The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-06-03
ARMY DRUM
LONG OUTWORN
Its Abolition in Russia For War
Purposes Follows Example
of Other Countries
MERELY Sentimental. ADJUNCT
Col. Heistand Points Out that 1t Be-
lonsed to the Old Days OF Bright
Uniforms and Noisy Phalanxes-
The Drummer Boy Of Fiction.

IL ShCiC huo DCCh bub llttlC
in army circles here over the news
ahat the Russian government has Just
decided to do away with its army
drummers in time of war, II is because
Russia, instead of introducing an in
novation in the art of warfare, has
merely followed in the footsteps of
many another civilized nation. The
United States army. according to Off
GERS In the service, abolished its drum
mers years ago, and there are few
countries to-day which continue to
maintain a drum and fife corps for
purposes of warfare.
To be sure, there are drummers in
our army to-day, but their services
are designed for use in times of
peace. So, too in the Russian army.
An order signed the other day by
Gar Nicholas provided that Russian
drummers hereafter should be trained
in craftsmanship, so as to be prepared
to become active combatants in time
of need. These conditions, new to
Russia, have prevailed in this and
other countries, it is said, for many
years. Ever since modern methods
began to be introduced in military
tactics it was a foregone conclusion
that the drum and the fife must soon
er or later go the way of many other
antiquated implements. Like the
pyramids of neatly piled cannon balls
which decorate the yards Of army
garrisons throughout the land, they
are to-day relics of q past that has
played its part in history and is now
outgrown. Army men, however, are
perhaps inclined to bestow a little
sentiment on the corps of musicians
who were once regarded as an inGis-
pensable adjunct to every military Or
ganization. But from a purely prac-
tical point of view, they admit that
the institution has no longer any rea-
son for existing.
Perhaps, also, the drummer boy"
c-ory-book notoriety, who was ever
be relied on to turn the tide Of
tile when his comrades were about
clcy to throw down their arms and
ct hasty retreat, was not quite
- picturesque in reality as might be
Gurposed.
The army drummer had his short.
comings, according to Col. H. o. Hei.
stand, adjutantgeneral of the Depart.
ment Of the East, who is stationed on
Governors Island
For one thing" said the colonel
to-day, "the drum required as much
'care as any rife. When the weather
was at all bad. the sheepskin would
get wet and the next thing you knew
your drums were out Of commission
altogether.
Besides, he only gives his army's
whereabouts away. You see, he be-
longs to the age Of bright, gaudy uni
forms, helmets, and the like, when
men marched out into the open and
Tired volleys at another body of men
all drawn up in martial array. But
the time for such things has passed.
Nowadays, we wear dull-covered uni.
forms. for concealment, and every.
thing is done on an entirely different
principle.
1.-THE Russians have only done what
most other countries have done, but
Il would not like to say that they had
been backward about making the
change.
From what l know of them, the
Russians are good soldiers. | saw a
good deal Of them over in China dur
Ing the Boxter campaign, and they
left very favorable impression"
Col. Heistand added that despite
the changes which had been responsi.
bic for the abolition of the drum and
fife corps, there was still demand.
IN time Of war, for the bugler. The
bugler, he said, served a useful pur-
pose because he could communicate
official orders over great territory.
But the drum and fife no longer fill
"a place In the machinery OF warf"re.
Nm most instances, they have been in.
co porated In the band and are now
heard only when the troops are on
parade.