The Dermott news., 1917-09-27
TROOPS IN FRANCE ARE LEARNING
DISCIPLINE OF FOREIGN ARMIES
Officers Are Inclined Follow Stneck British SYSTEM But French
Democracy Is Invading Ranks-0ur New Crop OF Reserve
Officers Are Greater Stckers for orm Than
Most West Pointers.

through the Fort Leavenworth training
school, the reserve officers and num-
Der of former ''non-coms' recently
elevated to commissions. The greatest
stickIers for discipline are the reserve
officers
Il was talking to soldier In the
street said an old West Pointer. "and
he was telling me he had too much
money To spend. 1 can't Use half of
it, he said and waste IL on things
| don't want Look nj the bunch of
cigars | bought. Take n handful |
took three. but | was mighty sorry
afterwards. because | had with me n
young fellow, Just commissioned sec
ond lieutenant, and he was almost
shocked tn death that | should take
cigars from soldier"
The officers who rose from non-comS
are also somewhat stiff and formal in
the exercise of their ncW-found honors.
All have been transferred from their
regular regiments, So that they shall
not be associated with the enlisted men
they knew before they held comml.
their men. while others in driving them,
while still third class combine the
two methods one of the best young
officers | have seen In the army Is
absolutely informal with his men At
times. He comes to their concerts and
hands cigars 10 the auartette and CON
suits With them as To what song they
shall sing.
Captain. do you like 'Cathlpen?'
the big soldier who sang tenor would
ask. and the captain would answer;
Does ii go like this2' humming bar.
and then add YES, that's n good one;
let's have It." He could be stern
enough upon occasion. and he had the
best homhers In the army but liked
his men To know the reasons for things.
He was fond of letting them get his
point OF view about things Thus.
when he found some soldiers drinking
too much, soon after their landing, he
called n conference and told them that
II had to stop.
II the Whole Army Drank.
"Some OF you men are spending all
your money on booze he said. land
getting stlnko. pinko. sloppy drunk. II
won't do. few old privates get
drunk. but don't copy them. It's Just
because OF that they're old privates.
I'm going To choose my non-coms from
YOU. but not the men who drink. You've
drunk yourselves out of n commission,
sergeant | was going 10 recommend
YOU, but how can | do IL now? Just
look nj the way | see 1t. II took my
pay In n lump | could buy every saloon
in the town and stay drunk for two
years CT had to exaggernte n little"
he confessed when he told the story to
me afterwarD. What do You suppose
would happen them suppose the
ma Tors and the culonels and the
generals md the whole bunch got
drunk what would happen To the
army? Don't forget that this is your
army rs much as II is mine. That's
all to-day"
The chief and most able member Of
the English school of discipline *
General Pcrshing. He puts the drive
in the army. His inspections are
masterpieces OF thoroughness and he
is exceedingly stern with all netti-
clients whether they ARE officers or
soldiers. Slouchy hearing annoyS him
foarfuily and he takes nm active and
penetrating interest In shoes. buttons
and bright metal. He Is exceedingly
ehary OF praise. Probably nobody in
the army will ever call him fnpn Per
shing, hut for all that he is Il Roman
father 10 his men.