Macon beacon., 1917-09-21

qualities that are especially needed
during the periods of training. march
ing and waiting between combats.
They are:
Intelligence,
Cleanliness,
CheerfulneSS.
Although these qualities are associ-
ated chiefly with camp life, they are,
of course, scarcely less helpful in all
other phases of military service.
Intelligence does not necessarily
mean education, but rather quick OBJ
servation and willingness to learn.
There is plenty of need for intelligence
In modern warfare. The National
army will be forced to absorb within
a few months a training which would
ordinarily extend over n period of two
or three years. Those who intend TO
nj themselves for promotion should
study thoroughly the manuals and the
drill regulations which affect their
duties.
Cleanliness is important everywhere,
but most of al II the army where large
bodies of men are brought together.
In Its true sense, it includes not only
Keeping your body clean but also your
mind and your actions.
Cheerfulness is always a prominent
trait Of good soldiers. Here again
Americans may be counted upon to
make splendid showing. even in the
race OF any unexpected hardships or
difficulties that may be ahead of us.
In January, 1863 the Union army lay
In camp at Falmouth, Va. About
month before had occurred the dis
astrous and bloody defeat of Fred
ericksburg. In the North It was the
darkest hour of the war. Everywhere
outside the army there was depression
and fear. On January p the com
manding general ordered the troops
to break camp and move forward. At
the same time "a cold drizZling rain
set in; the ground speedily became
ike sea of glue; everything upon
wheels sunk into the bottomless mud
1t took twenty horses to start single
caisson; hundreds of them died in har-
ness; but still the general persisted.
But the rain persisted also, and 1t soon
became a simple impossibility to go
forward After two days of effort II
was necessary to have the men strug-
gle and founder through the wilder
ness of mud back to their camp"
Picture the situation: Recent defeat
with heavy losses; retreat a cheerIess
midwinter camp; rain; cold; mud
encouragement at home; long march
under the most trying conditions end
ing In return to the same camping
ground from which the troops had
started. A little grumbling might rea-
sonably have been expected But the
men Of 1853 were too good soldiers to
draw long faces. The historian goes
on: THE march was made in high good
humor, the soldiers laughing and jok-
ing at their ill-luck with that comic
brightness characteristic of Americans
in difficult circumstances.
Finally, there are the three battle |
qualities Of the good soldier.
Spirit,
Tenacity,
Self-reliance.
Unless man has these three quail |
ities-even though he possesses all the |
other six in good measure-he Is after
all only a campfire soldier.
Spirit-fghting spirits far from
being mere hatred of the enemy or
blind fury, on the one hand: nor is II
mere passive obedience to orders on
the other. 1t means cool. Self-con-
trolled courage-the kind of courage
which enables man to shoot as
straight on the battlefield as he does
in target practice. However. II even
goes step beyond that point. Deci-
sive victories cannot be won by mere
ly repulsing the enemy. "Og.!y the Of
fensive wins" Qnfantry Drill Regu-
latiOns paragraph 51D.
Like all the other qualities of a
soldier, spirit can be cultivated.
Spirit carries body of soldiers for
ward. Tenacity is the quality that
makes them stick" The thorough
soldier is never ready to stop fighting
until his part of the battle is won.
Tenacity was Lever better expressed
than In the words of John Paul Jones.
Standing among his dead and wounded
on his sinking ship which was leak
ing like basket" he replied to his
adversary's invitation to surrender
"Sir, | have not yet begun to fight"
Two hours later the battle came to
sudden end when the colors of the
enemy's vessel were hauled down
Self-reliance is characteristic Of the ,
American, whether he is serving as a ,
soldier or in some civil occupation. !
Much the same quality is sometimes I
to as initiative" II Is a ,
quality needed more than ever before ,
n present-day warfare. :
The nine qualities which have inst
been reviewed are those which every. o
'ne Of US would like to have for him =
elf. 7
In the army you will have your oD- +
)ortunity In few months of training :
o strengthen these qualities In your.
self. In so doing you will learn to con-