The sea coast echo., 1903-12-26
BENEFIT OF DISCIPLINE.
LIFE IN ARMY OR NAVY ExERTs
A GOOD INFLUENCE.
How the Human Raw Material Is
Fashioned Into Soldiers and Sailors
In the Two Great Branches OF the
Nations Service.

How the Human RAW mate''~' -
Fashioned Into Soldiers and Sailors
In the Two Great Branches Of the
Nations Service.
Interesting expert opinion on tne
influence of life in the two great
branches OF the nations service upon
the human material to be fashioned
into soldiers on the one side and sail
ors on the other is contained In re-
spective comments OF ex-Assistant
Secretary OF the Navy William Nc
Adoo and OF the adjutant OF regi.
ment of regulars recently returned
from the Philippines. Not long ago
Mr.. McAdoo addressed himself to the
subject from the point Of view of the
navy.
Among the best men we get for
manning the ships OF Uncle Sam" he
said, ARE those from the slum dis
tricts OF the cities. They are boys OF
the streets, many OF them. unkempt
and unlettered, foul-mouthed In most
instances, apparently lacking In re-
spect for the things OF God and man.
That is when we get them. But these
same boys get under navy discipline,
or, better yet, get to sea, and change
is worked In them to such a degree
that they are hardly recognizable on
their return from the FIRST voyage.
1T is the combination OF the sea
life and the discipline that does 1t.
Neither alone would be adequate, for
these boys would chafe under dlscip-
line unaccompanied by the healthy
concomitants Of navy life, and efforts
to make them conform to 1t would
probably end in miniature rebellion.
Similarly the sea life alone probably
would not perform the miracle. II Is
the two in combination, one compell-
Ing the recognition OF authority
where none had been known before,
and the other making for health and
good nature and happiness.
There is an element of the spec
tacular In sea life that appeals to the
boys from the great cities also. For
although most OF them would not ad'
NIT It, there Is much of the romantic
In their natures, ami that quality finds
small satisfaction in the ordinary
things Of their life. II one thinks
them lacking In romance let him go
to one OF the East Side theatres
where melodrama is being played
or sit through a rendition Of illus.
trated songs so popular with the
masses Of the people. The applause
and Kisses for hero and villain in
the first instance and the intent In
terest that is accorded the sentiment.
al song. no matter how wishy-washy
its verses, will speedily convince him
of his mistake.
These boys OF the slums. under the
subtle influence of the sea and under
discipline. become intensely patriotic,
devoted to the flag and their ship,
willing to fight for the honor OF either
at the drop Of the hat, ana thorough
ly trustworthy. do not believe that
there Is another influence In the world
that could do so much for them, and
the navy will be glad to receive into
Its ranks as many Of them as come"
The adjutant of an army regiment
just returned from the Philippines
was superintehding the disembarka.
tion OF his troops not long ago, when
a corporal who had been with the
regiment In Cuba, but was ordered
to other duty when his comrades
were sent to the Philippines, STEP
ped up to him, begged his pardon,
and renewed an old acquaintance.
The corporal was a man of about 80
years, and he talked OF his work
even here in the ways of peace with
all the interest that might be expect
ed in new recruit. Wistfully he
referred to the service In. the Philip
pines, but there was nothing of envy
in his voice.
'"There goes good soldier" said
the officer to companion, "and we
have lots more like him who will fight
we'll in the Philippines and do the
best work they know how to do here
at home, where there isn't any excite
ment and precious little glory.
Now that fellow was a slouchy
greenhorn four years ago. In the
he has not only accumu-
lated some self-respect and bodily
health, but has got something, enthu-
siasm, which so distinguishes the
army from many non-miltary occu-
pations.
II believe that 1t is the out.of-door
life, coupled with discipline, that be-
gins the making over process In which
the army is so successful The de-
mands Of the army are somewhat diff
ferent from those OF the naval service
for here men are not so easily kept
within stated bounds, and must to
q large degree be placed on their
own responsibility In matters OF per.
sonal restraint. We get good results
here In the army from the material
that comes to us from the country
farms, as well as that from the cities.
The out-of-door life appeals to the
country lad, and he has qualities of
self-reliance and ability to act upon
his own initiative that are invaluable
TO the army,
mo doubt enthusiasm is developed
In both branches OF the service. II
must necessarily be so developed BY
the life, under discipline and by the
Thor, oht that 4. - 49, Lna. - -.