Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-20
FRENCH OFFICERS
CAREFUL Of MEN
IN THEIR COMMAND

! In a communication to the National
| Geographic society. Granville Fortes-
cue, the military expert, draws sharp
distinction between the French and the
German soldier and the camaraderie
which exists between the French Off
Ger and his men, compared with the re-
lations obtaining between the German
officer and the boche private. A part
CT the communication is issued by the
society in the following bulletin OF its
war geography series:
THE wide, unbridgable chasm which
exists between the officer and the pri-
vate in the Germany company is but
the step of necessity in French battal-
ions. French soldiers recognize the
need for discipline, of the value of
teamwork, and the urgency of obey
ing in battle, as the very foundation of
their worth as citizen soldiers. They
know also that they of their own Volt
ton have created the authority behind
the officer and for this reason there
can be nothing degrading in the sur
render of personal privilege in the
crisis of war.
Discipline is not maintained
through fear, but by public opinion.
Each private soldier recognizes that
lis individual efficiency and effective
ness, and consequently the efficiency
and effectiveness of the whole French
army, is based on his prompt and in
telligent obedience of orders delivered
by military superiors.
HE knows that his officers are train
ed specialists in war, and he puts him
self freely in their hands, so that the
nations will in war may be accom- |
Ilished He understands the success
i've limitation of military authority
tie private to the sergeant, the SER
geant to the lieutenant, the Lieutenant
TO the captain, the captain to the ma
jor and so on through grade after
grade up to General Petain, who in
turn is responsible to France. Will
this conception OF his duty, the most
difficult part of military instruction is
readily instilled into the French re-
cruit.
Thoroughly to appreciate the rela-
tions of officer to soldier in the French
army they must be seen together in
the trenches. The captain watches
yer his men like father He shows
a sympathetic understanding of their
difficulties. while demanding in the
common cause rigorous adherence to
their duties. The officer sets the high
est standard of performance for him
self and exacts the best each of his
men can do.
But the soldier knows he can go to
his officer with his private trouble and
receive helpful advice. He knows he
will never meet wit intentional in
justice And what gives him supreme
confidence in the knowledge that he
will be led with intelligence and skill
The French officer is constantly
alert to take advantage of the enemy
and safeguard his own men. The
greatest crime in the officers calendar 4
is wantonly to waste the life of a
subordinate. Circumstances may call
for the final sacrifice at times, but
short of this condition the French |
commander husbands the lives Of his 1
men as a miser his pieces Of gold. In
an attack he will plan how they must |
creep from shell-hole to shell-hole, I
keeping as safe as possible from the |
onemy's artillery fire He will study |
the ground in front of his trench for l
every available bit Of cover, and 50
maneuver his men that they will gain
it's every advantage. He will elaborate !,
trench and sap until his men are as
safe as the battle front permits, feel
ing his duty to his country demands /
not only that he defeat the enemy, but /
that he defeat him with the minimum /
expenditure Of the lives under his COM +
mand.
Men learn quickly to appreciate this
quality in their officers, and this ap !
probation brin2s about sense OIL
loyalty which closely knits an army
into an unbeatable whole"