The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-05-19
SUFFER THE MOST
BEFORE A BATTLE
German Soldier Gives PSyChOl-
Ogy Of War as II Affects
the Men.
FEAR IS ROUTED BY SONG
Doubt and Expectancy Proves Un
uerving 10 Many-Fighters As.
sailed by Thousands of
Thoughts. Says Former
Schoolteaeher.

| N'sAh'Nef SNtg NHf'NH
Sehoolteaeher.
Berlln-The following interesting
article giving the psychological study
OF a battle, was written by a German
schoolteacter, who since has beer
killed on the west front. The article
which appears in the German papers
has caused considerable comment:
TO describe the sensations, the
emotions and the innermost feelings
OF the soul OF a soldier in battle is an
unusually interesting but difficult
task. While the battle RACES a
soldier is beset and agitated by
thousands of thoughts that flash like
| lightning through his brain, but II Is
only during the remarkable calm that
comes after a battle that he is enabled
to analyze them. AS | have partici'
pated In thirty-six engagements and
battles, both on the eastern and west
ern fronts, have been in a position to
make a study Of the soul of the soldier.
It is a great subject for the psychol-
ogist and one that opens a mine OF val
uabie information.
"ls This Rea2"
THE troops receive orders at night
to prepare for a charge the next morn.
ing. The first thought is is this real?
Somehow, II seems like a dream. II is
the same thought that stirs the soul
in any great event in life, be it one
of Joy or one OF sorrow. 1t does not
seem real.
However, when the soldier does
realize that 1t is no nightmare, he be.
gins to thin. OF the likelihood of
death claiming him in that battle.
A strange iudescribablo fear begins
to agitate the soul. The awful
thought posters him that he will go
to his death and leave home and
loved ones and everything that is
dear in moment of time. He pom.
ders over tue subject of immortality
and wonders if death comes whether
it will mean eternal darkness and an.
initiation.
ITO one who is in the prime Of life,
who has everything to live for, hell
itself cannot offer torture to equal
the terrorizing doubts that assail the
soul in those dreadful moments be.
fore a battle.
Then, too, the thoughts come that
we have not made the most of life;
that there is so much which we
would still like to do; that if only Civ
an the opportunity how different we .
would shape our life in the future.
"All night long the troops move to
he front, and all night long we think
If God and the uncertainty that lies
iirectly before us.
Song Routs Fear.
Morning comes. 1t is a most beau.
iful morning; the sun shining warm
md bright. The notes Of German
ong are waited on the still air. 1t
S q song OF the fatherland and all
DIN in the chorus. 1t is then that we
orget all our doubts and fears. A
ew life seems to be born within us.
III fear has vanished and we are
eady to go down to the gates of
cath unairaid.
And then the battle. The bullets
egin to whistle. In those first mo-
lents every soldier naturally looks
1r some sheltered place for protec-
ion. Nevertheless, the soul is re-
larkably calm. Though comrades
re falling on all sides we never for
moment think Of being hit by bull
inning toward the enemy. All feel
lg, all thought, all emotion, all sensa-
on is obliterated, we go on, fearing
Othing. Occasionally we hear a
1ice uttering curse or threat, due
the hate against the enemy, born !
lew in the thick Of battle. That
cling of hate becomes uppermost.
@ are seized with a frenzy of rage,
I'd our one thought is to meet the
lemy face to face and annihilate
m. AS this hate is mingled with a
rtain feeling Of patriotism and love !
r the fatherlapd, the lust Of battle
developed in such a manner as to
iet our nerves and forget all about 1
niger and death. v
The battle has been fought and N
IN. The soul experiences an indie Z
ribable peace, but when we begin l
see our broken ranks and make
unit OF our fallen comrades, painful
nsations follow. Then only do we D
alize what danger we so callously "
oed, and a wave of thoughtfulness
lrms our blood and body. "
The feelings and sensations on y
lerging from a battle are like those II
convalescence from d serious ill
IS. The tired soul longs FOR peace
d rest, and the soldier falls into =
ep, sound, dreamless sleep, in which
the fear and stress and storm OF
, time are forgotten"