
captain knows he will be famous if he
survives famous If he dies. The
sergeant or the corporal knows
his wife aud 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 victory is won it is because he is
in his place and doing this same duty.
Under the new tactics in use by the
United States army, companies no
longer fight with men shoulder to
shoulder under the direct command
of the captain. Much stress is laid
on tb skirmish drill, in which sets of
fours under corporals and squads
under sergeants fight in open order.
firing at will after the captain has
ordered commence firing" The
corporal is responsible for his set of
fours and the sergeant for his squad.
The first sergeant is in manner re-
sponsible for the entire company and
! is ready to assume command when his
officers are shot down. The new
arrangement gives opportunity to the
''non-com. to show himself. It
will break into fame.
1t is not in battle, however, that the
non-commissioned officer earns the
title of backbone, for in the fight
the sweating private is necessary
person. In the camp the white.chev-
roned 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 company quarters, tents, bedding.
clothing, knows all about the kitchen
aud sees to the equipments. He calls
the roll, details the guard, knows the
ability and willingness of every soldier
of his command and is the discipline
rian and mouthpiece of his company.
He is the go-betwesn for privates and
officers, adjusts quarrels and dissemin-
atas advice, The company books,
though not intricate, are tedious, and
are kept by him, and he reports the
dead to his captain. He seems to be
in every place at the same time. He
is the model soldier.
The literature of the present war is
yet unwritten. Glorious victories
have been won and admirals aud gen.