Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-09
BADEN-PCWELL'S
QUICK TRAINING
FOR A Soldier

Sir Robert Baden Powell, the Brit
ish general who defended Mafeking IN
the Boer war, has just issued in Eng
lish an interesting little book called,
Quick Training for War"
The book is frankly an emergency
book: not, as the author explains,
volume of "potted tactics" nor even a
complete substitute for the army train
ing manuals. But the latter take time
to master and more time to apply 70
troops -: - p. -%...... ..
1.-The present crisis" according to
Baden-Powell, demands a quicker de-
velopment of some sort of efficiency
for the field than is laid down In these
books; therefore have attempted
few suggestions from practical exper-
fence to this end and toward develop
ing that spirit, which is described IN
these manuals as the essential part
of military training H. ~
Sir Roberts book contains many
neat stories and Is refreshingly spiced
with humor, so that 1t is as far. from
dry-as-dust as any work could be.
Stern self-discipiine is one of the
golden keys that unlock the secret OF
soldierly courage, according to Sir
Robert, who cites General Nogi, the
great Japanese leader, who displayed
in his life and in his death the high
est personal courage and who said
that. though timid by nature, he had
developed this quality by stern sell
discipline. ."* ~"
When he found 4 job which caused
him apprehension or fear, he forced
himself to face it. and to repeat 1t
again and again until it no longer had
any terrors for MIN.
at is that taking oneself firmly in
hand that enables man to stick 1t
out against the impulse of his knees
to give in or to run away in crisis, :"
says Baden-PoweI.
getting confidence IN himself, a natur-
ally timid man may go very far to-
ward finally overcoming fear. If a
soldier can march well, ndrjudge dis
tances, and shoot straight and Is skill
ed with his bayonet or sword or lance;
If he is good at night work and
intrenihing, he begins to feel
that the, man against who he is
/ fighting is no better man than
he perhaps. Confluence is ones
officer and ones comrades is also a
big factor in courage on the battle
field.
1t is no discredit to man naturally
to lack physical courage, but it be-
comes discreditable If he does not
make efforts to overcome his coward
ice.
Courage, common sense. cunning
and cheerfuIness," Baden:Powell puts
in Importance before mere drill as the
requisites of fighting man. First, 1t
will be noted, he places courage.
without this soldier is practically
useless in the field" Yet some very
great soldiers have admitted to feel
ling miserably afraid during their open
| ing bouts with the enemy.
The case of General Grant is a his
toric example In the Civil war. he
admitted, he was in desperate funk
at his first battle. Although ashamed
to do 1t, he found himself lodging and
creeping about in order to avoid being
! shot. Then suddenly it struck him
that the fellows on the other side were
doing the same thing to prevent him
from shooting them. He realized, In
fact, that they we're just as much
afraid of him as he of them. He
rushed at them, therefore, and-they
bolted
Telling the tale land Baden-P Powell
tells it AGAIN. Grant declared that
this experience cured him of cold
feet" Ever afterward he believed in
putting a fine face on it. pretending
that he felt Drawer than he did, and
going for the enemy with as much
Vigor as he could muster.