Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08
THE BANISHED DRUM.
France to Remove Traditional lnstru-
ment From Army.
From the New York Globe.

From the New York Globe
II the Germans had done 1t, 1t would have
been less surprising. They were the hrst
10 turn armies into fighting machines anu
battles into complex mechanfsms with oia-
grams If the English had done II on ono
of their recurring fits of army reform, IL
would have been only one more eVioehce
that during those seizures they are capapie
of anything If the Japanese had Done IT,
II would have seemed almost matter VI
course-alother of their incidental Improve
ments upon the art OF war But 'hat
Frenchmen, who love the stirring. the PIC
turesque and the traditional, VINO Keep d
warmer corner in their hearts FOR military
glory than any other raee-that fTencnhen
should have done 1t Is almost unbeiievapie
Yet there is the report of Gen. Faure-
Biguet In yesterdays dispatches from Paris,
and there is the approval or lne MINISTER
of war Henceforth there are to pc no
more drums and no more drumming III INC
French army. 1t is an order.
Drums shrink when they are wetteo'
says the obseryant general Iuue' oot eo
do mems quickness and courage when they
go into battle without sounds that nave De-
come almost an instructive stimulus TO
them Drums are heavy and cumbersome
on a march. continues the general irue
again; but the beat of them has Ignted tle
sten of MANY q firing soldier. There are
10 900 drummers In the French army. They
might be 10000 fighting men. But NUMBERS
have not always won battles. BuBies are
easier to hear at distance. Have theS
the note of resolve in them that stays re-
treats?
These are the protesting arguments on
seutimentahsts The military experts Will
properly disregard them. They are steeieo
against sentiment they are against some
other things that have way OF couhelhs
In human nature. They are turning WaF
into a mechanical process. and soldiers into
stripped but efficient machines. Already
we have nearly smokeless battles. NOW We
may have nearly soundleSs troops may
march to their thoughts OF their regula-
tions not to the rhythmic tap of the drum.
Gone are the distinctive uniforms. Every
thing In dirt color. Lances are obsolete.
and cavalry but show except for scouting
and pursuit. The pageantry or war Is De-
coming as remote from the actual business
OF It as the dresses at a costume bail from
the everyday clothes OF Hfe- Has the
change lessened the glamour and the sent-
mental and popular appeal of war and the
soldiers trade? Some Will say yes. and bid
the experts beware that they are not KILL
ing their own profession.
But the poets, the romancers, the paint
ers and all the rest who use war In their
arts are in the worst case Of all. They are
losing their martial drum" and for CEN
turtles II has stood them in good stead.
They have written songs around II. like
Thackeray; made It into stories like Kip
ling: put 1t into their Fairgrounds like the
French military painters. Soon. II the new
fashion spreads. Il will be only an humble
instrument of percussion" in q concert
orchestra. There Will be no more artistic
inspiration in it than there Is in 8 triangle.
sentiment in Its tracks. In few years II
may be time for Thackeray's toast:
So here's to all gentlemen drumsners
That ever have thumped ON q sktu.