Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-08-15

glish Army, points out that in the
first British forces of the present
war the previous trade or training
or every soldier was sooner or later
utilized.
Cleanliness
Cleanliness is important every
where, but most of all in the army
where large bodies of men are
brought together. In it's true sense,
~ includes not only keeping your
BODY clean, but also your mind and
your actions. Fortunately it is
virtue in which Americans generally
rank high. There should be little
olnlculty in setting a satisfactory
standard in the new army. This is
subject more fully treated later
in this course.
Checrfulness
Cheerfulness is always a promi-
nent trait of good soldiers. Here
again Americans may be counted
upon to make a splendid showing,
even in the face of any unexpected
hardships or difficulties that may be
ahead OF us. There are numerous
episodes in American military his
tory to justify this confidence.
In January, 1863, the. Union Army
lay in camp at Falmouth. Va. About
month before had occurred the
Fredericksburg. In the North it was
the darkest hour of the war. Ev-
eryWhere outside the army there was
depression and fear. On January 81.
the commanding general ordered the
troops to break camp and move for
ward. At the same time "a cold
drizzling rain set in; the ground
speedily became like a sea of glue;
everything upon wheels sunk into
the hnffnn1lac mud. 90
horses to start II single caisson; hun
dreds of them died in harness; but
still the general persisted. But the
rain persisted also, and it soon be-.
came a simple impossibility to go
forward" After two days of effort
1t was necessary to have the men
struggle and founder through the
wilderness of mud back to their
camp"
Picture the situation Recent de-
feat with heavy losses; retreat;
cheerless midwinter camp; rain;
cold; mud; discouragement at home;
long march under the most trying
conditions ending in a return to the
same camping ground from which
the troops had started. A little grum-
bling might reasonably have been
expected. 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
cult circumstances.
Three Qualities of Battle
Finally there are the three battle
qualities of the good soldier:
Spirit,
Tenacity,
SeIf-reliance
Unless man has these three quail
1ues-eVen though he possesses all
the other six in good measurable is
after all only a campfire soldier.
Spirit
Spirit-fighting spirits far from
being mere hatred of the enemy or
blind fury, on the one hand; nor is
1t mere passive obedience to orders,
on the other. 1t means cool, self
controlled courage-the kind of
courage which enables q man to
shoot as straight on the battlefield
as he does in target practice. How
ever, it even goes a step beyond
that point. Decisive victories cannot
be won by merely repusing the
enemy. only the offensive wins"
Qnfantry Drill Regulations, para
graph 511.)
like all the other qualities of
soldier, spirit can be cultivated. An
unframed army seldom possesses it.
But it can be developed. You can
and will develop 1t until it becomes
as much a part of yourself as any
of your easy-going civilian habits are
now.
Tenacity
Spirit carries a body of soldiers
forward. Tenacity is the quality that
makes them Stick The thorough
soldier is never ready to stop fight
ing until his part of the battle is
won. Tenacity was never better ex-
expressed than in the words of John
Paul Jones. Standing among his dead
and wounded or his sinking ship
which was leaking like a basket"
he replied to his adversary's invita-
ton to surrender, "Slr, l have not
yet begun to fight" Two hours later
the battle came to sudden end
when the colors of the enemy's ves-
sci were hauled down.
Sclf-ReIiance
Self-reliance IL characteristic of
the American, whether he is serving
as a soldier or in some civil occupa-
ton. Much the same quality is some
times referred to as Initiative" 1t
is a quality needed more than ever
before in prcsent-day warfare. Ma
jor General Leonard Wood, in his in
PRODUCTION to the Field Service Reg.
ulations 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
expected to show initiative in meet
ing the different situations as they
arrive. Every individual, from the
highest commander to the lowest
private, must always remember that
inaction and neglect of opportuni-
ties will warrant more severe CEN
sure than an error in the choice of
the means"
Making Yourself Stronger
The nine qualities which have Just
been reviewed are those which ev-
eryone of us would like to have for
himself. They are the essentials of
virtle 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 man has discovered, when
put to the test, that he possessed
these qualities without having him
self realized. 1t. But under civilian
conditions 1t Is not easy to cultivate
all of them.
In the army you will have your
opportunity in few months of
training to strengthen these uuali-
ties In yourself. In so doing YOU will
learn to control yourself, to take
care of yourself under all conditions.
to meet hardship and danger un-
hinchingly to be fearless and self