The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-09-13

claim superior bravery for their SOL
liers. The display of heroism excites
Is much admiration in Germany as
anywhere else; but the German gem
oral staff considers that the we'll
trained, properly nourished and
clothed soldier, who strictly
obeys the orders given to him, is by
sheer necessity as brave as the military
service requires. A forced display Of
bravery by general, officer or soldier,
generally proves more disastrous than
otherwise. AS nourishment has been
we may add that history
furnishes many examples where half
famished aDd ragged soldiers have
fought with supreme courage and
great desperation; but it cannot be
denied that a properly fed soldier
possesses superior stamina, power of
endurance and intelligent discernment.
Many war has been lost because
the commander in the field was handi-
capped by orders received from coun-
Gil of war, or by war department. It
will be remembered that in our War of
Secession it is claimed that Mcclellan
and his three successors were greatly
hampered by instructions from Wash
ington, and it was not until freedom
of action was conferred on Gen. Grant,
that the North was enabled to achieve
success. Now matters are reversed
once more. The commander cannot
follow his own initiative; but must
obey the orders OF the general staff.
But the chief of this staff, as we'll as
Its other members, are not in the CAPT.
tai, but with the army In the field.
Tney, and they alone, are IN a position
TO know exactly when and III what
numbers reinfOrcements are due and
where they will be most needed. At
such matters commander car only
guess. For in these days OF enormous
numbers, the total war strength is
divided IN armies of from 100000 to
100000 men; for larger bodies could
neither be handled nor effectively
transported to any given point. Be-
sides, very large bodies could not be
moved advantageOusly over a single
road. They must be moved in detach-
ments over different roads, and come
from different directions; but this must
be done in such manner that, with
out fail, they meet the enemy with
united forces in battle. That is one of
the chief aims of the general staff.
Quickness of mobilization, of trans
pOrtatiOn and of action is of the most
vital importance. To achieve such
quickness is no child's play. The staff
must know exactly, where and how
many cars, and on what railroads, they
have at their disposal; must know
how many troops of each arm Gin
fantry, cavalry, etc., they must send to
this or that station, and at what times;
must see to it that the necessary pro-
visions for men and horses, ammuni-
tiOn, etc., accompanies each division;
and must see to hundreds of other
details tn at the occasion and necessity
may require.
ALL these matters must be carefully
studied and prepared in time of peace,
otherwise sudden war would find
everything in utter chaos. We, here
in America, can sing song to that
tune, for even in that little sklrmish-
ing in Cuba everything required was
so delayed, that it would have caused
serious embarrassment, if we had had
to deal with another than a fourth
rate power, which was fighting 5000
miles away from her base of supply.
The work of the general staff never
ends. New conditions, new require
: ments, new political situations and
new matters to be taken care of, are
constantly arising. Even if one war
has been ended successfully, prepara-
tions for further emergencies must be
made at once. In settling the terms
, of peace, the staff plays an important
part, as it alone is competent to Judge
properly where troops of occupation
can be placed to best advantage, and
what positions and Notifications
} should be retained or ceded. There
} are a great many other things that
, might be considered in this connec.
tion: but from what has been said
the reader will be convinced of the
) great importance of an efficient gen
> eral staff. The Office of staff mem
, Der, tho highly honorable, is nj
. of incessant work, comprising many
very disagreeable duties and, therefore
I it is not sought for nor desired By
! many officers.
, We shall endeavor to picture to oul
, readers in our next number the work
ings of the general staff in times o.
q war, in such way that we shall demon
r strate nothing but what history ha
n proved to be actual facts. 1880.