The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-11-08
HOME READING COURSE
for CITIZEN SOLDIERS
Issued By the W0r Department and All
Rights to Reprint Reserved
DISCIPLINE AND RESPECT FOR
THE COLORS.


"All persons in the military service
are required to obey strictly and to
execute promptly the lawful orders OF
their superiors." (Army Regulations,
paragraph IL
Discipline is not merely an obligation
imposed upon you; 1t is protection to
you. Your superiors, from the COM
handing general down, are just as
mach bound to respect the regulations
of the army as you are; this includes
respect for the rights of every soldier.
Discipline is the necessary rule OF
life in the army and is not In the least
inconsistent with your own pride and
self-respect as citizen and soldier.
The person whom you obey may be
an officer, noncommissioned oncer,
or even another private who mas peen
given authority to command you.
Whether you like him or not you must
respect his position and authority, ana
reflect honor and credit on yourselI
and your profession by yielding to all
superiors that complete and unhesitat-
ing obedience which is the pleasure as
we'll as the duty Of every true soldier.
| manual Of Noncommissioned Ohcers
and Privates, paragraph p
Remember also that there are GER
tain restrictions upon the relations OF
officers and men which are necessary
part Of army discipline. An officer, even
| though in private life he may be your
warm friend and associate, is expected
not to mingle with you or other men In
| the ranks on terms of familiarity. .Tnls
| is a rule that is often far from agree
able to the officer; but he has no more
power to change it than you have. The
reason Is clear. An officer cannot
mingle with the men under him on IA
| miliar terms without becoming better
| acquainted and more friendly with
| some than with others. He immediate
| ly lays himself open to the suspicion
of favoritism-a suspicion which tends
strongly to undermine respect and au-
| thority.
| Argument has no place in the army.
| Even favorable comment on the con-
duct or orders of superior officers In
entirely out of place. The duty OF Of
flcers and men alike is to obey prompt
". However, intelligent suggestions
properly made are always welcome.
The discipline Of the army is just
| and impersonal. You will be treated
with fairness. Your rights will be re-
spected. On your part you must re-
| spect the rights and authority COM
ence from others. If you become a
| commissioned officer it will be your
| duty to maintain such relations with
| the men under you that you can always
| treat them with absolute and imper-
sonal justice.
AS you advance in the service, you
will be required to exact strict obedi-
ence from others.
The American flag carried by regi-
ment is known as the "colors." 1t is
the symbol of the nation and is treated
always with the deepest respect. An
other flag is carried which is the SYM
boil of the regiment and is known as
the "regimental colors." 1t Is protect
| ed with devotion second only to that
| felt for the national flag itself.
| Thousands of brave men in previous
wars have given up their lives to save
the colors of their country and their
regiment from the enemys hands. AS
war is now conducted, 1t is no longer
practicable, as a rule, to carry them
into battle and fight under their folds.
But they remain the chief visible signs
| Of the objects for which every soldier
| Is willing to sacrifice himself. 1t is no
wonder that the colors are priced and
guarded with devoted care.
Ordinarily the colors when not in
use are kept in the Office Of the colonel
or in front of his tent During the
day when the weather permits they are
displayed unfurled. At night and dur
ing rainy weather they are 'cased,"
which means that they.are furled and
protected by an ,Qilcloth covering.
| Officers and men passing an uncased
color always honor it by saluting. The
manner of salute is the same as that
previously described. The same rules
of respect are observed by men not in
formation when the uncaSed cOl0rS are
carried by.
The colors are escorted in parades or
on the march in campaigns by color
guard, consisting of two sergeants who
are the color bearers and two expert
enced privates selected by the colonel.
The regimental color is always on the
| loft of the national color
Similar rules of respect apply when
ever 1.-THE Star-Spangled Banner" Is
played. Officers and enlisted men not
In formation stand at attention, facing
toward the music Except at retreat"
when they face toward the flag). They
salute at the first note Of the anthem,
retaining the position of salute until
the last note.
Every citizen Of the United States,
| whether civilian or soldier, shSuld
give expression of his loyalty and devo-
ton to his country by showing proper
marks of respect for the colors and
| for the national anthem. When In
| civilian clothes, wearing hat or cap,
/ the correct thing to do is to remove 1t
and hold it in the right hand oppO-
uncased color or during the playing of
the national anthem. If uncovered,
stand at attentions
The common habit of rising slowly,
standing In slouching attitude and
sometimes even carrying on conversa-
4 fhn a.,