Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-09-19


Honor. ?. Making Good a. Il Soldier
3. Nine Soldicrly Qualities. 4. Gettiag
Ready for Camp. 3. First Days in
Camp. q. Cleanliness in Camp. :. loar
Health. 8. Marching and Care OF
Feet. 9. Your Equipment and Arms
I'D. Recreation in Camp. IL. Playing
the Game. l.. Teamwork in the Army
Ii. Grouping Men Into Teams. II. The
Team Leaders. Is. Fighting Arms q:
the Service. Is. Staff Branche> 81 he
Service. IL. Staff Branches Of tie
Service-lI. is. Army Insignia. ~
The Army System of Training. 10
Close Order Drill. u. Extended Or
der Drill. -. Guard Duty. -. Getting
Ahead in the Army. 81. Army Conr-
tesy. %. Discipline and Respect fer the
Colors. PC. some Army Traditions
%. The Spirit of the Service. 2S. Why
We Fight. %. The War in Europe.l
The average civilian. no matter how
brave he may be, has little desire To 20
into battle. Even though he knows very
well hat the chances of his being killed
or severely wounded are comparatively
small, vet the thought of placing himself
in a post of danger face 10 face with 4 well
trained and courageous enemy i more or
less terrifying 10 him.. I
This state of mind i entirely natural.
Every man goe sthroueh ii. The bravest
soldiers of the Civil War and Of All wars
testify TO their dread Of entering battle:
but thi, i a feeling that can bc ron
qucrcd even by a man who i physically
imid. Ii il related that a veteran soldier
was observed by one of his comrades Just
before the Battle OF Sven Oaks 10 be
white and trembling and was reproached
with being scared. YES he replied.
IF YOU wcr, one-hali a. scared "a | am.
you'd be making a dash for the rear.
Ninety per cent of the men row fighting
30 daunile>-iy in Europe nave doubtless
passed through a similar experience and
hold themselves in the path of duty only
through mastery of their physical fears.
GROWTH Or ELF-CONFIDENCE.
AZ "A man's military training progresses.
hi> body becomes stronger, and therefore
better able To stand strain and intense
activity. He grows accustomed 10 the
uoi>t VI HtdtN iiIAiE. ~ -ft~ NfttRt
in handling hi> rifle and hi baycnet with
skill. 80 that he becomes confident OF hi
ability To defend himself. He learns how
to advance over ground apparently swept
by bullets without exposing himself 20
really effective fire. lie grows used to-
the idea of meeting enemies face To- face in
battle.
All YOUR training a. Il soldier will work
toward putting YOU into condition To meet
the test of battle when the time comes
with true American >pirit-with the intel
ligencc and courage that makes eventual
victory certain.
Private soldiers are not required 10
study tactical problems. These are solved
by the higher officer. But every man
should thoroughly understand the follow
ing elementary principles of combat
l. The offensive wins.
,. Battles are won by the individual sol
dicr. Ii j. emphatically .up 10" him. Spleen
did leadership and fine equipment are of
avail only when each private does his ut
most.
3. Victory depends more on nerve and
fighting spirit than on the best weapons
and armor in The world.
IMPORTANCE OF THE ATTACK.
Defensive action alone never wins vie
tories. The army which succeed must be
ready and anxious 10 atii *. There are
many advantages in taking the offensive.
The destruction Of hostile trenches by
heavy bomhardment preceding the attack
weakens the cncmy'~ spirit and sometimes
leads to the surrender of men who are in
no condition 10 withstand assault. The
chief advantage. however. j. the fact that
the attacking side choose it, own time
and place TO strike. forcing the enemy to
rcadju~t hi- defence> accordingly.
IL i always possible IN battle for good
infantry 10 "dcfcat m enemy greatly ,u-
perior in numbers. hut lacking IN training.
discipline. leadership and morale" In
fantry Drill Regulations. par. 35i.) In am
other place in the Regulations il j. well
remarked that ''modern war requires but
one kind Of Infantry-.ood infantry" Re
member. too. in this connection another
statement in The Regulation. which has
been previously quoted, To the effect that
discipline 81 the distinguishing mark oi
trained troops"