The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-25
THE IDEAL SOLDIER.
Some of the Requisites Demanded I'm
Modern Fighter.

| The only answer to the question, What
| is SOLDIER" which gives the essential
the sine qua non quality is the answer
"A man who can kill other men with
rifle-fire.' A soldier lis rifieman. A
man may be able to kill other men with
rifie-fire, and not be perfect, or a rea-
| sonably efficient. or even useful soldier
but unless he can kill with the rifle, he
Is not soldier at all. A man may be a
splendid marcher he may be trained tC
take cover with extraordinary skill, he
may be an expert at digging trenches. his
drill may be perfect. his power of turn
ing himself out smart and clean. and
with all his belongings in the most per-
feet order may be miraculous, and yet II
he cannot shoot with rifle, he is no sol
der Imagine an army composed of men
possessing all the qualities We have emu
merated except the power o. shooting
and then imagine another composed OF
men who could all kill with the rifle. but
had only that gift Both would be very
bad armies, no doubt, but who would
hesitate to declare that the riliemen were
.bs soldiers, and the other army, though
composed of very accomplished men. were
without the thing which is essential to
soldiers?
Needless to say. we do not insist that
the true answer to the question. What Is
a SOLDIER" is "A man who can Kill with a
rifle" merely as piece OF dlalectlcaI
analysis. We insist on the fact because
unless and until people not merely admit
the fact with their lips. but realize it, We
shall never get a true reform of the army.
Rife shooting must be the foundation
stone on which the army rests. On that
foundation must be built up superstruc-
ture which seems. and in sense is, as
important as the foundation. but we must
always remember that though can be no
superstructure without a foundation,
there can be a foundation without a SUI
perstructure- Having laid the foundation
OF rifle shooting and answered the Ques-
ton. What is a soldier?" with the reply,
"A rifieman." let us next ask and try to
answer the question. What is a fully
qualified SOLDIER" So many things are
necessary to make, we will MT say the
perfect soldier. but the soldier who shall
be able to render his ability to use his
rifle fully effective, that it is difficult to
know which to name first. In our opin-
ion. the most important quality that can
he laid on the foundation of rife shooting
Is that of discipline-using the word in it's
widest sense The rifeman must be not
only willing, but able to give an instant,
and what is more. an intelligent, obedi-
ence to the orders of those above him. He
must obey, and he must, also, II possible.
seize the object of the order, and obey
not like machine. but like thinking
man. He must-that is, not be hypnotized
by formal drill into a mechanical obedi
ence, but must give an obedience which is
cooperative and not merely passive.
Next to this moral essential, we should
put for the modern soldier. the hunter
and scout qualities-the ability to take
cover. to watch the enemy and his move
ments, to see without being seen, and to
take intelligent advantage Of all means of
protection from the enemy's fire, while at
the same time pressing his own advance.
Next, the soldier should be able to use the
spade, and be capable of rapidly construct
ing protective works, which. though eff
fective. shall be almost invisible TO the
enemy. These are qualities for use in the
lighting line. To get him into the fight
ing line the soldier must as far as posi-
BILE be endowed with he gift Of mobility.
He must be good at marching. but he
must also be able to- make use of other
forms of transport If. and when they be-
come available. "A soldier must be able
to ride a horse, should it be possible to
provide him with that means OF getting
over the ground and further. he must be
able to look after his horse If he gets one.
Again, he should be able to ride and mend
a bicycle If fortune should enable his colo
mel to commander" a thousand bicycles.
and so turn a three days march into
days march. But though this disciplin-
ed rifeman. who can stalk, scout, and dig,
and also ride either horse bicycle if re-
quired, will already be of great use In war,
he can no doubt be improved by the addi-
ton of certain other things-accomplish-
ments rather than essentials. but none the
less of Importance.
If he is given physical training which
makes his frame and his muscles like
those of an athlete, he Will do doubt en-
dure longer and shoot more steadily than
II he has had no physical drill. Further
more If he is something of a gymnast, he
foot, be able to surmount obstacles with
much greater ease 1t will clearly, for
example, be good for him to be SWIM
mer. Again, If he has learned the hand
ling of a bayonet. his enemy will fear the
chance that he may get to close quarters
more than If the same enemy knows that
he has no skill with the bayonet. Lastly
drill In close formation, he and ten thou
sand men like him may be able to get
through the narrow streets of a great
city more quickly and with far less con-
fusion than II II has no practice at NOV
ing in close order.-London Spectator.