Semi-weekly herald., 1917-08-20

cueeIieSs iniu-Wintcf camp, RAM
cold; mud; discouragement at home;
long march under the most trying
conditions, ending in return to the
same campin ground from which the
troops had started. A little grumbl-
ing might reasonably have been ex-
pected. But the men Of 1863 were too
good soldiers to draw long faces.
The historian goes on: "The march
was made in high good humor, the
soldiers laughing and joking at their
ill-luck with that comic brightness
characteristic of Americans in diff
ficult circumstances"
Three Qualities of Battle.
Finally, there are the three battle
qualities of the good soldier:
Spirit, Tenacity, Self-reliance.
Unless a man has these three quail
ities-even tho he possesses all the
other six in good measurable is
after all only camp fire soldier.
Spirit.
Spirit-fighting spirits far from
being mere hatred of the enemy or
blind fury, on the one hand; nor is it
mere passive obedience to orders, on
the other. 1t means cool, self-con-
trolled courage-the kind of courage
which enables man to shoot as
straight on the battlefield as he does
in target practice. However, it even
goes step beyond that point. Deci-
sive victories cannot be won by
merely repulsing the enemy. "Only
the offensive wins" Infantry Drill
Regulations, paragraph 511.)
Like all the other qualities of a
soldier, spirit can be cultivated. An
unframed army seldom possesses it.
But it can be developed. You can and
will develop it until it becomes as
much part of yourself as any of
your easy-going civilian habits are
now.
Tenacity.
Spirit carries body of soldiers
forward Tenacity is the quality
that makes them "stilk." The thoro
soldier is never ready to stop fight
ing until his part of the battle is
won. Tenacity was never better ex-
pressed than in the words of John
Paul Jones. Standing among his
,laol ,nl ,,o,,aJoJ an HE, e;nL;,cr el;,,
which was leaking like basket"
he replied to his adversary's invita-
ton to surrender, "Sir, have not yet
begun to fight" Two hours later
! the battle came to sudden end
when the colors of the eneiny's yes
sci We're hauled down.
Self-Reliance.
Self reliance is characteristic of
the American, whether he is serving
as a soldier or in some civil oc-
cupation. Much the s1me quality is
sometimes referred to- as Initiative"
1t is quality needed more than
ever before in present-day warfare.
Major General Leonard Wood, in his
introduction to the Field Service
Regulations of the United States
army says:
"Officers and men of all ranks and
grades are given certain independ-
ence in the execution of the tasks to
which they are assigned and are ex-
pected to show initiative in meeting
the different situations as they ar
rive. Every individual, from the
highest commander to the lowest pri-
vate, must always remember that in
action and neglect of opportunities
will warrant more severe censure
than an error in the choice of the
MEANS"
Making Yourself Stronger.
The nine qualities which have just
been reviewed are those which every
one of us would like to have for him
self. They are the essentials of vir-
lie and successful manhood, whether
in the army or out of it. Even the
moral weakling and the Stacker in
their hearts admire these qualities.
Doubtless you have developed some
of them already-perhaps all of them
to a greater or less extent. Many a
man has discovered, when put to the
test, that he possessed these qualities
without having himself realized it.
But under civilian condition it is not
easy to cultivate all of them.
In the army you will have your
opportunity in few months of train
ing to strengthen these qualities in
yourself. In so doing you will learn
to control yourself, to take care of
yourself under all conditions, to
meet hardship and danger unflinch-
ingly, to be fearless and self-reliant.