The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-02
THE SOLDIER m MODERN WAR.
The Peculiar Nervous strain. Vet the
Danger OF His BEING Killed Lcss.

! Major Il. l., Bulld,d, TW'nti- Ei0hh Cn.tsd
Stdts Infantry, in The journal Of the
! Military S,rricc Institution.
| "Self-preservaton l. the fret la Of nature.
! Avoidance. fight of the dan ger il 20 common.
| 20 general. % apparently involuntary with
both man and beast a. to con vince Us that II Is
| the natural, the instructive, method or s~lf-
| preservation. In battle tn. require ments OF
| sclf-preservation are undoubtedly the facing
and destruct ion OF the enemy. The side that
flies IS lost. Op the one hand then is the In
stnct of flight: on the other the noe ssity OF
| fght. To eradicat" this instinct of hight and
put in its place something that will make men
fight. that will save destruction and accomp-
l-h self-pre>ervation, H. the whole object o;
training.
In more recent times the difficulties Of such
training have greatly increased. The strain
ing life of highly organized society has I'M
doubtedly made men more nervous. more
hy~terical and less able 10 lace danger, SUI.
ferins and death. The sIowth of peace and
Snd tsa 1eo m i nscassy Of deen Of sf
and rights. have made them more than ever
10th to ri-k their liyes in war ana battle but
prodigious improvements in firearms, their
Scientific, deadly efectivene>S, stun and az
fright the Imagination and hold men aiar
of from danger and the enemy u has been
estimated that since 1870 the general effective.
ness of the infantry rifle has been Increased
from to about -, and OF artillery from 10
about 30 These figures AFFECT the nerves
-, Again when men fought in na'c - under under
the eve of the higher leaders, discipline,
tactical training. was found adequate TO the
crisis of battle but under the enforced m
divdualism Of extended order hghtlng, me
leader il often far away, or there l. 10 leader.
and the colder then must become Ieanef
for himself and perhaps for Others near nm.
self .omething more than discipline and
tactical training. -ometmnf maj VIII hoin
him to the light hlna ma, VIZ sefa n m1,n
duty. pride, ambition. heroism, patriotism
OF the horrors and farnagSs M :, sufhs Pc
pected in future battle with improved arms.
our soldier soon hears enough and enough
that j. logical and probable to n,ettle a
mntter OF importance. Undoubtedly soldiers
should know the dangers of battle. but not the
that favor his chance for life in battle should
be repeated and einpha lied until deeply N,
cronfidenc e" bravery and daring with which
he viii press the fight Show him.
That Notwithstanding modern , arms . vne
Geld guns send missiles in perfect hail.
In streams" and in showers" yet the fact
more these improved weapons are useh. th h.'
fewer men are killed IN BATH BAT, the more deao''
senG 'a. siege, and field belch tons Of iron.
ingiy that nothing. II would seem, could i've
under their fire. yet men do not die IN front or
them as they did In front OF fhe oIu -iIioo'n
bores More, far more, are left TO tell, ana
do not fail 10 tell and eNaggerate. the tale OF
horror, Witness the more recent siege and
seacoast bombardments;
That not withstandng long zones are'swcpt,
beaten" and ploughed by fre: yet men 90
iys there Think OF the s enemy to h su. .pS
giving him and not ourselves our whole at
tention, he will have his Noes Az the tIinls
the men who remember this. who can thmk
OF this and make yet one more dash. Will save
honor. the battle and themselves; .u.
are battered and houses knocked down, yet
this does not mean death to all that are oeh'hu
Thousands of bullets are shot, but it Ia kes
ten thousand TO Kill one man and the number
is ever on the increase: ,..,-
Many are hit perhaps yet few are instantly
killed To fall does not mean death. Improved
field ho- ptals Elaborate and complete ar
for the care car o. sde n woasoen;
fef f ga and skilled modern surgery is ever
reducing the percentage OF those VINO die oil
Though in the crisis it seem: terrible TO
stand and more 'err9e 10 80 Sink To- yu
back. is most terrible OF all. II Is sure de-
The bullets most explosive and fatal
effect is al ranges less than 400 yards To
this range. however, II Is now rarely necessary
to 60 or to go only under cover, Before tins
the battle viii have been lost or won, at ranges
OF from 200 yards TO 400 yards, where wounds
These are reassuring and encouraging
thoughts, and annot fail to help steady the
human nerve and send the soldier further in
the fight.
Gen do Ntgrier IN Rsrue dss D,uT Mondss;
translated By Lieut. Gordon Robinson.
l. 5 a, in journal Of the NH
tdry Serrico institution.
The new arms are almost valueless In the
hands of faint hearted soldiers, however
many there may be. On the contrary. the
demoralizing power of qlick-fring rites and
smokeless powder. which some armies stlil
refuse to recognize. produces more and more
effect on the enemy in direct proportion 10 the
courage and GOODNESS of each conihatant.
SO that a nation should. above all strive to
develop it, moral powers They alone viii
later on sustain the soldier in the anxious or
deal of battle. where death comes from the
invisible.
This is the most important lesson Of the South
African war. Small nations VIII there md
proof of the principle that in preparing their
Young men for the duties of soldiers, and in
raising the courage Of all up to the point Of
voluntary sacrifice. they are sure to remain
free