Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-08-18
LESSON NO. 8.
NINE sOLDIERY QUALITIES.


The three basic qualities. Loyalty
Obedience and Physical Fitness, were
treated in the preceding lesson. There
Is another group OF three soldierly
qualities that are especially needed
during the periods Of training. march,
ing and waiting between combats.
They are:
Intelligence.
Cleanliness
Cheerfulness.
Although these qualities are assoc
ciated chiefly with camp life, they
are. OF course scarcely less helpful
in all other phases Of military ser
vice.
Intelligence.
Intelligence does not necessarily
mean education bat rather quick OBJ
servation and willingness TO learn.
There is plenty OF need for inteili-
gence in modern warfare. The Ma
tional Army VIII be forced TO absorb
within few months a training which
would ordinarily extend over period
OF two or three years. THOSE VINO
intend to ~ themselves for promotion
should study thoroughly the manuals
and the driu regulations when anect
their duties. In time they shouiu
learn something about map-maKlhs
and map-reading the construction ui
field entertainments, training anu
oore ~ aorses signalling, the hand
ling Of complex pieces OF machinery
and many other subjects.
Anv practical knowledge that you
NAV now nossess will surely be use
mi and helpful 10 you in the army
Cant Ian Hay Beth OF the knglisn
Army noints out that in the urst
Rritish forces OF the present war the
nrevious trade or training OF every
eoldier was sooner or later utilized.
Cleanliness.
Cleanliness is important every
where but most of all in the army
ohere large bodies Of men are
hrouaht together. In its true sense
n includes no. only keeping your
bodv clean but also your mind ana
vour actions. Fortunately II is
virfue in which Americans geperaliy
rank high. There should be litIe
aiflculty In setting satisfactory
standard in the new army. This is
subject more fully treated later IN
this course.
Cheerfulness.
Cheerfulness IS always prominent
,rsit ~ good soldiers. Here again
Americans may be counted upon 70
make a splendid showing, even in the
faco If any unexpected hardships or
dificulties that may be ahead OF US.
There are numerous episodes IN
American military history 10 JUSTIFY
his confidence.
law IN camp at Falmouth Va. About
month before had occurred the DIS
astrous and bloody defeat or Fred
sriclxrburg In the North Il was the
darkest hour OF the war. Everywhere
outside the army there was depres'
sion and fear. On January Il. tnt
commanding general ordered th'
froobs In break camp and move Tot.
ward At the same time "a colo
5r'zzling rain set in; the ground
sneedilv became Ike a sea OF glue
overvthing upon wheels sunk into tn'
hottomless mud; K took weny horsei
10 start a single ca'sson: hundreds o
faer died In harness; bu; sun 'h'
General persisted But the rain per
sisted also. and It soon became
simple impossibility to go forward.
Af.er two DAYS Of effort II was neces
Eary to have the men struggle am
Founder through the wilderness y
mud back 10 Their camp. s.s.s
Picture the situation; recent ueieo
with heavy losses retreat a ehseiies
mid-winter camp RAM coiei hlul, ",
enlargement at homes long mar
under the most trying conditlous ene
ing in n return 20 the same camp
ground from which the troops nao s''lll
Ell. A little rumbling might reason
ably have been expected. but me me
- isG9 wore too GOOD soldiers to dra
long faces. The historian goes on
@The march was made in high GOO
humor. the soldiers laughing and lokn
at their ill-mck with that comic hrigh
ness characteristic OF Americans in din
cult circumstances
Three Qualities Of Battle
Finally. there are the three bait
qualities of the good soldier;
Spirit,
Tenacity,
Self-reliance
Unless a man has these three qua
ties-even though he possesses all u
other six in good measurable Is, AIT
all, only campfire soldier
Spirit
Spirit-fghting spirits far fro
being mere hatred Of the enemy
blind fury on the one hand; nor is
mere passive obedience TO orders,
the other. Il means cool, selt-eo
trolled couragc-the kind OF eoura
which enables man TO shoot
straight on the battlefield as he do
in target practice. However, It ey
goes step beyond that point. De
sve victories cannot he won by mel
" repulsng the enemy. "Only the
fensive wins.' Infantry Drill ,Reg
lations. paragraph SID.
ike all the other qualities Of
soldier. spirit can be cultivated.
unframed army seldom possesses
But It can be developed. You can a
will develop it until it becomes as mu
part Of yourself as any Of your eas
going civilian habits are now.
Tenaclty.
Spirit carries a body OF soldle
forward Tenacity is the quail
{ hat makes them stick" The tn
ough soldier is never ready to st
lighting until his part OF the bat
IS won Tenacity was never beti
expressed than in the words of 10
Paul Jones. Standing among his de
md wounded on his sinking 81
which was leaking like a baske
be replied to his adversary's invi