The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-29
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE ARMY.
Improvement in Its Morale and
Physical Condition Desired.


1 The order is as follows:
THE following instructions are issued to
| the army for the information and guidance
| of all concerned:
THE absolute and unqualified devotion
of those IN the military service TO the well
| fare of their country is an Indispensable
! requisite and constitutes the very soul of
an efficient army. Hence patriotism will
! be inculcated and promoted in every pos
sible way, and all persons In the military
| service will be expected and required to be
informed, as far as possih'-. of the princi-
! pies upon which our Government is found
| ed of the advantages and benefits enjoyed
| under its Constitution, and the RESPONSE
bilties which it imposes upon them. as
We'll as of the benefcent achievements
which Constitute our military history.
The national holidays will be celebrat-
ed with appropriate ceremonies. including
! the reading of the Declaration OF Inde
! pendence, Washington's farewell address,
| or the Constitution OF the United States.
and such other exercises as will tend to
promote respect and reverence for the in
stitutions of our country.
tAs the flag is the symbol OF our ma
tionality, it will be held in sacred regard
and given every care and protection at
| all times.
THE ceremony of escort of the colors'
should be so conducted as to render 1t
| one of the most impressive to the soldier,
especially to the young recruit, of all the
functions in which he is required to par
ricipate. Proper salutes will be observed
! by all persons in the military service, not
Under arms, during the raising and low
| ering of the national emblem.
Good martial music contributes i'm
measurably to the cortentment and well
! fare Of troops and inspires in them val
l liant and uatriofir Spfrit which lie
essential; hence it will be encouraged, es-
pecially vocal music. which will include
| the singing of the national anthems and
patriotic hymns and songs.
| THE playing of national or patriotic
air as part of medley is prohibited,
! THE vital Importance of discipline INST
/ be fully unde, stood by and impressed u.,on
all in the military service. 1t is indis-
pensable, cannot be lightly regarded, and
must be maintained under all circum-
| stances.
''Offlcers will always be exemplary in
department and will exercise justice and
| impartiality and be considerate in their
conduct toward all suhordinates.
Cheerful, earnest and ioyal obedience
will be promptly paid by all subordinates
| to the lawful orders of super ors.
Lax discipline destroys efficiency and
produces Generalization in all branches of
| the service, and every act or influence
| that tends to produce it must be discour-
| aged and prohibited.
THE general system of instruction en-
anatlng from headquarters OF the army
will be uniformly followed throughout the
| different departments, susceptible OF
| change only by the department command
/ ers when conditions and circumstances
render such change imperative.
Drills and military exercises. includ-
| ing calisthenics will be made as far as
practicable. interesting. progressive. and
varied, and so instructive that the COM
mands will fully comprehend The objects
| to be accomplished.
Drills and maneuvres should be. as far
as practicable, illustrative and simula
tory of the circumstances and rapidly
/ changing conditions of actual 0attle ma
| neuvres.
Where practicable, the three arms of
| the service will be assembled for instruc-
! ton in the nlaneuvres incident to the pre-
| liminary conditions of battle. in the use
of the three arms of the service in action.
and in the proper disposition Of the same
| following an engagement.
Military exercises should include fire.
quent marches, occasionally of several
| consecutive days, during which all the
| conditions of marching in an 'nemy's
country will be observed; and all import
ant facts. such as the distance passed
| over time occupied, the effect upon the
| troops, the serviceability of clo,hing,
equipment, transportation, tentage, am
munition, etc. VIII be carefully noted
| and reported to superior authority.
"AlI duties of the character above re-
| ferred to, either for instruction or for
physical exercise, will be so regulated as
| TO secure the best military results and at
the same time attain to the finest physi-
cal condition and development "a the
| commands.
"Au sports, amusements, and recrea-
lions that tend to preserve the health md
assure the contentment of the troops. as
well as to improve their physical excel
lence and mental attachments Will be en-
| couraged
While garrison duty is important for
| the purpose of discipline and instruction,
| ample time will be devoted to field eSer-
| cises, for it should be remembered that
| efficient service in the field is the final
object for which armies are maintained
| Military problems will be carefully and
| timely prepared for solution during i'm
portant military drills and maneuvres.
Careful attention Will be given to the
| instruction and practical training of non
| commissioned officers, as they are the ex-
| emplars of the enlisted force of the army,
| and establish and maintain very largely
| its tone and character. They will be Sc
| lected on account of their intelligence and
general excellence in department, as well
as for their soldierly appearance and effic-
| iency In all military duties and exercises.
Great care Will be taken to make the
| post schools interesting, instructive, and
| beneficial.
| Special attention will be paid to having
| the men comprehend fully the character
| of our Government, the principles of the
| Constitus m the colonial history of this
| country, a ~sits military and political his
| tory togeth sgith the story of its prog
ress and deye sment.
| "Only well-selected literature Will be al
| lowed in the post libraries, and special at
tentlon will be given to the selection of
| books, magazines, and journals having a
| wholesome moral tone anI hat are in
structive and enlightening. All literature
of vicious nature will be excluded from
| the camp or garrison.
| Military lyceums should be established
\ where and whenever the eXigencies of the
service admit Of sufficient time being de-
voted TO them They should be conducted
in such manner as to bring out the best
| thought and information of the members
| voluntarily, rather than compulsory, as 1t
is believed that in this way the results
obtained will be more beneficial arc salts
| factory.
Every person in the military service of
the United States viii pay the deepest re-
| spect to the law of the land, whether local
or national, and will so conduct himself
| among civilians by word and act as to
bring credit upon the uniform he wears
and mark himself as one of the law-ab!ding
| citizens OF the Republic
by command of Lieutenant General
1 Miles H. c. CORBIN