The Benson signal., 1917-09-29
TROOPS IN FRANCE ARE LEARNING
DISCIPLINE OF FOREIGN ARMIES
Officers Are Inclined to Follow Sfneck British SYSTEM But French
Democracy Is Invading Ranks-0w New Crop Of Reserve
Officers Are Greater StickIers for Form Than
Most West Pointers

through the Fort Leavenworth training
school, the reserve officers and a num-
ber Of former "non-coms" recently
elevated to commissions. The greatest
sticklers for discipline are the reserve
officers.
II was talking to a soldier in the
street." said an old West Pointer, "and
he was telling me he had too much
money to spend. I can't use half of
it, he said, and waste it on things
I don't want. Look at the bunch of
cigars bought. Take handful
took three, but I was mighty sorry
afterwards, because I had with me
young fellow, just commissioned Sec
Ond lieutenant, and he was almost
shocked to death that I should take
cigars from a soldier"
The officers who rose from non-coms
are also somewhat stiff and formal in
the exercise of their new-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 commits
sions. Some officers believe in leading
their men, while others in driving them,
while still a third class combine the
two methods. One Of the best young
officers I have seen in the army is
absolutely informal with his men at
times. He comes to their concerts and
hands cigars to the quartette and con-
suits with them as to what song they
shall sing.
the big soldier who sang tenor would
ask, and the captain would answer:
"Does it go like this?" humming bar,
and then add: Eyes, that's good one;
let's have it," He could be stern
enough upon occasion, and he had the
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 conference and told them that
it had to stop.
If the Whole Army Drank.
"Some Of you men are spending all
your money on BOOZE" he said, "and
getting stinko, pinko, sloppy drunk. 1t
won't do. A 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 commission,
sergeant. I was going to recommend
you, but how can I do it now? Just
look at the way I see it. If took my
pay in a lump I could buy every saloon
in the town and stay drunk for two
years. (''I had to exaggerate little"
he confessed when he told the story to
me afterwarO. What do you suppose
would happen then? Suppose the
majors and the colonels and the
generals and the whole bunch got
drunk, what would happen to the
army? Don't forget that this is your
army as much as it is mine. That's
all today"
The chief and most able member of
the English school of discipline is
General Pershing. He puts the drive
in the army. His inspections are
masterpieces of thoroughness and he
is exceedingly stern with all ineffi-
clients, whether they are officers or
soldiers. Slouchy bearing annoys him
fearfully and he takes an active and
penetrating interest in shoes, buttons
and bright metal. He is exceedingly
chary of praise. Probably nobody in
the army will ever call him Papa Per-
shing but for all that he is Roman
father to his men.