The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-12-07

iERMs: Six Months 50 cents.
weak two armies may be, victory is
always the sole measure of this
strength.
If it is possible to be victorious with
Inferior strength in dealing with still
more inferior enemy, then the victory
will be so much the more assured to
the stronger part, the greater surplus
Of strength he can dispose Of. For
this reason it becomes the duty of
every nation to work for the possibly
highest grade of military capability,
for no nation can tell beforehand what
odds she will have to contend against.
Particularly does this hold good for all
nations who are solicitous of becoming
world powers.
AS stated above, the physically
and morally well-developed man, with
his patriotism, courage and readiness
for self-sacrifce, is always the most
part ofan army. Then come
the technical appliances, and the per-
fection of their handling. The geo.
position and the theatre of
war play an important part; but these
two latter always remain what they are,
while the former factors are capable of
increasing their military value.
The demands of war have to form
the regulator for the preparing of an
army in time of peace. All the work
that is done in this respect, has to be
judged from the standpoint of whether
or not it tends to strengthen the army.
Only that is of value which can serve
to vanqulsh the enemy. The only logical
purpose of a war is to disable the ad.
versary from further resistance, and to
obtain this result at the least possible
sacrifice of ones own men, and in the
least possible space of time.
This short statement will tend to
show that the peace work of an army
is as far-reaching as it is important.
War is very serious thing, and the
preparations for it should be serious
also. Some people entertain the idea
that the work of an army in time Of
peace is dull and tiresome. It may be-
come so, and often does, in cases where
the army is considered matter OF
show and conventionality; but never
when the work is what it ought to be-;
timely and thorough preparation for
war. How manifold are the energies
of body and mind which are developed
by war! And how large is the number
of the technical appliances; and how
much practice, knowledge and care
fulness is required in the proper hand.
ling of these appliancesl Even IL
nothing else had to be considered than
the physical and psychological develop
ment of the human material, that
alone would form highly interesting
and many-sided work. Of everything
that surrounds us, man is the most in
teresting subject; he is the most
developed organism of this world, and
offers continually new problems.
Whosoever's duty it is to conduct the
proper training, disciplining and
educating of the soldier, is at the same
time an educator of the entire nation;
for a really good and useful soldier is
under all circumstances also good and
useful member of the human society.
Therefore the people should take In.
terest in the men who are their pro-
tectors at the time being; but who will
be their future coworkers and fellow
citizens.
In many of the European countries
in which compulsory military service
is obligatory alike on the son of the
millionaire and noblemsn, as on the
son of the poorest inhabitant, it is fully
acknowledged that nothing has con-
tributed so much to the physical and
mental uplifting of the entire nation,
as the training which the men received
while performing their military duties.
There is not nation in the world
which does not claim that her soldiers
are the bravest of them all; and every
nation admonishes her SONS to be brave
j As q matter of fact the nations are
about equally brave; but some possess
more power of endurance than others
Modern warfare does not offer SO many
chances for display Of personal courage
! as were offered in former times, and
; the soldier who should try to distinguish
himself by personal exploits, Otter
, does more harm than good, unless he
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