The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-01
The Military Profession,

Some observers of military affairs il
South Africa are disposed to attribute Brit
ish defeats TO the fact that many of tn,
troops sent there al the beginning of tn,
war were carpet soldiers" especially the
officers, who were young men of good
family. sent into the army because ii af-
forded them social position. 1t is alleged
that some of these youths were consid-
erably more devoted to the minutiae of
social life than to their business, and that,
when brought into contact with the rough
and-tumble life incident to fighting in the
colonies, they blundered. baked, and
weakened in heartrending fashion.
This, of course, does not apply to SOL
diers who had seen active service be-
fore the war and had the nonsense knocked
out OF them; and very large proportion
OF the British officers were OF that type
But there were undoubtedly many young
subalterns who belonged to much the same
type as some of our own militia officers in
the recent Spanish American difficulty.
Taught by severe experience, the British
War Office will probably weed out such
youths in future. SO far as possible. We
may as well take a lesson from British
disaster.
When country settled by comparatively
poor people becomes prosperous, and the
sons of the settlers have money in their
pockets, it too often happens that these
young men. educated as gentlemen, de-
spise the ancestral condition and consider
themselves too good to work. If their fam
flies had for generations been rich. like
the British aristocracy, this attitude of
theirs might be due to simple ignorance
Of the surrounding world; but as it Is
there is more deliberate foolishness than
ignorance about it. There is no place in
which such lack of mental perspective is
less safe than in the army. in time of war.
If young man aspires 10 the position of
officer in the Regular Army he should never
be content with simply doing the task as
signed to him. He should be on the look
out to learn things. This is more essential
today than ever before, since before the
youths now graduating from West Point
have reached middle life the United States
may be involved in a war which will tax
the whole available military strength of
the country; and since good leadership is
Just as valuable as it ever was, the lives of
millions OF men may depend on the kind Of
stun OF which their leaders are made. 1t
is important that every officer in the army
and navy, every colonel or lieutenant OF
militia. every man in the colonial civil SER
vice, should be fit for his place and suited
TO bear the heaviest responsibility should
that be laid upon him. The chain OF
American colonies which has been grad
ually extended to the Orient is only as
strong as its weakest link; and We cannot
afford to have any political appointees
who, by mismanagement or dishonesty.
will involve the country in serious difficult
ties either with the natives or with other
powers. This liz a matter which has thus
far received too little attention. II should
be considered now.
The officers of the United States Army |
have, as a rule, been men of character, |
training and experience. The conditions |
Of frontier warfare have not allowed that |
army TO be idle much of the time. During /
the war between the States large per-
centage of the men on both sides were
men accustomed to responsibility, pioneers
or sons of pioneers, used 20 meeting emer-
gencies. II they found a river in their
path and the bridge had been burned the |
lumbermen Of Maine or Michigan could |
build bridge. Railway engineers, teleg
raphers. carpenters, and blacksmiths could |
be found In the ranks. In any war, prac-
teal knowledge OF the trades counts. The |
officer who is too good to study engineer
ing, or carpentering. or roadmaking, or |
anything else which happens to come in
his way, on the chance that he may some |
day make use Of il is likely TO find himself |
in difficulties some time or other II is |
his business to know all about his profess
sion. and his profession is one OF the most
comprehensive In the world in time of war.
He must also be interested in his men
In fact, he must be particularly interested
In human nature, If he is to make a good
officer. The war OF the future will be
trial Of nerve and of pocketbooks The
side which has most money for the engines
OF war, and whose men can stand punish
ment best. will stand against the world
American Music.