Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-05-31
THURSDAY, MAY 81. 1917
LETTER FROM WILBUR ROGERS

To Editor OF World.
Dear Sir:
Enclosed are some quotations from
the Field Service Regulations of the
Russian army issued for the instruc-
tions and guidance of the Russian
soldiers.
Since the Russian Republic is now
an ally of the United States in the
war, possibly the readers of the
World would be interested in the
principals which the Russian soldiers
try to live up to when they go into
a fight.
When the complete history of the
war is written and we know the
difficulties under which our Russian
comrades have struggled, we will
realize that they have done well for
the chance they have had.
Even though you perish, help your
comrade
Yours truly,
Wilbur Rogers,
Captain of Field Artillery
Battle Maxins for Russian Soldiers
Forward against the enemy even
though the lines that have proceeded
you have been defeated.
If you have no fear of death you
will surely be victorious.
If your task is hard that of the
enemy is not easier, perhaps even
more difficult than yours. You only
see your own difficulties and not
those of the enemy, which certainly
hI1f
at the first opportunity, strike. The
best method of defense is to attack.
In a fight, he is victorious who
| is the most stubborn and daring, not
he who is clever and strong. Victory
is not achieved by a single effort; the
enemy has also learned to be stead
| fast; sometimes a second and a third
effort is not successful; under such
circumstances one must make q
fourth attempt and, if necessary
others until victory is achieved.
Clever dispositions make easy the
achievement of particular tasl
with the smallest possible losses, but
they only help. He only reaches hi:
goal who is determined to die rather
than fail.
/ Whatever the obstacles on the
road to success may be, your only
though should be how to overcom.
them. You must not permit your
self to think that they cannot b.
overcome.
A good troop has neither real
nor TANKS but only a front, which
meets the enemy from whatever dir
ection he may come.
Should the enemy appear however
unexpectedly, one must not forge
that he can be defeated either with
the bayonet or by fire. 1t is mo-
difficult to choose. Your formation
is a secondary consideration. Wher
the enemy is close use the bayonet
when he is distant first use fire,late1
the bayonet.
There is no situation from which
one cannot issue with honor.
In battle, troops are not relieved
When you have become engaged il
a fight you must remain in it to tn,
end. You will be reinforced but no
relieved.
During battle help only your fight
ing comrades; after the defeat O
the enemy, think of the wounded
for he who worries about the wound
ed during a fight and leaves his
place to help them is a coward an,
not merciful man as there are al
ways special detachments for the
care of the wounded.
II you are leader, do not inter
fere with the activities of your sub
ordinates when you see they are wei
performed. He who troubles him
self with the affairs of others neg
lects his own Every superior an
subordinate must be permitted indie
pendenceo and responsibility in hi
province; if the former is not con
also. A superior should see that Al
do their duty. In this respect b
must not be indulgent.