Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-27
FIGHTING men
Military Expert Tells Something
of the Spirit Animating
French Army.

In q communication to the National
Geographic society, Granville Fortes-
cue. the military expert. draws q
sharp distinction between the French
and the German soldier and the cam
aradarie which exists between the
French officer and his mel compared
with the relations obtaining between
the German officer and the private.
A part of the communication is issued
by the society as the following bulletin
in its war geography series:
"The wide, u~nbridgeable chAsm
which exists between the officer and
the private in the German company
bAttalions. French soldiers recognize
the need of dicipline, of the value Of
teamwork and the urgency Of obey
ing in battle as the very foundation Of
their worth as citizen soldiers. They
know also that they, OF their own vo-
lttion, have created the authority be-
hind the ofacer, and for this reason
there can be nothing degrading in the
surrender of personal privilege in the
Discipline is not maintained
through fear, but by public opinion.
Each private soldier, recognizes that
his individual efficiency and effective
ness, and consequently the efficiency
and effectiveness Of the whole French
army, is based on his prompt and In
telligent obedience of orders delivered
by military superiors.
Fl knows that his officers are
trained specialists in war and puts
himself freely in their hands, so that
III nations will in war NAV be &C.
complished. He understands the suc.
cessive limitations of military author
ity-the private to the sergeant, the
sergeant to the lieutenant, the lieuten-
ant to the captain, the captain t o the
grade up to General Petain who. in
turn, Is responsible to France. with
this conception of his duty, the mos,
din1cult part of military instruction ia
readily instilled into the French re-
cruit.
thoroughly to appreciate the re-
latlons Of officer to soldier in the
French army they must be seer to-
sether In the trenches. The captain
watches over his mon like a father'
he shows a sympathetic understand
ing OF their difficulties, while demand
lng In the common cause a rigorous
adherence to their duties. The oficer
sets the highest standard of perform
c Tor himself n exacts the best
each OF his mel a do.
But the soldier knows he can 70
"NSSA Will LAS private Trouble
and receive helpful advice. He knows
he will V meet with Intentional in
justice. And what gives him supreme
confidence is the knowledge that he
Will be led with intelligence and skill,
The French officer is consts nt,v
alert to take advantage Of the enemy
ana safeguard. his own men. Ths
Greatest crime In the officers calendar
10 Wantonly to waste the life of a sub.
Circumstances may cali for
n last sacrifice at times, but short
OF this condition the French cnrns
mander husbands the lives Of his mar
as q miser his pieces OF gold.
IN an attack he Will plan INV
tney. U creep from shell.hole IL
shell-hole. keeping as safe as poss,his
from the enemy's artillery Are. He
VIII study the ground in front Of his
= Tor every available bit Of cover
en0 30 maneuver his men that thev
wili gain its every advantage. He viii
elaborate trench and sap until Ma nnAn
are safe % the battle front nern,its
1eeling his duty to his country a..
mands not only that he dafslt :
enemy. but that he defeat him u,itn
me minsmum expenditure Of the lives
under the command.
Men learn quickly to a~pprac;.+.
This quality In their oficers anS III
appreciation brings about a 4 AZ
loyalty which closely knits an arye.;
AHto an unbeatable tHholA"