Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-03
IhUUPJ IN FRAHUt AKt LEAhHIN6
DISCIPLINE OF FOREIGN ARMIES
Officers Are Inclined to Follow Steck British SYSTEM But French
Democracy Is Invading Ranks0ur New Crop Of Reserve
Officers Are Greater Stckers for Form Than
Most West Pointers.

street" said IN Oh West Pointer, "and
he was telling me he had too much
money "a spend. Il can't use half 0f
IT, he said. and waste il on things
| don't want. Look nj the bunch of
cigars I bought. Take handful |
took three. but | was mighty sorry
afterwards because | had with me Il
young fellow just commissioned see
ond lieutenant. and he was almost
shocked to death that should take
cigars from Il 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
slons. Some officers believe in leading
their men. while others i'm driving them,
while still a third class combine the
two methods. One of the best young
officers | have seen In the army is
absolutely informal with his men at
times. He comes tn their concerts and
hands cigars to the quartette and con-
suits with them as to what song they
shall sing.
Captain. do you Ike 'CathleenT"
the big soldier who sang tenor would
ask. and the captain would answer:
"Does ii go like thls?" humming bar.
and then add: "Yes. that's good one;
let's have it," He could be stern
enough upon occasion, and he had the
best bombers In the army, but liked
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
1t had to stop.
II 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. ! was going to recommend
you. but how can | do 1t now? Just
look at the way see it. If took my
pay in lump l 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 afterward). 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
nrmy? Don't forget that this Is your
army as much as II Is mine. That's
I'LL 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 thor0ughness 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 a Roman
father to his men.